Seeing Fresno from a plane8 ★
The capital of the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive farm regions in the world. Look for a patchwork of orchards and vineyards, with the Sierra Nevada rising to the east.
17 of our routes pass it. California · rated 4 of 10
The easy pick
Los Angeles to Merced: sit on the right, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas to San Jose | Left | 170 min after takeoff |
| Dallas-Fort Worth to Fresno | Right | on the way down |
| Denver to Fresno | Right | on the way down |
| Las Vegas to San Jose | Left | 37 min after takeoff |
| Las Vegas to Merced | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | on the way down |
| Los Angeles to Oakland | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | 25 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Redding | Right | 31 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Pasco | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | 32 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Merced | Right | on the way down |
| Phoenix to Taipei | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | 66 min after takeoff |
| Sacramento to Guadalajara | Right | 23 min after takeoff |
| Sacramento to Leon | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | 26 min after takeoff |
| Salt Lake City to Fresno | Right | on the way down |
| San Diego to Medford | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | 38 min after takeoff |
| San Jose to Atlanta | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | 18 min after takeoff |
| San Jose to Dallas | Right Best seat for the whole flight: left | 19 min after takeoff |
| San Jose to Phoenix | Left | 19 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Fresno from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (10 of 17). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Fresno 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 Fresno 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
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