Photo: Joe Decruyenaere · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
A large, shallow, saline lake in California's Imperial Valley, accidentally created in 1905. The shrinking lake and its exposed white shoreline are visible on flights between Los Angeles and Phoenix.
151Flight Routes
1 kmClosest Pass
🌊 WaterType
Routes that pass it151
MCI → SAN
Both Sides
SAN → MCI
Both Sides
BOS → NZY
Both Sides
CLE → SAN
Both Sides
LGA → SAN
Both Sides
NZY → BOS
Both Sides
OAK → PSP
Both Sides
PSP → OAK
Both Sides
SAN → CLE
Both Sides
SAN → LGA
Both Sides
CUN → LAX
Both Sides
EWR → SAN
Both Sides
JAX → PHX
Both Sides
JFK → SAN
Both Sides
LAX → CUN
Both Sides
PHX → JAX
Both Sides
PIT → SAN
Both Sides
SAN → EWR
Both Sides
SAN → JFK
Both Sides
SAN → PIT
Both Sides
BOS → SAN
Left
PSP → SFO
Left
SAN → BOS
Right
SFO → PSP
Right
CMH → SAN
Right
JFK → NZY
Right
NZY → JFK
Left
SAN → CMH
Left
CDC → CPH
Right
CPH → CDC
Left
DTW → SAN
Left
GCM → LAX
Left
IND → SAN
Right
LAX → GCM
Right
PHL → SAN
Right
PMD → SIN
Left
SAN → DTW
Right
SAN → IND
Left
SAN → PHL
Left
SIN → PMD
Right
CLD → PHX
Left
MDW → SAN
Left
NZY → ORD
Right
ORD → NZY
Left
PHX → CLD
Right
SAN → MDW
Right
AUA → LAX
Left
FUK → SFO
Right
LAX → AUA
Right
LAX → TUS
Right
ORD → SAN
Left
ROC → SAN
Left
SAN → ORD
Right
SAN → ROC
Right
SFO → FUK
Left
TUS → LAX
Left
LIH → PHX
Left
NZY → PHL
Left
PHL → NZY
Right
PHX → LIH
Right
SAN → STL
Left
STL → SAN
Right
BWI → SAN
Right
CVG → SAN
Right
DMA → LAX
Left
LAX → DMA
Right
SAN → BWI
Left
SAN → CVG
Left
SAT → SNA
Left
SNA → SAT
Right
DCA → SAN
Right
IAD → SAN
Right
SAN → DCA
Left
SAN → IAD
Left
SAN → YYZ
Right
SFO → SGN
Left
SGN → SFO
Right
YYZ → SAN
Left
DRO → SAN
Left
ELP → SNA
Left
KIN → LAX
Left
LAX → KIN
Right
LAX → MBJ
Right
MKE → SAN
Left
SAN → DRO
Right
SAN → MKE
Right
SNA → ELP
Right
BLR → SEA
Right
CPT → LAX
Left
LAX → CPT
Right
LUF → OGG
Right
OGG → LUF
Left
OMA → SAN
Left
SAN → OMA
Right
SEA → BLR
Left
SAF → SAN
Right
SAN → SAF
Left
MSN → SAN
Left
RIC → SAN
Right
SAN → MSN
Right
SAN → RIC
Left
MXL → SFO
Right
SFO → MXL
Left
AUC → LAX
Right
COS → SAN
Left
LAX → AUC
Left
SAN → COS
Right
SFO → TPE
Left
SJC → TPE
Left
TPE → SFO
Right
TPE → SJC
Right
AUS → SNA
Left
FAT → GDL
Right
GDL → FAT
Left
HKG → SFO
Left
HNL → PHX
Left
MXL → PXM
Left
ORF → SAN
Right
PHX → HNL
Right
PXM → MXL
Right
SAN → ORF
Left
SFO → HKG
Right
SNA → AUS
Right
CTS → SFO
Left
SFO → CTS
Right
SJC → ZCL
Right
ZCL → SJC
Left
MEX → SFO
Left
OAX → SFO
Left
ORL → PHX
Left
PHX → ORL
Right
SFO → MEX
Right
SFO → OAX
Right
SFO → TSA
Left
TSA → SFO
Right
ABQ → SAN
Right
SAN → ABQ
Left
SFO → TXG
Left
TXG → SFO
Right
ATL → LUF
Right
IAH → SNA
Left
LUF → ATL
Left
MCO → PHX
Left
MEX → MXL
Right
MXL → MEX
Left
PHX → MCO
Right
SAN → TUL
Left
SNA → IAH
Right
TUL → SAN
Right
RDU → SAN
Right
SAN → RDU
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 Salton Sea from a plane?
Yes — 151 flight routes pass within 25 km of Salton Sea. The closest routes include Kansas City to San Diego, San Diego to Kansas City, Boston to San Diego. The landmark is visible from both sides, with the landmark passing about 1 km away.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Salton Sea?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Salton Sea: on a Kansas City to San Diego flight, visible from both sides; on a San Diego to Kansas City flight, visible from both sides; on a Boston to San Diego flight, visible from both sides.