Can You See Denali (Mount McKinley) From a Plane? Best Seat Side Guide

52 flight routes pass within 150 km of Denali (Mount McKinley). Find out which side of the plane has the best views.

North America's highest peak at 6,190 metres dominates the Alaskan interior and is visible from Anchorage and on trans-Alaska routes. Its massive bulk and permanent snow create a dramatic sight from the air.

Routes that pass it52

MDW NRT Chicago to Tokyo · 16 km Left NRT MDW Tokyo to Chicago · 16 km Right AUH UTO Abu Dhabi to Indian Mountains · 17 km Right NRT ORD Tokyo to Chicago · 18 km Right ORD NRT Chicago to Tokyo · 18 km Left ICN YYC Seoul to Calgary · 33 km Left YYC ICN Calgary to Seoul · 33 km Right YYC HKG Calgary to Hong Kong · 35 km Left HND MDW Tokyo to Chicago · 38 km Right BLR SFO Bangalore to San Francisco · 39 km Right HND ORD Tokyo to Chicago · 40 km Right ORD HND Chicago to Tokyo · 40 km Left SFO BWA San Francisco to Bhairawa · 43 km Left HND MSP Tokyo to Minneapolis · 61 km Left MSP HND Minneapolis to Tokyo · 61 km Right ANC SCC Anchorage to Deadhorse · 63 km Left SCC ANC Deadhorse to Anchorage · 63 km Right MSP NRT Minneapolis to Tokyo · 80 km Right ANC OTZ Anchorage to Kotzebue · 91 km Right OTZ ANC Kotzebue to Anchorage · 91 km Left ANC HNL Anchorage to Honolulu · 92 km Right DFW HKG Dallas-fort Worth to Hong Kong · 92 km Right HKG DFW Hong Kong to Dallas-fort Worth · 92 km Left HNL ANC Honolulu to Anchorage · 92 km Left ANC FAI Anchorage to Fairbanks · 100 km Left EDF HNL Anchorage to Honolulu · 100 km Right FAI ANC Fairbanks to Anchorage · 100 km Right HNL EDF Honolulu to Anchorage · 100 km Left FRA ANC Frankfurt to Anchorage · 103 km Right IAH FNJ Houston to Pyongyang · 104 km Right HNL FAI Honolulu to Fairbanks · 110 km Left SFO EDF San Francisco to Anchorage · 112 km Right ANC EIL Anchorage to Fairbanks · 118 km Left EIL ANC Fairbanks to Anchorage · 118 km Right LAX EDF Los Angeles to Anchorage · 119 km Right ANC LHR Anchorage to London · 121 km Left ANC SFO Anchorage to San Francisco · 126 km Left SFO ANC San Francisco to Anchorage · 126 km Right OAK ANC Oakland to Anchorage · 127 km Right ANC LAX Anchorage to Los Angeles · 133 km Left LAX ANC Los Angeles to Anchorage · 133 km Right SAN ANC San Diego to Anchorage · 134 km Right ONT ANC Ontario to Anchorage · 136 km Right EDF PDX Anchorage to Portland · 139 km Left PDX EDF Portland to Anchorage · 139 km Right EDF PHX Anchorage to Phoenix · 141 km Left MRI LAS Anchorage to Las Vegas · 142 km Left BFI EDF Seattle to Anchorage · 149 km Right EDF SEA Anchorage to Seattle · 149 km Left SEA EDF Seattle to Anchorage · 149 km Right ANC LAS Anchorage to Las Vegas · 150 km Left LAS ANC Las Vegas to Anchorage · 150 km Right

Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see Denali (Mount McKinley) from a plane?

Yes — 52 flight routes pass within 150 km of Denali (Mount McKinley). The closest routes include Chicago to Tokyo, Tokyo to Chicago, Abu Dhabi to Indian Mountains. Sit on the Left side, with the landmark passing about 16 km away.

Which side of the plane is best for viewing Denali (Mount McKinley)?

The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Denali (Mount McKinley): on a Chicago to Tokyo flight, sit on the Left side; on a Tokyo to Chicago flight, sit on the Right side; on a Abu Dhabi to Indian Mountains flight, sit on the Right side.