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BMI → MSP
Which side of the plane to sit from Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal (Bloomington) to Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport (Minneapolis)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side provides a superior vantage point for the winding Mississippi River and the unique unglaciated topography of the Driftless Area, culminating in excellent views of the St. Paul skyline during the approach.
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Upper Mississippi River
Breathtaking views of the Mississippi River's wide channels and sandbars near the tri-state border region.
Driftless Area Bluffs
Deeply carved river valleys and rugged limestone bluffs that escaped the last glacial period.
Hastings and River Bridges
Watch for the iconic bridges crossing the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers as you near the Twin Cities.
St. Paul Skyline
Clear views of the Minnesota State Capitol dome and the downtown St. Paul skyline during the descent.
MSP Concourse View
A great perspective of the massive airport infrastructure and terminal layout when landing on the 30 runways.
The right side is ideal for afternoon flights to avoid direct glare. Keep a keen eye out roughly 25-30 minutes into the flight for the transition from flat prairie to the dramatic, hilly Driftless Area near the Mississippi River. During the winter, the frozen river patterns are particularly photogenic from this side.
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Peoria and Illinois River
Aerial view of the Illinois River snaking through the Peoria metropolitan area shortly after takeoff.
Midwestern Patchwork
Vibrant green and gold agricultural patterns of northern Illinois and eastern Iowa.
Rochester and Mayo Clinic
The dense medical campus of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic visible as you enter Minnesota air space.
Minneapolis Skyline
The glass skyscrapers of downtown Minneapolis are often visible to the west during the final approach into MSP.
Sit on the left for morning flights to keep the sun behind you, providing better lighting for photography of the Iowa and Minnesota farmlands. If the flight approaches MSP from the south, you may get a direct view of the Mall of America just before landing.
Get eSIMs for United States
Get eSIMs for United StatesDistance: 603 km (375 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr
Departure: BMI (40.47710037, -88.91590118)
Arrival: MSP (44.882, -93.221802)
Route Type: Domestic
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