ORD to DEN: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Chicago (ORD) to Denver (DEN) is a 1,426 km (886 mi), roughly 2h 11m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ORD to DEN 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 | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins for views, but it is also the sunny side. Pick left if you want the better look outside and do not mind glare. Pick right if you would rather keep the light off your window.
Sit left for the better views. On this westbound hop, the same side also gets the sun, so you trade a brighter window for the stronger look outside.
Takeoff
After departure from Chicago, depending on the runway in use, you get Chicago off the left side as you climb out.
En route
- 44m inRight →Des Moines · passes underneath
About 45 minutes in, Des Moines comes up very close to the aircraft on the right. It is a fast pass, almost under you.
- 1h 02m in← LeftOmaha · passes underneath
Around an hour in, Omaha is the other near-overhead pass, this time on the left. It is one of the clearest moments on the route.
- 1h 08m in← LeftLincoln
A few minutes after Omaha, Lincoln stays on the left side. You have a little more time to spot it before it slips back.
Landing
On descent into Denver, depending on the runway in use, Denver and Aurora sit off the left side.
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 DEN?
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 ORD to DEN 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 DEN?
The great-circle distance is 1,426 km (886 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 11m 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 ORD to DEN?
Sit on the left side for the better views on this route. That is also the sunny side, so expect more light in the window.
What will I see on the ORD to DEN flight?
You get Chicago after takeoff, then close passes by Des Moines, Omaha, and Lincoln. Denver and Aurora finish the flight on the left side.