SEA to ORD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seattle (SEA) to Chicago (ORD) is a 2,762 km (1,716 mi), roughly 3h 45m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SEA to ORD 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 | Right | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Right | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins for both views and shade.
On this SEA to ORD flight, the left side gets the better views and the shade. You also have daylight for most of the trip, so this is a simple pick.
Takeoff
After takeoff from SEA, depending on the runway in use, the left side can catch Seattle and Lake Washington as you climb out. The best early mountain view is on the right, where the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier sit a few minutes after departure.
En route
- 30m in← LeftSpokane
About half an hour in, Spokane appears on the left.
- 51m in← LeftGlacier National Park
Around 50 minutes in, Glacier National Park is also on the left.
- 1h 16m inRight →Yellowstone National Park
Near the 1 hour 15 minute mark, Yellowstone National Park sits on the right.
- 1h 53m inRight →Devils Tower
A little under two hours in, Devils Tower comes into view on the right.
- 3h 02m in← LeftMinneapolis
About three hours in, Minneapolis is on the left.
- 3h 32m in← LeftMadison
On descent, Madison is on the left.
Landing
On approach to ORD, depending on the runway in use, Chicago comes in on the right near landing. Milwaukee shows up on the left a few minutes earlier if the air is clear enough.
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 SEA to ORD?
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 SEA 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 SEA to ORD?
The great-circle distance is 2,762 km (1,716 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 45m in the air on this eastbound 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 SEA to ORD?
Sit on the left. It is the views side, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see on this route?
You get a mix of city and landscape views: Seattle and Lake Washington near departure, then Spokane, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Devils Tower, Minneapolis, and Madison.