About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Houston to Chicago. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the cruise over Arkansas and Missouri, left-side passengers also get slightly better views of the Mississippi River as the flight path crosses it near the Missouri-Illinois border, making left the consistent choice for the full journey.
What can I see during takeoff from George Bush Intcntl Houston in Houston?
During takeoff from George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH), sit on the Left side for the best views. IAH's primary departure runways (15L/R heading southeast, or 27 heading west) mean a left-side seat gives you the best view of downtown Houston's skyline during the climbing turn northward. You'll see the urban core, the Ship Channel industrial complex, and the sprawl of the metro area as the aircraft banks left toward its northbound heading. Notable sights include: Downtown Houston skyline, Houston Ship Channel and port facilities, Lake Houston to the northeast, the dense suburban grid of The Woodlands corridor.
What can I see when landing at Chicago Ohare International in Chicago?
When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Flights from Houston typically approach ORD from the south or southwest, and left-side seats get the best view of the Chicago lakefront, Grant Park, and the Loop skyline as the aircraft descends over the southern suburbs. The Lake Michigan shoreline and the city grid are dramatically visible on approach to runways 10L/R or 28L/R. Notable sights include: Chicago Loop skyline and lakefront, Lake Michigan shoreline, Grant Park and Museum Campus, the dense urban grid of Chicago's South Side.
How long is the flight from Houston to Chicago?
The flight from George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes.
What does the Houston to Chicago flight path pass over?
The flight crosses the flat Gulf Coastal Plain of east Texas, then over the Piney Woods of northeast Texas and Arkansas. Over Arkansas the terrain remains low and forested with the Arkansas River valley visible. The flight crosses the Mississippi River near the Missouri-Illinois border, a wide braided river clearly visible from altitude. Southern Illinois farmland — flat, heavily gridded agricultural land — dominates the final hour before Chicago's suburban sprawl begins.