Loading map...
AZA → CID
Which side of the plane to sit from Phoenix-Mesa-Gateway Airport (Mesa) to The Eastern Iowa Airport (Cedar Rapids)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers superior views of the dramatic Mogollon Rim transition and the colorful Painted Desert, while avoiding harsh afternoon glare on eastbound flights.
Search flights from AZA to CID
Mogollon Rim
The massive limestone and sandstone escarpment defining the edge of the Colorado Plateau.
Painted Desert
Vibrant badlands featuring stratified layers of siltstone and mudstone in varied hues.
Front Range Rockies
Distant views of snow-capped Colorado peaks, including Pikes Peak, visible to the north.
Platte River
Distinctive braided river channels cutting through the Nebraska plains.
Cedar Rapids Skyline
Aerial view of the 'City of Five Seasons' and the Cedar River upon arrival.
Choose the left side for afternoon departures to keep the sun behind you, providing better lighting for the Arizona desert. Look out shortly after takeoff for the red rock transitions north of the Phoenix valley. In winter, this side offers the best views of snow coverage on the high plateaus.
Get eSIMs for United States
Get eSIMs for United States
Superstition Mountains
Rugged volcanic peaks rising sharply immediately east of the Mesa-Gateway airport.
Tonto National Forest
A vast expanse of saguaro cacti transitioning into pine-covered highlands.
Midwest Patchwork
The iconic geometric grid of agricultural fields across Kansas and Iowa.
Missouri River
The wide, meandering border crossing between Nebraska and Iowa.
Coralville Reservoir
A large recreational lake and dam system visible during the final descent into CID.
The right side is best for morning flights to witness the sunrise over the desert landscape. Keep your camera ready immediately after takeoff for the Superstition Mountains. As you enter Iowa, look for the distinctive circular patterns of center-pivot irrigation systems which are highly visible from this side.
Book Hotels in Cedar RapidsDistance: 1,992 km (1,238 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 39 min
Departure: AZA (33.30780029, -111.6549988)
Arrival: CID (41.88470077514648, -91.71080017089844)
Route Type: Domestic
Thank you for booking your travels through our travel partners. The commissions from your bookings keep this site running.