Which side to sit on flying from Sacramento (SMF)?
Flying out of SMF: mornings, usually the left; afternoons, usually the left; evenings, usually the right. Some routes flip with the sun, so check your time of day.
The better side for flights leaving at that time and its usual score: landmark points after glare, plus any sunset. ☀ means that side also has more sun glare. Tap a side to open that flight; tap a column to sort by it.
Flying out of Sacramento
| To | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth DFW Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon | Left43 pts | Left43 pts | Left18 pts |
| Denver DEN Denver, Mt. Elbert | Left45 pts | Left45 pts | Right47 pts |
| Las Vegas LAS Las Vegas, Hoover Dam / Lake Mead | Right25 pts | Left10 pts | Right58 pts |
| Los Angeles LAX Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sacramento | Right37 pts | Left54 pts | Left44 pts |
| Phoenix PHX Yosemite Valley / Half Dome, Mono Lake | Right42 pts | Left42 pts | Left41 pts |
| Portland PDX Mt. Hood, Mt. Shasta | Left0 pts | Right50 pts | Right26 pts |
| San Diego SAN California State Capitol, Los Angeles | Right27 pts | Left42 pts | Right67 pts |
| Seattle SEA Husky Stadium, Crater Lake | Left43 pts | Right85 pts | Right58 pts |
Flying into Sacramento
| From | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego SAN Los Angeles, SeaWorld San Diego | Right13 pts | Right33 pts | Right61 pts |
On the climb out of SMF
- Sacramento: right on most routes
- California Capitol: right on most routes
- Tower Bridge: right on most routes
On the way down into SMF
- Mt. Diablo: left on most routes
- Sacramento: right on most routes
- Tower Bridge: right on most routes
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, with no clouds. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
Questions
Which side of the plane sees Sacramento on takeoff from SMF?
Usually the right. It depends on the route and the runway in use: open your route for its usual climb-out.
Which side is best flying out of Sacramento in the morning?
Usually the left. The table above has each route's own answer and score.
Which side is best flying out of Sacramento in the afternoon?
Usually the left. The table above has each route's own answer and score.
Which side is best flying out of Sacramento in the evening?
Usually the right. The table above has each route's own answer and score.