Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Baltimore. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the cruise portion heading east-southeast, the left side also tracks closer to the southern shore of Lake Michigan briefly after departure, and later offers better angles toward the Ohio and Pennsylvania terrain. Right side has no compelling advantage at either airport.

During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ORD's most common eastbound departures use runways 10L/10R, heading east-southeast. The left (north) side gives you a clear view back over the Chicago metro grid, Lake Michigan's shoreline, and the downtown skyline as you climb out. The right side faces south toward suburban sprawl with fewer distinctive features. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock), Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago River grid pattern, O'Hare's massive runway complex receding below.

When landing at Baltimore Washington International (BWI), sit on the Left side for the best views. BWI's most common approach from the west uses runway 28, meaning aircraft arrive from the east and land heading west, or runway 10 heading east. On approaches from the west (runway 10, heading east), the left side faces north toward the Patapsco River, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and the Chesapeake Bay. This is the more scenic and geographically interesting side on final approach. Notable sights include: Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore Inner Harbor and downtown, Patapsco River estuary, Annapolis and the Bay Bridge visible to the northeast on clear days.

The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) takes Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.

The flight tracks east-southeast across northern Indiana and Ohio, passing near Toledo and Cleveland's general latitude. The flat agricultural patchwork of the Midwest gives way to slightly more rolling terrain in western Pennsylvania. No major mountain ranges are crossed — the Appalachians are well to the south of this routing. The Ohio River valley may be visible in the distance to the south on clear days near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.