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LAS → BHM
Which side of the plane to sit from McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas) to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (Birmingham)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side provides the most dramatic views of the American West, including the Grand Canyon region and the southern tip of the Rockies, followed by the lush transition into the Mississippi Valley.
Lake Mead & Hoover Dam
Visible shortly after departure from LAS, look for the deep blue water contrasting against the red desert rock.
Grand Canyon South Rim
Depending on the specific flight corridor, the north-facing window often captures the vast, tiered depths of the canyon.
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
The southern terminus of the Rocky Mountains provides jagged, snow-capped peaks during winter and spring months.
Arkansas River Valley
A transition from the high plains into the greener, rolling terrain of the Ozark plateau.
Mississippi River
The massive waterway marks the transition into the deep south, usually crossed near Memphis.
Book a morning flight to have the sun behind you, illuminating the canyon walls and mountains without glare. Keep your camera ready immediately after takeoff as the plane climbs over the Nevada-Arizona border.
Las Vegas Strip
Depending on takeoff direction, you may see the dense cluster of mega-resorts and the Sphere.
Meteor Crater
A nearly perfect circular impact site near Winslow, Arizona, easily spotted from 35,000 feet.
Albuquerque Metro
The city sprawl is visible against the backdrop of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico.
Red River
The distinct reddish silt of the river marking the border between Oklahoma and Texas.
Alabama Woodlands
The final descent offers views of the dense, rolling pine forests characteristic of the Birmingham area.
On late afternoon flights, the right side offers spectacular sunset views over the desert. Use the grid patterns of West Texas and Oklahoma as a reference for your progress across the Great Plains.
Distance: 2,598 km (1,614 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 28 min
Departure: LAS (36.08010101, -115.1520004)
Arrival: BHM (33.56290054, -86.75350189)
Route Type: Domestic
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