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SAN → AUS
Which side of the plane to sit from San Diego International Airport (San Diego) to Austin Bergstrom International Airport (Austin)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a superior view of the dramatic geological transitions from the Pacific coast, across the high desert of Arizona, and the iconic White Sands of New Mexico.
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Salton Sea
A massive, shimmering endorheic rift lake in the Colorado Desert visible shortly after crossing the California mountains.
Phoenix Metro
Bird's-eye view of the Valley of the Sun, including Camelback Mountain and the sprawling grid of the Arizona capital.
Mogollon Rim
The dramatic geological cliff that marks the edge of the Colorado Plateau, featuring deep canyons and dense pine forests.
White Sands National Park
The world's largest gypsum dunefield appears as a bright, stark white patch amidst the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert.
West Texas Wind Farms
Vast arrays of thousands of wind turbines stretching across the mesas near Sweetwater and Abilene.
Sit on the left (North) to avoid the direct southern sun glare during midday flights. For morning flights, the lighting on the Arizona red rocks is spectacular. Look out for the Salton Sea approximately 20 minutes after departure.
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Coronado and Border
Immediately after takeoff, catch views of North Island, the Coronado Bridge, and the international border fence.
Saguaro National Park
The rugged mountains surrounding Tucson, home to the iconic giant saguaro cacti visible in the desert landscape.
El Paso and Juarez
A unique view of the binational metropolitan area where the Rio Grande separates Texas from Chihuahua, Mexico.
Texas Hill Country
Rolling limestone hills and cedar-covered ridges that characterize the beautiful approach into the Austin area.
Austin Skyline
Depending on the wind and landing direction, the right side often gets a sweeping view of Lady Bird Lake and downtown skyscrapers.
The right side is excellent for night flights to see the dense lighting of the border cities. Be aware that the sun will be on this side for the duration of an eastbound daytime flight; keep your window shade partially down to manage heat.
Book Hotels in AustinDistance: 1,870 km (1,162 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 30 min
Departure: SAN (32.7336006165, -117.190002441)
Arrival: AUS (30.194499969482425, -97.6698989868164)
Route Type: Domestic
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