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RDU → CMH
Which side of the plane to sit from Raleigh Durham International Airport (Raleigh-durham) to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (Columbus)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a front-row seat to the most dramatic terrain of the Appalachian Mountains, including the iconic New River Gorge and views of West Virginia's state capital.
Search flights from RDU to CMH
Blue Ridge Mountains
Layered blue ridges and deep valleys of western North Carolina and Virginia.
New River Gorge
One of the oldest rivers in the world cutting a deep canyon through West Virginia.
Charleston Capitol
The distinctive gold-leaf dome of the West Virginia State Capitol is visible near the Kanawha River.
Columbus Approach
Panoramic views of the downtown Columbus skyline and Scioto Mile during the final descent.
Choose the left side for afternoon flights to avoid the direct glare of the sun while viewing the mountains. Keep an eye out about 35-45 minutes after takeoff for the New River Gorge Bridge, one of the world's longest single-arch bridges.
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Monongahela Forest
Dense, uninterrupted expanses of one of the largest national forests in the eastern United States.
Ohio River Crossing
The major waterway marking the boundary between West Virginia and Ohio, usually crossed near Parkersburg.
Ohio Heartland
The transition from rugged mountains to the tidy, geometric agricultural grids of central Ohio.
Greenbrier Valley
Vast green meadows and historic resort areas nestled in the valley floor.
Morning flights offer beautiful lighting on the right side as the sun rises over the Appalachians. This side is better for observing the distinct change in topography from the high peaks of WV to the flat plains of Ohio.
Book Hotels in ColumbusDistance: 582 km (362 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 58 min
Departure: RDU (35.877601623535156, -78.7874984741211)
Arrival: CMH (39.998001, -82.891899)
Route Type: Domestic
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