Photo: Mikesanchez1109 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The best-preserved meteorite impact crater on Earth — 1.2 km wide and 170 metres deep — sits in the Arizona desert. Its near-perfect circular shape is unmistakable from altitude.
225Flight Routes
OverheadClosest Pass
☄️ DesertType
Routes that pass it225
ILM → LAX
Both Sides
LAX → ILM
Both Sides
LGA → SAN
Both Sides
PHX → WAW
Both Sides
SAN → LGA
Both Sides
WAW → PHX
Both Sides
BCN → DEN
Both Sides
CDG → LUF
Both Sides
DEN → BCN
Both Sides
EWR → SAN
Both Sides
LUF → CDG
Both Sides
SAN → EWR
Both Sides
JFK → SAN
Both Sides
SAN → JFK
Both Sides
AUS → OAK
Both Sides
AUS → SFO
Both Sides
HOU → SJC
Both Sides
OAK → AUS
Both Sides
PIT → SAN
Both Sides
SAN → PIT
Both Sides
SFO → AUS
Both Sides
SJC → HOU
Both Sides
AMM → PHX
Both Sides
AUS → LAS
Both Sides
CPH → PHX
Both Sides
HOU → LAS
Both Sides
JFK → NZY
Both Sides
LAS → AUS
Both Sides
LAS → HOU
Both Sides
MCI → SAN
Both Sides
NZY → JFK
Both Sides
PHX → AMM
Both Sides
PHX → CPH
Both Sides
SAN → MCI
Both Sides
BNA → LGB
Both Sides
LGB → BNA
Both Sides
CLT → ONT
Both Sides
ELP → NRT
Both Sides
FLO → LAX
Both Sides
LAS → MAF
Both Sides
LAX → FLO
Both Sides
LAX → SAF
Both Sides
MAF → LAS
Both Sides
NRT → ELP
Both Sides
ONT → CLT
Both Sides
PHX → YWG
Both Sides
SAF → LAX
Both Sides
YWG → PHX
Both Sides
PHX → BIS
Left
MAF → SFO
Right
SFO → MAF
Left
SJD → SLC
Right
SLC → SJD
Left
AND → LAX
Right
IAH → LAS
Left
LAS → IAH
Right
LAX → AND
Left
CDC → SCL
Right
CLT → LAX
Left
CMH → SAN
Right
LAX → CLT
Right
SAN → CMH
Left
SCL → CDC
Left
PHX → RAP
Left
IND → SAN
Right
SAN → IND
Left
SNA → TYS
Left
TYS → SNA
Right
AUS → SJC
Right
LAX → TUL
Right
MEX → PDX
Left
PDX → MEX
Right
SJC → AUS
Left
TUL → LAX
Left
ATL → BUR
Right
BUR → ATL
Left
IAH → SJC
Left
SJC → IAH
Right
BNA → ONT
Left
HOU → SFO
Left
LAX → MEM
Left
LAX → OKC
Left
MEM → LAX
Right
OKC → LAX
Right
ONT → BNA
Right
SFO → HOU
Right
CLE → SAN
Left
LAX → XNA
Right
PHL → SAN
Right
SAN → CLE
Right
SAN → PHL
Left
XNA → LAX
Left
ABQ → BUR
Right
BUR → ABQ
Left
DFW → SBP
Right
NZY → PHL
Left
PHL → NZY
Right
SBP → DFW
Left
BNA → LAX
Left
CLT → SNA
Right
LAX → BNA
Right
SNA → CLT
Left
SLC → TUS
Left
TUS → SLC
Right
GDL → YVR
Right
YVR → GDL
Left
HOU → OAK
Left
OAK → HOU
Right
ORF → SNA
Left
SNA → ORF
Right
DEN → OAM
Left
OAM → DEN
Right
AAH → PHX
Right
PHX → AAH
Left
BOS → NZY
Left
LAS → SAT
Left
NZY → BOS
Right
SAT → LAS
Right
ABQ → LAX
Right
IAH → SFO
Left
LAX → ABQ
Left
SFO → IAH
Right
BOS → SAN
Left
SAN → BOS
Right
SAN → STL
Left
STL → SAN
Right
HNL → ONT
Left
ONT → HNL
Right
BWI → SAN
Right
SAN → BWI
Left
CVG → SAN
Right
LAS → SKF
Left
LAX → RDU
Right
LCY → PHX
Right
PHX → LCY
Left
RDU → LAX
Left
SAN → CVG
Left
SKF → LAS
Right
LHR → PHX
Right
PHX → LHR
Left
AGS → LAX
Right
LAX → AGS
Left
PHX → DUB
Left
FLR → PHX
Right
PHX → FLR
Left
SFO → THE
Right
THE → SFO
Left
ATL → ONT
Right
BUR → XNA
Right
CDG → PHX
Right
IAD → SAN
Right
NAP → PHX
Right
ONT → ATL
Left
PHX → CDG
Left
PHX → NAP
Left
SAN → IAD
Left
XNA → BUR
Left
ALG → DEN
Left
ATL → LAX
Right
CHS → LAX
Right
DEN → ALG
Right
LAX → ATL
Left
LAX → CHS
Left
DCA → SAN
Right
DTW → SAN
Left
ELS → MSY
Right
MSY → ELS
Left
SAN → DCA
Left
SAN → DTW
Right
BJC → PHX
Right
GYM → SLC
Right
IAD → PSP
Left
PHX → BJC
Left
PSP → IAD
Right
SLC → GYM
Left
BNA → BUR
Left
BUR → BNA
Right
MDW → SAN
Left
SAN → MDW
Right
BJC → FCO
Left
FCO → BJC
Right
NZY → ORD
Right
ORD → NZY
Left
DEN → PHX
Right
PHX → DEN
Left
ROC → SAN
Left
SAN → ROC
Right
SNA → CHO
Right
BHM → LAX
Right
LAS → MIA
Right
LAS → MSY
Right
LAX → BHM
Left
MIA → LAS
Left
MSY → LAS
Left
ORD → SAN
Left
SAN → ORD
Right
SAT → SFO
Right
SFO → SAT
Left
CAE → SNA
Right
SNA → CAE
Left
ATL → HNL
Right
CUN → LAS
Right
FLL → LAS
Left
HNL → ATL
Left
LAS → CUN
Left
LAS → FLL
Right
BFL → MIA
Left
LAS → LBB
Right
LBB → LAS
Left
LIH → ONT
Left
MIA → BFL
Right
ONT → LIH
Right
NEC → PDX
Left
PDX → NEC
Right
BIL → PHX
Left
DEN → PRC
Left
PHX → BIL
Right
GDL → SEA
Right
IND → PSP
Left
PSP → IND
Right
SEA → GDL
Left
BCN → PHX
Right
PHX → BCN
Left
SAF → SAN
Right
SAN → SAF
Left
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 Meteor Crater from a plane?
Yes — 225 flight routes pass within 60 km of Meteor Crater. The closest routes include Wilmington to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Wilmington, New York to San Diego. The landmark is visible from both sides, passing directly overhead.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Meteor Crater?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Meteor Crater: on a Wilmington to Los Angeles flight, visible from both sides; on a Los Angeles to Wilmington flight, visible from both sides; on a New York to San Diego flight, visible from both sides.