About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Houston. Left side delivers the Chicago skyline and lakefront on departure and the Houston skyline on approach. The right side offers little of comparable interest on either end of this flat, featureless midcontinent route.
What can I see during takeoff from Chicago Ohare International in Chicago?
During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ORD's most common southbound departures (runways 10L/10C heading east then turning south) put the left side facing the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan shoreline. You get a clear view of the downtown Loop, Grant Park, and the lakefront as the aircraft banks south. Notable sights include: Chicago Loop skyline, Lake Michigan shoreline, Grant Park/Museum Campus, Midway Airport to the south.
What can I see when landing at George Bush Intcntl Houston in Houston?
When landing at George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH), sit on the Left side for the best views. IAH's primary north-south runways mean aircraft typically approach from the north or south. On a southbound arrival from Chicago, the approach often comes from the north on runways 26L/26R or 15L/15R, putting the left side facing downtown Houston's skyline as you descend over the northern suburbs. Notable sights include: Downtown Houston skyline, Lake Houston to the northeast, Buffalo Bayou corridor, Houston Ship Channel industrial complex.
How long is the flight from Chicago to Houston?
The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.
What does the Chicago to Houston flight path pass over?
The route crosses central Illinois farmland, then the flat agricultural plains of Missouri and Arkansas. The Mississippi River is crossed roughly 30-40 minutes after departure near St. Louis, visible as a wide brown ribbon from cruising altitude. The route then passes over the Ozark Plateau in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas — low, forested hills visible as a textured dark-green landscape contrasting with the surrounding flat farmland. Over Louisiana and East Texas the terrain flattens again into pine forest and eventually the Gulf Coastal Plain, with occasional river systems like the Red River and Trinity River visible as meandering brown lines through the landscape.