How Do You Choose a Seat for Sun Protection on a Trip?

Updated

Pick the seat on the side of the vehicle that faces away from the sun for the hours you'll actually be traveling. In the northern hemisphere, that usually means the left side in the morning and the right side in the afternoon when heading east or west, but the exact answer depends on your departure time, route direction, timezone, and how long you're moving. Sit In Shade is built for exactly this: you enter a date, time, duration, and timezone (or use current time and location), and it returns sun exposure data and a visual route map so you can see which side of the vehicle stays shaded.

The core rule: sun side vs. shade side

The sun moves from east to west across the sky. A vehicle window on the same side as the sun takes direct light; the opposite side gets shade from the vehicle body. So the first question is always: where is the sun relative to my direction of travel?

Time of day Sun position Heading east Heading west Heading north/south
Morning Low in the east Sun hits the front/right Sun hits the rear/left Sun hits one side window
Midday High overhead Mostly roof/upper windows Mostly roof/upper windows Mostly roof/upper windows
Afternoon Low in the west Sun hits the rear/left Sun hits the front/right Sun hits the opposite side window

This is a starting heuristic, not a guarantee. Latitude, season, and the exact compass bearing of your route shift the answer, which is why a route-based tool is more reliable than a rule of thumb.

Using Sit In Shade to check your specific trip

Sit In Shade's page presents a form with these inputs: Date, Time, Estimate Duration, Duration, Use Current Time, Use Current Location, and Timezone (a full UTC−12:00 to UTC+13:00 list), followed by a Submit button. The output is real-time sun exposure data and a visual route map.

Step by step:

  1. Set the date and time to your actual departure, or click Use Current Time if you're leaving now.
  2. Set the timezone to the one you'll be traveling in — this matters most on long trips that cross zones, because the sun angle at "3 PM" differs by region.
  3. Enter the duration (or use Estimate Duration to let the tool approximate it).
  4. Use Current Location or enter your route so the tool knows your path and bearing.
  5. Submit and read the route map: look for where the sun exposure changes along the way, not just at the start.
  6. Pick the seat on the shaded side for the longest stretch of your trip, and note any point where the shaded side flips.

The value of the map view is that it shows change over the route. On a long east–west trip the sun side can switch from one window to the other as the day progresses, so a seat that's shaded at departure may not stay shaded.

Matching the seat to the vehicle and layout

Once you know which side is shaded, translate that into an actual seat:

  • Window vs. aisle: The aisle seat avoids direct side-window sun almost entirely. If you can't get the shaded window, take the aisle on the sunny side rather than the window.
  • Front vs. back: On buses and trains, front rows often have larger, more vertical windows and less overhang, so they can take more direct sun. Rear rows sometimes sit under a deeper curve of the body or behind a bulkhead that blocks low-angle light.
  • Window size and shape: A small, high window admits less low-angle sun than a large panoramic one. This is why the same compass side can feel very different between a plane and a coach.
  • Built-in shades: Many trains and coaches have pull-down blinds; aircraft windows have shades. A shaded window on the sunny side can beat an unshaded window on the "correct" side.

Plan for the sun changing during the trip

A single seat choice is rarely optimal for a multi-hour journey. Two practical moves:

  • Check the route map before you go and identify roughly when the shaded side flips. If the flip happens early, choose the side that's shaded for the majority of your travel time.
  • Switch seats mid-trip if you can. On trains and buses with open seating, moving across the aisle after the flip is the simplest fix. On a plane, ask about an empty seat on the other side once boarding is complete.

Backup measures when you can't move

Sometimes the shaded seat is taken, or you're locked into an assignment. Layer these:

  • Pull the window shade on the sunny side where one exists.
  • Wear a hat with a brim and sunglasses; a wide brim blocks low-angle light that comes in under a shade.
  • Use sunscreen on the exposed side of your face, neck, and arm — window glass reduces but does not eliminate UV exposure over long periods.
  • Drape a jacket or scarf over the window edge to cut glare and direct light.
  • On very long trips, rotate your body slightly away from the window and keep the exposed side covered.

Quick decision checklist

  1. Note your departure time, timezone, and route direction.
  2. Run the trip through Sit In Shade and read the route map for the shaded side.
  3. Choose the shaded window, or the aisle on the sunny side if the window is unavailable.
  4. Check whether the shaded side flips during the trip; if it does, plan to switch or accept the majority-shade side.
  5. Pack a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen as a fallback for when the seat doesn't cooperate.