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SFO → IAH
Which side of the plane to sit from San Francisco International Airport (San Francisco) to George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport (Houston)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a superior view of the San Francisco city skyline upon departure, followed by the most direct views into the Yosemite Valley and the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
Search flights from SFO to IAH
San Francisco Bay
Unmatched views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the downtown skyline shortly after takeoff.
Yosemite National Park
Look for the distinct granite face of Half Dome and the sweeping High Sierra mountain range.
Mono Lake
A striking ancient saline soda lake located in California's Eastern Sierra.
Grand Canyon North Rim
The left side provides the best depth perspective into the canyon's colorful rock layers.
Sam Houston Forest
Dense pine forests visible during the final descent into the Houston area.
Sit on the left (Port) side for the 'Golden Gate' departure; if winds are from the West, planes turn North/East immediately, placing the city right outside your window. Approximately 90 minutes in, keep your camera ready for the Grand Canyon. For morning flights, this side remains in the shade, providing better lighting for photography without window glare.
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Silicon Valley
Bird's-eye view of major tech campuses and the San Jose metropolitan area.
Mount Whitney
The highest peak in the contiguous United States stands out among the jagged Southern Sierras.
Meteor Crater
A massive, perfectly circular impact site located in the Arizona desert near Winslow.
Permian Basin
The fascinating geometric grid patterns of the vast West Texas oil fields.
Downtown Houston
Depending on the approach pattern, the right side often catches the skyline before touchdown.
The right side is ideal for sunset viewing on late afternoon flights as you travel Southeast. It offers a great perspective of the vast Mojave Desert and the high-altitude plateaus of New Mexico. When approaching IAH from the West, you are more likely to see the downtown Houston skyscrapers and the ship channel from this side.
Book Hotels in HoustonDistance: 2,627 km (1,632 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 30 min
Departure: SFO (37.61899948120117, -122.375)
Arrival: IAH (29.98439979553223, -95.34140014648438)
Route Type: Domestic
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