Seeing Sonoran Desert from a plane
The only place on Earth where saguaro cactus grows wild, and one of North America's hottest deserts. Look for jagged mountain ranges rising like islands from flat desert, with Phoenix and Tucson's grids between.
2 of our routes pass it. Arizona · rated 6 of 10
The easy pick
Phoenix to San Diego: sit on the left, 15 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix to San Diego | Left | 15 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Dallas-Fort Worth | Right the other side is usually better on this route | 32 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 Sonoran Desert from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (1 of 2). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Sonoran Desert from a plane?
Mid-flight: see the table for when on 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
Phoenix Raceway State Farm Stadium Phoenix Chase Field Mesa Phoenix (PHX) San Diego (SAN) Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) All routes