St. Louis to San Francisco flight path: STL to SFO

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from St. Louis to San Francisco. The right side wins because it captures the Colorado Rockies and Sierra Nevada during cruise, followed by the dramatic Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Area approach, while the left side offers mostly flat plains and desert with fewer distinct landmarks.

During takeoff from Lambert St Louis International (STL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing STL to the west, the right (north) side offers a glimpse of the Mississippi River bends and the Missouri floodplain before the plane climbs over flat farmland. The left side shows mostly featureless suburban sprawl with no notable landmarks. Notable sights include: Mississippi River, Missouri River confluence, St. Louis suburbs.

When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the descent into SFO from the north, the right side faces west toward the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin headlands, and the Pacific coastline as the aircraft banks over the Bay before landing. The left side mostly shows the flat East Bay hills and suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, Marin Headlands, Pacific coastline.

The flight from Lambert St Louis International (STL) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes about 3 hours 35 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 1,731 miles (2,786 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Colorado Rockies near Denver, the high plains of eastern Colorado, the Great Basin desert of Utah and Nevada, and the Sierra Nevada range before descent into the Central Valley