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MRY → SAN
Which side of the plane to sit from Monterey Peninsula Airport (Monterey) to San Diego International Airport (San Diego)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side of the aircraft offers a front-row seat to the stunning California coastline, featuring the rugged cliffs of Big Sur, the Channel Islands, and the iconic approach into San Diego harbor.
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Big Sur Coastline
Breathtaking views of where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean with turquoise coves.
Channel Islands
Look for Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands rising from the sea as you fly past the Santa Barbara coast.
Point Conception
The 'elbow' of California where the coastline dramatically shifts from north-south to east-west.
Port of Long Beach
Spot the massive cargo ships and the historic Queen Mary docked in the harbor.
San Diego Bay
The ultimate landing view featuring the Coronado Bridge, Naval Air Station North Island, and the harbor.
This is the premier side for this route. Request a window seat away from the wing to fully capture the coastline. For the landing at SAN, the right side provides an incredible perspective of the city's unique 'low-altitude' approach over the downtown area. Afternoon flights offer the best lighting as the sun sets over the Pacific.
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Santa Lucia Range
Dramatic mountain peaks rising sharply from the Salinas Valley just south of Monterey.
Salinas Valley
Known as the Salad Bowl of the World, you will see vast, intricate patterns of agricultural fields.
Los Angeles Basin
An expansive view of the urban sprawl, including the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance.
San Diego Urban Core
On final approach, look for the skyscrapers of downtown San Diego and Petco Park stadium.
Balboa Park
A bird's eye view of the lush greenery and historic Spanish-Renaissance architecture of the park.
Sit on the left for early morning flights to see the sunrise over the mountains. It is also the preferred side for viewing the dense urban grid of Los Angeles and the inland desert mountains during the descent phase.
Get eSIMs for United States
Get eSIMs for United StatesDistance: 604 km (375 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr
Departure: MRY (36.58700180053711, -121.84300231933594)
Arrival: SAN (32.7336006165, -117.190002441)
Route Type: Domestic
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