ORD to ATL: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Chicago (ORD) to Atlanta (ATL) is a 976 km (607 mi), roughly 1h 39m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ORD to ATL 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 | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade.
Take the left side. It gets the better views and the shade on this southbound hop.
Takeoff
On departure from ORD, sit left for Chicago, depending on the runway in use. It sits off that side early in the climb.
En route
- 28m in← LeftIndianapolis
About 30 minutes in, Indianapolis sits off the left side.
- 40m in← LeftCincinnati
Around 40 minutes in, Cincinnati is also on the left.
- 46m in← LeftLouisville
Near the 45-minute mark, Louisville stays to the left.
- 56m inRight →Mammoth Cave National Park
About 55 minutes in, Mammoth Cave National Park is off the right side. It is fairly close, so it passes quickly.
- 1h 05m inRight →Nashville
About an hour in, Nashville is on the right side.
Landing
On approach to ATL, the left side lines up with the city, depending on the runway in use. Atlanta comes up close on that side, and nearly under you as you descend.
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 ORD to ATL?
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 ORD to ATL flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from ORD to ATL?
The great-circle distance is 976 km (607 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 39m in the air on this southbound 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 Chicago to Atlanta?
Sit on the left. It has the better views and the shade on this route.
What can I see on the ORD-ATL flight?
You get Chicago after takeoff, then Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Mammoth Cave National Park on the right, Nashville on the right, and Atlanta near landing.