ORD to MSP: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Chicago (ORD) to Minneapolis (MSP) is a 537 km (334 mi), roughly 1h 8m 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 MSP 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 | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| 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. This route gives you the better views and the shade side, so it is the easy pick.
Takeoff
After takeoff from ORD, keep to the right side. Depending on the runway in use, Chicago sits off that side early in the climb.
En route
- 10m inRight →Milwaukee
About 10 minutes in, Milwaukee stays on the right. It is a clear city pass, not a far-off peek.
- 22m inRight →Madison
Around 20 minutes in, Madison is also on the right. You get a second city view before the descent starts.
Landing
On descent into MSP, the right side stays the better choice. Depending on the runway in use, Minneapolis and Saint Paul both come in on that side, and both sit nearly under the aircraft as you come down.
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 MSP?
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 MSP 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 ORD to MSP?
The great-circle distance is 537 km (334 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 8m 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 ORD to MSP?
Sit on the right. It is the view side and the shade side on this route.
What will I see on the ORD to MSP flight?
You get Chicago after departure, then Milwaukee and Madison on the right, with Minneapolis and Saint Paul coming up near landing.