Seeing Miami from a plane
Look for Biscayne Bay and its chain of man-made islands, the long Miami Beach barrier island, and the thick cluster of Brickell towers on the bay. West of the city the Everglades start abruptly.
15 of our routes pass it. Florida · rated 7 of 10
The easy pick
Miami to Atlanta: sit on the right, on the climb, 1 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale | Right | on the way down |
| Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale | Right | on the way down |
| Miami to Atlanta | Right | on the climb, 1 min after takeoff |
| Miami to Bogota | Left | on the climb, 1 min after takeoff |
| Miami to Chicago | Right | on the climb, 1 min after takeoff |
| Miami to Charlotte | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Miami to Dallas-Fort Worth | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Miami to New York | Right the other side is usually better on this route | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Miami to Los Angeles | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| Miami to New York | Right the other side is usually better on this route | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| New York to Fort Lauderdale | Right the other side is usually better on this route | on the way down |
| San Juan to Orlando | Left | 119 min after takeoff |
| San Juan to Miami | Right | on the way down |
| San Juan to Atlanta | Left | 121 min after takeoff |
| San Juan to Tampa | Left | 123 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 Miami from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (11 of 15). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Miami 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 Miami 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
PortMiami Miami Beach Hard Rock Stadium Gulfstream Park Hard Rock Guitar Hotel Atlanta (ATL) Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Baltimore (BWI) Miami (MIA) All routes