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MOD → SFO
Which side of the plane to sit from Modesto City Co-Harry Sham Field (Modesto) to San Francisco International Airport (San Francisco)?
Right Side of the Plane
The Right Side provides a superior perspective of the East Bay hills, including Mount Diablo, and typically offers the best distant views of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge during the approach into SFO.
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Mount Diablo
The most prominent peak in the East Bay, often standing above the morning fog layer.
Oakland Skyline
Views of downtown Oakland and the busy Port of Oakland cranes as you cross the bay.
San Mateo-Hayward Bridge
The longest bridge in California, appearing as a thin line stretching across the wide bay waters.
San Francisco Skyline
Iconic views of the Salesforce Tower and Transamerica Pyramid visible during the SFO approach.
Golden Gate Bridge
On clear days, the world-famous orange bridge is visible to the northwest as the plane prepares to land.
The right side is the best for sunset flights, as the city skyline and the Pacific Ocean in the distance are illuminated in gold. Keep your camera ready as you cross the coastline of the East Bay for the most iconic landmarks.
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San Joaquin Valley
Vibrant agricultural grid patterns stretching across the valley floor immediately after takeoff from Modesto.
Lick Observatory
The historic white domes of the observatory atop Mount Hamilton are visible in the Diablo Range.
Silicon Valley
Aerial views of the tech corridor and major campuses in San Jose and Santa Clara during descent.
Coyote Hills Salt Ponds
Technicolor salt evaporation ponds featuring vivid reds, oranges, and greens near the South Bay shoreline.
Dumbarton Bridge
The southernmost bridge of the San Francisco Bay, marking the transition from land to water.
Choose the left side for morning flights to avoid the direct western sun. This side is particularly rewarding for seeing the neon-colored salt ponds just before landing; look for them when the plane begins its final turn over the South Bay.
Get eSIMs for United States
Get eSIMs for United StatesDistance: 125 km (78 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 13 min
Departure: MOD (37.62580109, -120.9540024)
Arrival: SFO (37.61899948120117, -122.375)
Route Type: Domestic
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