Minneapolis to Chicago flight path: MSP to MDW

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Minneapolis to Chicago. The left side wins on both ends of this short flight: it captures the Twin Cities and Mississippi River during departure and the Chicago skyline with Lake Michigan during arrival, while the right side mostly shows featureless Midwest farmland.

During takeoff from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing MSP on the southeast-facing runways, the climb-out banks the Twin Cities into view on the left: the Mississippi River and its confluence with the Minnesota River near Fort Snelling sit almost directly below, with the Minneapolis and St. Paul skylines visible to the north before the plane turns onto its southeast track toward Chicago. Notable sights include: Mississippi River, Minneapolis downtown skyline, St. Paul skyline and cathedral dome, Fort Snelling river confluence.

When landing at Chicago Midway International (MDW), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the northwest-to-southeast approach into MDW's runway 13C, the final descent puts downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan off the left side of the aircraft, giving passengers a good look at the skyline and lakefront before the turn onto final over the city's southwest neighborhoods. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline, Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago's southwest side street grid, Midway airport approach corridor.

The flight from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP) to Chicago Midway International (MDW) takes 1h 25m.

Flat agricultural patchwork of southern Minnesota, northern Iowa, and northern Illinois, with occasional glimpses of the Mississippi River near the Iowa-Illinois border and the Rock River valley in northern Illinois.