Seeing Lake Superior from a plane7 ★
The largest freshwater lake on Earth by area, about 31,700 square miles, holding roughly 10% of the world's surface fresh water. It could cover North and South America in a foot of water. Look for its wolf's-head shape.
5 of our routes pass it. Michigan · rated 7 of 10
The easy pick
Minneapolis to Paris: sit on the right, 38 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Hancock | Right | on the way down |
| Detroit to Tokyo | Right | 53 min after takeoff |
| Minneapolis to Paris | Right | 38 min after takeoff |
| Portland to Boston | Left | 173 min after takeoff |
| Washington to Seoul | Right | 92 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 Lake Superior from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (4 of 5). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Lake Superior 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.
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 Gogebic Mackinac Bridge Chicago (ORD) Detroit (DTW) Tokyo (HND) Minneapolis (MSP) All routes