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IAH → BRO
Which side of the plane to sit from George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport (Houston) to Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport (Brownsville)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a stunning continuous panorama of the Texas Gulf Coast, featuring barrier islands, emerald lagoons, and the vast Gulf of Mexico.
Galveston Bay
Aerial views of the massive bay system and the Galveston Island shoreline shortly after departure.
Padre Island
The world's longest barrier island stretching hundreds of miles along the coastal horizon.
Laguna Madre
A rare hypersaline lagoon showing vibrant shallow water patterns and sandbars.
Corpus Christi Bay
Clear views of the 'Sparkling City by the Sea' and its busy port infrastructure.
South Padre Island
High-rise hotels and sandy beaches become visible during the final descent into the Rio Grande Valley.
Book a left-side window for morning flights to witness the sunrise over the Gulf. This side provides the most consistent landmarks, as the flight path usually tracks just inland of the coastline. Polarized sunglasses will help reduce glare from the water and highlight the turquoise colors of the Laguna Madre.
Houston Suburbs
The sprawling residential grids of Pearland and Sugar Land during the initial climb.
Brazos River
The dramatic, winding curves of the river as it snakes through the coastal plains.
King Ranch
Overview of the massive, historic ranch lands that dominate the South Texas landscape.
Wind Farms
Vast arrays of wind turbines visible across the flat plains near Kenedy County.
Choose the right side for afternoon or evening flights to enjoy the sunset over the Texas plains. Watch for the dramatic shift from urban Houston to the uninhabited, wild ranch lands of South Texas. In late summer, keep an eye out for convective thunderstorms building over the inland heat.
Distance: 497 km (309 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 50 min
Departure: IAH (29.98439979553223, -95.34140014648438)
Arrival: BRO (25.90679931640625, -97.4259033203125)
Route Type: Domestic
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