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DSM → DFW
Which side of the plane to sit from Des Moines International Airport (Des Moines) to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Dallas-Fort Worth)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side provides a superior view of major urban centers like Tulsa and the downtown Dallas skyline during standard southerly approaches, alongside the distinctive winding water systems of the Ozark foothills.
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Des Moines Skyline
A clear view of the gold-domed Iowa State Capitol and the downtown cluster immediately after departure.
Lake of the Ozarks
Visible to the southeast, look for the intricate, serpentine shoreline often called the 'Magic Dragon.'
Tulsa Metro Area
The grid of Tulsa and the winding Arkansas River provide a significant visual landmark midway through the flight.
Lake Ray Hubbard
A massive blue reservoir marking the entry into the outer reaches of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Dallas Cityscape
On the final approach into DFW, the skyscrapers of downtown Dallas and the Reunion Tower are frequently visible.
Choose the left side for morning flights to keep the sun behind you for better photography. Keep an eye out about 35 minutes into the flight for the Missouri-Arkansas border region where the terrain becomes more rugged and forested compared to the flat Iowa plains.
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Midwestern Patchwork
Stunning geometric patterns of Iowa and Kansas farmlands that change colors drastically with the seasons.
The Flint Hills
The last remaining tallgrass prairie ecosystem in North America, showing unique rolling ridge lines in eastern Kansas.
Lake Texoma
A massive border-straddling lake between Oklahoma and Texas, easily identified by its scale and red-clay banks.
Texas Motor Speedway
The massive oval of the speedway is a primary landmark for flights entering the DFW airspace from the north.
North Texas Suburbs
Observe the rapid, sprawling suburban development of Frisco and Denton as you descend.
The right side is the premier choice for evening flights to witness the sunset over the Great Plains. During the spring, look for the vibrant green of the Flint Hills; in winter, the stark contrast of the salt plains in northern Oklahoma is more pronounced.
Book Hotels in Dallas-Fort WorthDistance: 1,006 km (625 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 20 min
Departure: DSM (41.53400039672852, -93.66310119628906)
Arrival: DFW (32.896801, -97.038002)
Route Type: Domestic
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