St. Louis to New York flight pathSTLJFK

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Flight time2h 40m
Distance890
Heading076° → 087°

St. Louis to New York is 890 miles (1,433 km), a flight of about 2 hours 40 minutes.

Best side
Left

Left side wins both ends of the flight. The St. Louis departure gives you the Arch and the Mississippi, and the JFK approach delivers the best angle on Manhattan and Jamaica Bay. The left side also tracks closer to the urban corridor through Pennsylvania during cruise.

Takeoff · STLLEFTGateway Arch and downtown St. Louis skyline, Mississippi River and its confluence with the Missouri River to the northwest, East St. Louis floodplain
Landing · JFKLEFTManhattan skyline including Midtown and Lower Manhattan towers, Jamaica Bay and its wildlife refuge grid of channels, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge spanning the harbor entrance

Flight Path

Flight path overview

The flight tracks northeast across southern Illinois, then Indiana and Ohio, crossing the Ohio River near Cincinnati. Over Pennsylvania the Appalachian Ridge and Valley province is visible as a series of long parallel forested ridges running northeast-southwest — most notably the Allegheny Front and Kittatinny Ridge. The Delaware Water Gap where the Delaware River cuts through the Kittatinny Ridge is a recognizable landmark before descending into the New York metro area.

Great circle distance and headings ›

Phase by phase

Aerial window seat view during takeoff from St. Louis (left side) — Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis skyline, Mississippi River and its confluence with the Missouri River to the northwest, East St. Louis floodplain, Cahokia Mounds site visible as earthen mounds in the Illinois bottomlands

Takeoff from STL

LEFT

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 and the Mississippi River curving through the city as you climb out heading southeast.

Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis skylineMississippi River and its confluence with the Missouri River to the northwestEast St. Louis floodplainCahokia Mounds site visible as earthen mounds in the Illinois bottomlands
Aerial window seat view during landing at New York (left side) — Manhattan skyline including Midtown and Lower Manhattan towers, Jamaica Bay and its wildlife refuge grid of channels, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge spanning the harbor entrance, Brooklyn and Queens urban grid

Landing at JFK

LEFT

JFK typically lands from the west on runway 22L/22R or from the east on 31L/31R. On the common westerly approach over Jamaica Bay, left-side passengers get Long Island Sound, the Manhattan skyline, and the full sweep of New York Harbor. On the easterly approach, left side still captures Jamaica Bay and Brooklyn.

Manhattan skyline including Midtown and Lower Manhattan towersJamaica Bay and its wildlife refuge grid of channelsVerrazano-Narrows Bridge spanning the harbor entranceBrooklyn and Queens urban grid

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About This Route

Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Lambert St Louis International (STL) to John F Kennedy International (JFK)?

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from St. Louis to New York. Left side wins both ends of the flight. The St. Louis departure gives you the Arch and the Mississippi, and the JFK approach delivers the best angle on Manhattan and Jamaica Bay. The left side also tracks closer to the urban corridor through Pennsylvania during cruise.

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 and the Mississippi River curving through the city as you climb out heading southeast. Notable sights include: Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis skyline, Mississippi River and its confluence with the Missouri River to the northwest, East St. Louis floodplain, Cahokia Mounds site visible as earthen mounds in the Illinois bottomlands.

What can I see when landing at John F Kennedy International in New York?

When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK typically lands from the west on runway 22L/22R or from the east on 31L/31R. On the common westerly approach over Jamaica Bay, left-side passengers get Long Island Sound, the Manhattan skyline, and the full sweep of New York Harbor. On the easterly approach, left side still captures Jamaica Bay and Brooklyn. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline including Midtown and Lower Manhattan towers, Jamaica Bay and its wildlife refuge grid of channels, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge spanning the harbor entrance, Brooklyn and Queens urban grid.

How long is the flight from St. Louis to New York?

The flight from Lambert St Louis International (STL) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes about 2 hours 40 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 890 miles (1,433 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

What does the St. Louis to New York flight path pass over?

The flight tracks northeast across southern Illinois, then Indiana and Ohio, crossing the Ohio River near Cincinnati. Over Pennsylvania the Appalachian Ridge and Valley province is visible as a series of long parallel forested ridges running northeast-southwest — most notably the Allegheny Front and Kittatinny Ridge. The Delaware Water Gap where the Delaware River cuts through the Kittatinny Ridge is a recognizable landmark before descending into the New York metro area.