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LGA destination photo
TYS destination photo

LGATYS

Which side of the plane to sit from La Guardia Airport (New York) to McGhee Tyson Airport (Knoxville)?

Our Recommendation
8.8

Left Side of the Plane

The left side provides a superior vantage point for the iconic Manhattan skyline during departure and the expansive ridge lines of the Great Smoky Mountains on arrival.

Left Side Highlights
8.8
🏙️

Manhattan Skyline

Unobstructed views of Midtown and the Financial District, including the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center shortly after takeoff.

🗽

Statue of Liberty

A distant but clear view of Liberty Island and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge as the aircraft banks southwest over New Jersey.

⛰️

Shenandoah National Park

The rolling blue-tinted ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch across the horizon through Virginia.

🌫️

Great Smoky Mountains

Dramatic views of the highest peaks in the Smokies, often covered in their namesake mist, during the final descent into TYS.

🏟️

Neyland Stadium

As the plane aligns for landing, you can often spot the massive University of Tennessee football stadium along the river.

Book an early morning flight to see the sun rising over the Atlantic and illuminating the Manhattan skyscrapers. For the best view of the Smokies, choose a seat behind the wing to ensure your field of vision isn't blocked by the engines. During autumn, this side offers a spectacular view of the changing fall foliage along the Appalachian chain.

Right Side Highlights
7.5
🌳

Central Park

A perfect aerial grid view of New York City's green lung and the Upper West Side residential towers.

💧

Hudson River & Palisades

The dramatic basalt cliffs of the New Jersey Palisades lining the western bank of the Hudson River.

🌊

Susquehanna River

The wide, winding path of one of the oldest existing river systems in the world as you cross Pennsylvania.

🌲

West Virginia Highlands

Dense, rugged forest canopy and deep river gorges of the Monongahela National Forest.

🏘️

Knoxville City Center

Views of the Sunsphere and the downtown Knoxville area just before touching down at McGhee Tyson.

The right side is ideal for evening flights to avoid direct sun glare while still enjoying the sunset over the Appalachian Plateau. Keep your camera ready immediately after takeoff for the 'Expressway Visual' turn which often puts Central Park directly in view. In winter, this side offers the best views of snow-capped ridges in the West Virginia highlands.

Top Activities in Knoxville
Route Information

Distance: 1,041 km (647 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 23 min

Departure: LGA (40.77719879, -73.87259674)

Arrival: TYS (35.81100082, -83.99400329999999)

Route Type: Domestic

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