The right side offers the only real scenic payoff of the flight — a fleeting Lake Michigan view on departure and a dramatic mountain-ringed valley approach into Missoula — while the left side spends most of the route over featureless plains.
Flown ORD to MSO? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Chicago to Missoula is 1,329 miles (2,139 km), a flight of about 2 hours 45 minutes.
Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisconsin farmland, and the flat plains of eastern Minnesota and North Dakota before the terrain rises into Montana's high plains and the eastern front of the Rockies
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from ORD
RIGHTWestbound departures from ORD give a brief glimpse of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline off the right side before the aircraft turns onto its northwest heading toward Wisconsin.
Landing at MSO
RIGHTOn approach into Missoula, the aircraft descends into a valley ringed by mountains, and the Sapphire Range and Rocky Mountain foothills are most prominent on the right side as the plane lines up with the valley's single runway.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Missoula Montana Airport (MSO)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Missoula. The right side offers the only real scenic payoff of the flight — a fleeting Lake Michigan view on departure and a dramatic mountain-ringed valley approach into Missoula — while the left side spends most of the route over featureless plains.
What can I see during takeoff from Chicago Ohare International in Chicago?
During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Westbound departures from ORD give a brief glimpse of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline off the right side before the aircraft turns onto its northwest heading toward Wisconsin. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago skyline, O'Hare's runway complex.
What can I see when landing at Missoula Montana Airport in Missoula?
When landing at Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), sit on the Right side for the best views. On approach into Missoula, the aircraft descends into a valley ringed by mountains, and the Sapphire Range and Rocky Mountain foothills are most prominent on the right side as the plane lines up with the valley's single runway. Notable sights include: Sapphire Mountains, Rattlesnake Wilderness ridgeline, Missoula valley floor, Clark Fork River.
How long is the flight from Chicago to Missoula?
The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 1,329 miles (2,139 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Chicago to Missoula flight path pass over?
Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisconsin farmland, and the flat plains of eastern Minnesota and North Dakota before the terrain rises into Montana's high plains and the eastern front of the Rockies