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SFO destination photo
DTW destination photo

SFODTW

Our Recommendation
8.8

Left Side of the Plane

The left side offers superior views of the Sierra Nevada’s crown jewel, Lake Tahoe, followed by the striking colors of the Great Salt Lake and the massive expanse of Lake Michigan before landing.

Left Side Highlights
8.8
🏔️

Lake Tahoe & Sierras

Breathtaking aerial views of the deep blue lake and the rugged peaks of the Sierra Nevada range shortly after takeoff.

🧂

Great Salt Lake

The distinct color variations and geometric salt evaporation ponds on the northern edge of the lake.

⛰️

Wind River Range

Jagged, glaciated peaks of the Wyoming Rockies that provide a stark contrast to the flat plains.

🌾

Nebraska Sandhills

Vast, rolling grass-stabilized sand dunes that create a unique undulating pattern across the Midwest.

🏙️

Milwaukee & Lake Michigan

The Wisconsin shoreline and the transition from land to the deep blue of the Great Lakes.

Choose the left side for morning departures to avoid the sun's glare and get a clear view of Lake Tahoe's north shore. As you cross Utah, look for the sharp contrast between the Great Salt Lake and the surrounding desert. In the final hour, watch for the Milwaukee skyline and the crossing of Lake Michigan into the Michigan peninsula.

Right Side Highlights
8.4
🌲

Yosemite National Park

Aerial perspective of the high-altitude wilderness and granite formations of the central Sierras.

🏜️

Red Rock Country

The deep canyons and orange-hued geological formations of southern Utah and Colorado.

🏙️

Denver & Front Range

The transition point where the high peaks of the Rockies meet the vast American Great Plains.

💧

Mississippi River

The massive winding waterway marking the border of the Midwest with its intricate river islands.

🏫

Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan campus and the Huron River valley during the final descent into Detroit.

The right side is excellent for afternoon flights to capture the golden hour over the Rockies. You will likely see the northern edges of Yosemite shortly after takeoff. Keep an eye out for the Mississippi River's wide basin near the Iowa-Illinois border. On the approach to DTW, you will often pass over Ann Arbor and the Detroit metropolitan suburbs.

Top Activities in Detroit
Route Information

Distance: 3,337 km (2,074 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 56 min

Departure: SFO (37.61899948120117, -122.375)

Arrival: DTW (42.212398529052734, -83.35340118408203)

Route Type: Domestic

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