Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Columbus. Left side wins both ends of the flight. At takeoff you get the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan, and on approach into Columbus you get the Scioto River valley, downtown Columbus, and Ohio State's campus. The right side offers little of comparable interest at either end.

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 roughly east-southeast. The left (north) side gives you a clear view back over the Chicago metro grid, the lakefront, and downtown Chicago's skyline as you climb out and bank south toward Columbus. The right side faces south toward suburban sprawl with fewer distinctive features. Notable sights include: Downtown Chicago skyline and the Loop, Lake Michigan shoreline and Navy Pier, O'Hare's own runway complex below, the Chicago River corridor heading into the city.

When landing at Port Columbus International (CMH), sit on the Left side for the best views. CMH's primary arrival from the west typically uses runway 28L/28R or approaches from the northwest on runway 10R in reverse, but westbound arrivals commonly land heading east on runways 10L/10R. Approaching from the west-northwest, the left (north) side gives a view over downtown Columbus, the Scioto River, and Ohio State University's distinctive oval campus. The right side faces south toward less distinctive suburban and rural terrain. Notable sights include: Downtown Columbus skyline along the Scioto River, Ohio State University campus and Ohio Stadium, Scioto River winding through the metro, Hoover Reservoir to the northeast.

The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Port Columbus International (CMH) takes Approximately 55 to 70 minutes.

The flight crosses northern Indiana and northwest Ohio — largely flat agricultural land with the Maumee River valley visible near the Indiana-Ohio border, and the Toledo metro area may be visible to the north depending on routing. The terrain is uniformly flat glaciated farmland with grid-pattern roads throughout, with occasional small reservoirs and river corridors breaking the pattern.