Seeing Detroit from a plane
The Motor City, and the one big US city where Canada lies directly south, across the Detroit River. Look for the round towers of the Renaissance Center on the riverfront and Belle Isle in the river.
5 of our routes pass it. Michigan · rated 5 of 10
The easy pick
Detroit to Boston: sit on the left, on the climb, 6 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Boston | Right | 29 min after takeoff |
| Detroit to Boston | Left | on the climb, 6 min after takeoff |
| New York to Chicago | Left | 63 min after takeoff |
| Newark to Chicago | Left the other side is usually better on this route | 62 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Newark | Left | 225 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Detroit from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (4 of 5). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Detroit from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see Detroit at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Lake Saint Clair Cleveland Lake Erie Tippecanoe Lake Lake Huron Chicago (ORD) Boston (BOS) Detroit (DTW) New York (LGA) All routes