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AZA → SBN
Which side of the plane to sit from Phoenix-Mesa-Gateway Airport (Mesa) to South Bend Regional Airport (South Bend)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a more dramatic transition from the Arizona desert to the high Colorado Plateau, including the Mogollon Rim and the Painted Desert, with potential views of Lake Michigan on approach.
Search flights from AZA to SBN
Mogollon Rim
The massive limestone and sandstone cliff defining the edge of the Colorado Plateau.
Painted Desert
Vibrant, multicolored badlands stretching across Northern Arizona shortly after takeoff.
San Juan Mountains
Distant views of the rugged, snow-capped peaks of the Southern Colorado Rockies.
Mississippi River
The iconic waterway crossing usually visible near the Iowa and Illinois border.
Chicago & Lake Michigan
Potential views of the Chicago skyline across the southern tip of the lake during the descent.
Sit on the left for morning flights to keep the sun behind you. This side is prime for viewing the geological shift from desert to mountains. During winter, look for the stark contrast of snow on the red rocks of Northern Arizona and Southern Colorado.
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Superstition Mountains
Immediate views of these jagged volcanic peaks just east of the Mesa-Gateway airport.
Santa Fe National Forest
The high-desert terrain and pinon-juniper woodlands of Northern New Mexico.
Great Plains Patchwork
Infinite geometric patterns of circular irrigation fields across Kansas and Missouri.
Missouri River
A wide, winding river valley that serves as a major landmark in the central US.
Indiana Farmlands
The lush green and gold agricultural grids typical of the final descent into South Bend.
The right side is better for afternoon flights to avoid the glare of the southern sun. Keep your camera ready immediately after takeoff from AZA for close-up views of the Superstition Mountains. Look for the Rio Grande valley as you cross New Mexico.
Book Hotels in South BendDistance: 2,411 km (1,498 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 13 min
Departure: AZA (33.30780029, -111.6549988)
Arrival: SBN (41.70869827270508, -86.31729888916016)
Route Type: Domestic
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