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SLC → RDU
Which side of the plane to sit from Salt Lake City International Airport (Salt Lake City) to Raleigh Durham International Airport (Raleigh-durham)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side provides a superior vantage point for the southern Rocky Mountains and the iconic St. Louis Arch, followed by a scenic descent over the Blue Ridge Mountains into the lush North Carolina Piedmont.
High Uintas
The southern slopes of the Uinta range offer rugged alpine terrain immediately after leaving Utah airspace.
Gateway Arch
The gleaming stainless steel monument in St. Louis is often visible on the right when crossing the Mississippi.
Blue Ridge Mountains
The characteristic hazy blue waves of the southern Appalachian Mountains during the descent into North Carolina.
Piedmont Forests
The vast, dense canopy of the North Carolina pine and hardwood forests as the plane nears the RDU area.
Research Triangle Park
The sprawling technical and pharmaceutical campuses visible just minutes before touchdown.
The right side is ideal for afternoon flights to capture the 'Golden Hour' light over the Appalachians. Look for the silver curve of the St. Louis Arch roughly two-thirds of the way through the journey. During autumn, this side offers the best views of the changing fall foliage in the North Carolina mountains.
Wasatch Front
Dramatic views of the jagged peaks rising directly from the Salt Lake Valley upon departure.
Uinta Mountains
A unique look at the highest peaks in Utah, including Kings Peak, sitting to the north of the flight path.
Midwestern Hubs
Bird's-eye views of cities like Omaha or Des Moines depending on the specific northern jet stream route.
Upper Mississippi
The wide, winding waters of the Mississippi River marking the transition from the plains to the east.
Allegheny Plateau
The dissected plateau landscape of West Virginia featuring deep river valleys and dense forest cover.
Choose the left side for morning flights to avoid direct glare from the sun. Keep an eye out early for the Great Salt Lake if the plane loops north after takeoff. In winter, the snow-covered Uinta Mountains provide a stunning white landscape that is best viewed from this side.
Distance: 2,928 km (1,819 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 54 min
Departure: SLC (40.78839874267578, -111.97799682617188)
Arrival: RDU (35.877601623535156, -78.7874984741211)
Route Type: Domestic
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