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ATL → CAE
Which side of the plane to sit from Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta) to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (Columbia)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a superior view of the iconic Stone Mountain shortly after departure from Atlanta and provides an excellent perspective of Lake Murray during the descent into Columbia.
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Atlanta Skyline
Excellent views of the Midtown and Downtown skyscrapers during the initial climb out of ATL.
Stone Mountain
The massive quartz monzonite dome is highly visible to the north of the flight path shortly after takeoff.
Lake Oconee
A large reservoir on the Oconee River offering beautiful reflections and shoreline patterns.
Lake Murray
The primary landmark for the CAE approach, featuring a massive dam and thousands of miles of shoreline.
Downtown Columbia
A clear view of the South Carolina State House and the urban core during the final approach phase.
Choose the left side for morning flights to keep the sun behind you. This side is critical for spotting Stone Mountain, which is best seen within the first 10 minutes of flight. During the descent into CAE, look for the Lake Murray dam, a significant engineering feat located just northwest of the airport.
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ATL Terminals
A sprawling bird's-eye view of the world's busiest airport infrastructure during takeoff.
Oconee National Forest
Vast stretches of protected Georgia pine forests providing a dense green carpet below.
Savannah River
The geographic border between Georgia and South Carolina, visible as a winding silver ribbon.
Congaree National Park
Look south during the final descent to see the massive hardwood forest and floodplain ecosystem.
The right side is ideal for afternoon flights to minimize glare. Keep a lookout for the Savannah River about midway through the flight to mark your entry into South Carolina. If the flight approaches CAE from the south, you may see the unique canopy of the Congaree National Park, though this is dependent on the specific air traffic control vectoring.
Book Hotels in ColumbiaDistance: 308 km (191 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 31 min
Departure: ATL (33.6367, -84.428101)
Arrival: CAE (33.93880081176758, -81.11949920654297)
Route Type: Domestic
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