About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Newark Liberty International (EWR) to Chicago Midway International (MDW)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Newark to Chicago. The left side delivers the spectacular Manhattan and Newark Bay departure view, which is hard to beat. En route, the left side also tracks closer to the southern shore of Lake Erie as the flight crosses northern Pennsylvania and Ohio, offering occasional glimpses of that Great Lakes shoreline. The right side wins on landing, but the takeoff view tips the balance to the left overall.
What can I see during takeoff from Newark Liberty International in Newark?
During takeoff from Newark Liberty International (EWR), sit on the Left side for the best views. EWR typically departs westbound or northbound on runways 22L/22R or 29. A left-side seat during a westbound departure gives you a clear view back over Newark Bay, the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan's skyline, and the Hudson River before the aircraft turns toward Pennsylvania. This is one of the most iconic urban departure views in American aviation. Notable sights include: Lower Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty in Newark Bay, Hudson River, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the south.
What can I see when landing at Chicago Midway International in Chicago?
When landing at Chicago Midway International (MDW), sit on the Right side for the best views. MDW sits on Chicago's southwest side, and aircraft typically approach from the east or southeast on runway 31C/31L heading northwest. A right-side seat on approach gives you a prolonged view of Lake Michigan's southern shoreline, the Chicago lakefront, Grant Park, and the dense Loop skyline before the aircraft descends over the South Side residential grid toward Midway. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan southern shoreline, Chicago Loop skyline, Grant Park and Museum Campus, South Side street grid.
How long is the flight from Newark to Chicago?
The flight from Newark Liberty International (EWR) to Chicago Midway International (MDW) takes Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.
What does the Newark to Chicago flight path pass over?
The flight crosses northern New Jersey, then the Pocono Plateau of Pennsylvania, before tracking across the flat agricultural plains of northern Ohio. The southern shoreline of Lake Erie may be visible to the left in the distance over Ohio. Indiana's flat corn and soybean farmland dominates the final approach corridor before the Chicago metro area comes into view.