ATL to ORD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Atlanta (ATL) to Chicago (ORD) is a 976 km (607 mi), roughly 1h 39m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ATL to ORD departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Right side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the right. The right side gets the better views, and it is also the shady side on this northbound hop from ATL to ORD.
Takeoff
Shortly after takeoff, depending on the runway in use, Atlanta sits off your right side and can pass very close beneath you as you climb out.
En route
- 34m in← LeftNashville
About 34 minutes in, Nashville is on the left, so it is not the side to choose for this route.
- 48m inRight →Lexington
About 48 minutes in, Lexington is off your right side.
- 53m inRight →Louisville
Around 53 minutes in, Louisville comes into view on your right.
- 59m inRight →Cincinnati
Near the hour mark, Cincinnati is also on your right.
- 1h 11m inRight →Indianapolis
About 71 minutes in, Indianapolis stays on your right side for a while.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, Chicago comes in on your right about two minutes before landing.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from ATL to ORD?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on ATL to ORD flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from ATL to ORD?
The great-circle distance is 976 km (607 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 39m in the air on this northbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on from ATL to ORD?
Sit on the right side. It gets the better views and the shade on this flight.
What will I see on the way from Atlanta to Chicago?
You get Atlanta close after takeoff, then a run of Midwest cities, with Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis on the right.