Seeing Manhattan from a plane
1.6 million people on 23 square miles. Look for Central Park, a perfect 2.5-mile green rectangle cut into the grid.
2 of our routes pass it. New York · rated 6 of 10
The easy pick
New York to Orlando: sit on the left, on the climb, 0 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| New York to Orlando | Left | on the climb, 0 min after takeoff |
| New York to Charlotte | Left | on the climb, 0 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 Manhattan from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (2 of 2). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Manhattan 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 Manhattan 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
Central Park Queensboro Bridge Empire State Building Yankee Stadium Rikers Island New York (JFK) Orlando (MCO) New York (LGA) Charlotte (CLT) All routes