LGA to ORD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (LGA) to Chicago (ORD) is a 1,177 km (731 mi), roughly 1h 53m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LGA 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 | Left | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Right side for both views and shade.
Sit on the right. The route favors that side for views, and it is also the shade side.
Takeoff
Depending on the runway in use, the climb starts with Long Island off the right and the New York City bridges off the left. Brooklyn Bridge and the city pass very close, so the view is brief but sharp.
En route
- 43m inRight →Buffalo
About 40 minutes in, Buffalo sits off the right wing as a compact city shape.
- 45m inRight →Niagara Falls
A couple of minutes later, Niagara Falls is also on the right. You do not get a top-down look, but it is the kind of landmark that is easy to place at a glance.
- 59m inRight →Lake Erie
Around an hour in, Lake Erie runs along the right. From cruise height it reads as a broad, pale sheet.
- 1h 15m inRight →Detroit
Near the last third of the flight, Detroit comes into view on the right, with Windsor close by on the same side.
- 1h 15m inRight →Windsor
Windsor appears with Detroit on the right about 75 minutes in, so that stretch gives you a paired city view.
Landing
Depending on the runway in use, descent brings Indiana Dunes National Park on the left first, then Chicago close on the left about 10 minutes before landing. Chicago is nearly under you at the end, so the final view is quick and steep.
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 LGA 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 LGA to ORD flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from LGA to ORD?
The great-circle distance is 1,177 km (731 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 53m in the air on this westbound 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 LGA to ORD?
The right side. It is the better view side on this route, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see on this flight?
Mainly Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Lake Erie, Detroit, Windsor, and Chicago. The best views are on the right.