Left side wins both ends of the flight. At departure you get the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River, and at arrival you get the Potomac River and the Washington DC skyline. The left side also tracks the Ohio River valley and Appalachian foothills through the middle portion of the flight.
Flown STL to IAD? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
St. Louis to Washington is 694 miles (1,118 km), a flight of about 1 hour 55 minutes.
The flight crosses southern Illinois farmland, then the Ohio River near Louisville or Cincinnati, then tracks across the rolling hills of Kentucky and West Virginia before crossing the Appalachian ridges of the Allegheny Mountains in western Virginia — the parallel ridge-and-valley topography is clearly visible from altitude as a series of long northeast-southwest trending wooded ridges. The Shenandoah Valley appears as a broad flat agricultural corridor just before the descent into northern Virginia.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from STL
LEFTLambert typically departs east on runway 12R/12L, putting the left side facing north toward downtown St. Louis. You get a clear view of the Gateway Arch, the Mississippi River, and the St. Louis skyline as the aircraft climbs and banks eastward.
Landing at IAD
LEFTDulles typically lands westbound on runway 19L/19R or approaches from the east, with the aircraft tracking over northern Virginia. The left side faces south toward the Potomac River, the National Mall corridor, and the broader Washington DC skyline during the descent.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Lambert St Louis International (STL) to Washington Dulles International (IAD)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from St. Louis to Washington. Left side wins both ends of the flight. At departure you get the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River, and at arrival you get the Potomac River and the Washington DC skyline. The left side also tracks the Ohio River valley and Appalachian foothills through the middle portion of the flight.
What can I see during takeoff from Lambert St Louis International in St. Louis?
During takeoff from Lambert St Louis International (STL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Lambert typically departs east on runway 12R/12L, putting the left side facing north toward downtown St. Louis. You get a clear view of the Gateway Arch, the Mississippi River, and the St. Louis skyline as the aircraft climbs and banks eastward. Notable sights include: Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis skyline, Mississippi River and its wide meander through the metro area, Cahokia Mounds site across the river in Illinois, Forest Park visible to the southwest.
What can I see when landing at Washington Dulles International in Washington?
When landing at Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Dulles typically lands westbound on runway 19L/19R or approaches from the east, with the aircraft tracking over northern Virginia. The left side faces south toward the Potomac River, the National Mall corridor, and the broader Washington DC skyline during the descent. Notable sights include: Potomac River winding through the Virginia-DC border, Washington DC skyline and the Capitol dome visible in the distance, Blue Ridge Mountains on the western horizon during approach, Dulles Access Road corridor leading straight toward the terminal.
How long is the flight from St. Louis to Washington?
The flight from Lambert St Louis International (STL) to Washington Dulles International (IAD) takes about 1 hour 55 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 694 miles (1,118 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the St. Louis to Washington flight path pass over?
The flight crosses southern Illinois farmland, then the Ohio River near Louisville or Cincinnati, then tracks across the rolling hills of Kentucky and West Virginia before crossing the Appalachian ridges of the Allegheny Mountains in western Virginia — the parallel ridge-and-valley topography is clearly visible from altitude as a series of long northeast-southwest trending wooded ridges. The Shenandoah Valley appears as a broad flat agricultural corridor just before the descent into northern Virginia.