Seeing Tijuana from a plane
Pressed right against the US border, with San Diego just north. Look for the border fence running straight up the hills to the Pacific, and dense neighborhoods covering every canyon south of it.
6 of our routes pass it. Baja California · rated 5 of 10
The easy pick
San Diego to Phoenix: sit on the right, on the climb, 7 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix to San Diego | Left | on the way down |
| Sacramento to San Diego | Left | on the way down |
| San Diego to Dallas-Fort Worth | Right the other side is usually better on this route | on the climb, 6 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Chicago | Right the other side is usually better on this route | on the climb, 6 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Phoenix | Right | on the climb, 7 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to San Diego | Left | on the way down |
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 Tijuana from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (3 of 6). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Tijuana 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 Tijuana 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
Tijuana International Airport San Diego–Coronado Bridge San Diego SeaWorld San Diego Salton Sea Phoenix (PHX) San Diego (SAN) Sacramento (SMF) Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) All routes