LAX to ORD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago (ORD) is a 2,802 km (1,741 mi), roughly 3h 48m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAX to ORD departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Sit left for both the views and the shade.
Sit on the left. That side gets the better views, and it is also the shade side. You get a strong start over Southern California, then the better long-range scenery across the desert and into the Midwest.
Takeoff
On departure, the left side starts the better show. You may catch the San Fernando Valley from climbout, depending on the runway in use, while the right side picks up Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach.
En route
- 31m in← LeftLas Vegas
About half an hour in, Las Vegas sits off the left side. From cruise, it reads as a dense city patch in the desert.
- 33m in← LeftHoover Dam
A few minutes later, Hoover Dam is also on the left. It is a brief sight, but it stands out as a tight shape on the river line.
- 49m in← LeftZion National Park
Around 50 minutes in, Zion National Park is on the left. You see it from a distance, not as a close-up.
- 1h 13m in← LeftCanyonlands National Park
About an hour and a quarter in, Canyonlands National Park stays on the left. It is another broad Utah landscape, more sweep than detail.
- 1h 50m in← LeftDenver
Near the middle of the flight, Denver comes up on the left, with Aurora just after it. You get a wide metro spread rather than a single landmark.
- 3h 09m in← LeftDes Moines
Late in the trip, Des Moines is on the left. It is a final city glimpse before the descent.
Landing
On arrival, Chicago is off the right side, depending on the runway in use. It is a last city view rather than a long approach panorama.
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 LAX to ORD?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on LAX 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 LAX to ORD?
The great-circle distance is 2,802 km (1,741 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 48m in the air on this eastbound 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 for LAX to ORD?
Sit on the left. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
What can I see on the way from LAX to ORD?
You can see the San Fernando Valley near departure, then Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Zion National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Denver, and Des Moines on the left side.