The right side captures the two most distinctive moments of the flight: the Atlantic coastline and Port Everglades on departure, and Lake Michigan with the Chicago skyline on arrival. The left side offers only the flat, muted Everglades and generic suburban sprawl during the same phases.
Flight Path
Lake Okeechobee and central Florida's lake country early in the route, followed by the pine forests and rolling terrain of southern Georgia, then the flat farmland of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana as the route levels out over the Midwest before descending toward Chicago.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from FLL
RIGHTFLL's easterly departure runway sends the aircraft straight toward the coast before the turn north, giving right-side passengers a clear view of Fort Lauderdale's beachfront, Port Everglades, and the turquoise Atlantic. Left-side passengers instead get the flatter, browner Everglades and Lake Okeechobee basin as the plane banks inland.
Landing at ORD
RIGHTArriving from the south, aircraft typically turn onto final approach for ORD's west-facing runways, and that turn brings Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline into view off the right side before the plane lines up over the flatter western suburbs. The left side mostly shows featureless suburban grid streets during the same turn.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International (FLL) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago. The right side captures the two most distinctive moments of the flight: the Atlantic coastline and Port Everglades on departure, and Lake Michigan with the Chicago skyline on arrival. The left side offers only the flat, muted Everglades and generic suburban sprawl during the same phases.
What can I see during takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International in Fort Lauderdale?
During takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International (FLL), sit on the Right side for the best views. FLL's easterly departure runway sends the aircraft straight toward the coast before the turn north, giving right-side passengers a clear view of Fort Lauderdale's beachfront, Port Everglades, and the turquoise Atlantic. Left-side passengers instead get the flatter, browner Everglades and Lake Okeechobee basin as the plane banks inland. Notable sights include: Fort Lauderdale Beach, Port Everglades cruise terminal, Atlantic coastline, Intracoastal Waterway.
What can I see when landing at Chicago Ohare International in Chicago?
When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Arriving from the south, aircraft typically turn onto final approach for ORD's west-facing runways, and that turn brings Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline into view off the right side before the plane lines up over the flatter western suburbs. The left side mostly shows featureless suburban grid streets during the same turn. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan, Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock Center), Chicago River mouth, O'Hare's surrounding suburban grid.
How long is the flight from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago?
The flight from Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International (FLL) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes 2h 50m.
What does the Fort Lauderdale to Chicago flight path pass over?
Lake Okeechobee and central Florida's lake country early in the route, followed by the pine forests and rolling terrain of southern Georgia, then the flat farmland of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana as the route levels out over the Midwest before descending toward Chicago.