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MSP → LAX
Which side of the plane to sit from Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport (Minneapolis) to Los Angeles International Airport (Los Angeles)?
Right Side of the Plane
While both sides offer incredible desert scenery, the right side is preferred for its views of the Great Salt Lake and the iconic aerial approach over the Los Angeles basin and Hollywood hills.
Search flights from MSP to LAX
Upper Midwest Plains
Geometric patterns of American farmland and the Missouri River crossing.
Medicine Bow Mountains
Rugged, snow-capped peaks in southern Wyoming and Northern Colorado.
Great Salt Lake
Expansive white salt flats and shimmering water visible north of the flight path.
Las Vegas Strip
The concentrated neon lights and mega-resorts of the Nevada desert oasis.
Mojave National Preserve
Harshly beautiful landscape featuring dry lake beds and volcanic cinder cones.
Downtown LA & Hollywood
A birds-eye view of the Hollywood Sign, Dodger Stadium, and the skyscraper cluster.
The Great Salt Lake and Las Vegas are the major milestones on this side. During the descent into LAX, keep your camera ready for the San Gabriel Mountains and the urban sprawl of the Los Angeles basin. Night flights are particularly rewarding on this side due to the brilliant light shows provided by Las Vegas and the LA grid.
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Nebraska Sandhills
Vast rolling dunes and prairie landscapes visible during the first hour of flight.
Colorado Front Range
The dramatic rise of the Rockies where the Great Plains meet the mountain peaks.
Arches & Canyonlands
Spectacular red rock formations and deep canyons of Southern Utah.
Lake Powell
Striking blue water contrasted against the vibrant orange desert rock walls.
Grand Canyon South Rim
Distal but clear views of the massive scale of the South Rim's erosion patterns.
Long Beach Harbor
Massive container ships and the Pacific coastline during the final banking turn.
Focus on the window roughly 90 minutes into the flight to witness the dramatic rise of the Rockies. For optimal photography of the Utah canyons, a morning departure is best to avoid direct glare. On arrival, you will briefly see the Pacific Ocean just before the plane aligns with the runway.
Get eSIMs for United States
Get eSIMs for United StatesDistance: 2,467 km (1,533 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 17 min
Departure: MSP (44.882, -93.221802)
Arrival: LAX (33.94250107, -118.4079971)
Route Type: Domestic
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