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SFO → DTW
Which side of the plane to sit from San Francisco International Airport (San Francisco) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Detroit)?
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.
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.
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.
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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