ORD to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 2,802 km (1,741 mi), roughly 3h 48m 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 LAX 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 right side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the right. That side gets the better views and the shade on this westbound trip, with the strongest scenery well into the second half of the flight.
Takeoff
After takeoff from ORD, depending on the runway in use, Chicago sits off the left side during climb-out. The view is brief, then the route settles in.
En route
- 39m inRight →Des Moines
About 40 minutes in, Des Moines is off the right. You get a clear city look as you cross into the Midwest.
- 55m inRight →Omaha
A few minutes later, Omaha and then Lincoln stay on the right. They come in close together, so keep that window seat ready.
- 1h 58m inRight →Denver
Around two hours in, Denver is off the right. Aurora is there too, also on the right, before the route heads farther west.
- 2h 35m inRight →Canyonlands National Park
Near the middle of the flight, Canyonlands National Park sits to the right. It is farther out, but it is one of the standout views on this route.
- 3h 15m inRight →Hoover Dam
Later on, Hoover Dam passes on the right, followed by Las Vegas on the same side. That is the sharpest city-and-infrastructure stretch of the trip.
Landing
On descent into LAX, depending on the runway in use, San Fernando Valley is off the right while Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach sit to the left. Right before landing, the split view keeps both sides busy, but the right side still matches the overall recommendation.
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 LAX?
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 LAX 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 LAX?
The great-circle distance is 2,802 km (1,741 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 48m 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 of the plane should I sit on from ORD to LAX?
Sit on the right. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side on this westbound flight.
What will I see on the ORD to LAX route?
Chicago is off the left after takeoff, then the right side gets Des Moines, Omaha, Lincoln, Denver, Canyonlands National Park, Hoover Dam, and Las Vegas.