About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Lambert St Louis International (STL) to San Francisco International (SFO)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from St. Louis to San Francisco. Left side wins both ends of the flight. At takeoff you get the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi, and on arrival you get the full San Francisco Bay panorama with the city skyline, Bay Bridge, and a distant Golden Gate. The right side offers flat Illinois farmland at departure and the less interesting South Bay peninsula on arrival.
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 westbound on runway 30L/30R, which means a left bank turn puts you looking south over downtown St. Louis. You get a clear view of the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River curving through the city before the aircraft tracks west. Notable sights include: Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis skyline, Mississippi River, Forest Park, Cahokia Mounds (across the river in Illinois).
What can I see when landing at San Francisco International in San Francisco?
When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO's primary arrival runways 28L/28R bring aircraft in from the east over the Bay, meaning left-side passengers look north across San Francisco Bay and get the city skyline, Bay Bridge, and Golden Gate Bridge in sequence. Right side faces south toward the peninsula and South Bay, which is far less dramatic. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, San Francisco city skyline and Financial District, Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge (distant, to the northwest).
How long is the flight from St. Louis to San Francisco?
The flight from Lambert St Louis International (STL) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes.
What does the St. Louis to San Francisco flight path pass over?
The route tracks roughly along 38-39 degrees north latitude. After St. Louis you cross the flat Missouri and Kansas plains, then the Colorado Rockies including the Front Range near Denver and the high peaks of the Sawatch and Elk ranges. Further west you cross the Great Basin desert of Nevada with its parallel north-south mountain ranges and dry lake beds, then the Sierra Nevada before descending into California's Central Valley and across the Coast Ranges into the Bay Area.