Abstract: The turbulent distribution phase screen along a slant path has been simulated by using the method of power spectrum inversion. By constructing the initial distorted wavefront phase model, the phase characteristics of the laser beam propagating along a slant path has been studied from the view of wavefront peak-valley value and the wavefront power spectral density function. The influences of propagation distance and zenith angle on the phase distortion of laser beams in turbulence have been analyzed. The results show that the wavefront phase of laser beams distorts obviously after propagating along a slant path in the turbulent atmosphere, and the distortion of high frequency phase increases; the wavefront phase of laser beams propagating along a slant path in the turbulent atmosphere is closely related to the propagation distance and zenith angle. The longer the propagation distance or the bigger the zenith angle is, the more distorted the high frequency phase becomes.