Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Salt Lake City. The right side misses the Chicago skyline on departure but captures the dramatic Wasatch Front and Great Salt Lake on arrival, which is the more visually spectacular payoff. Across the cruise portion heading west-southwest, the right side also looks south toward the Iowa and Nebraska plains, then the Colorado Plateau's canyon country becomes faintly visible near the Utah border. The arrival view into SLC from the right is one of the more dramatic urban approaches in the continental US.

During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ORD's most common westbound departures use runways 10L/10C heading east before turning west, or runways 27L/27R heading directly west. On a westbound departure, the left side gives you a clear view south over downtown Chicago's skyline and Lake Michigan's shoreline as you climb out and bank toward the west. The Willis Tower and the lakefront are unmistakable from 3,000-8,000 feet. Notable sights include: Downtown Chicago skyline (Willis Tower visible), Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago River corridor, Midway Airport to the south.

When landing at Salt Lake City International (SLC), sit on the Right side for the best views. SLC sits just east of the Great Salt Lake, and the airport approaches from the east or west depending on winds. On the dominant westerly approach (landing east on runways 16L/16R or 34L/34R), the right side gives you the best view of the Wasatch Front — the dramatic wall of the Wasatch Range rising directly east of the city — while the left side looks out over the flat salt flats and the Great Salt Lake. However, the right side also captures the Great Salt Lake to the northwest as you descend, making it the stronger overall pick for the approach. Notable sights include: Wasatch Front mountain range, Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City urban grid, Oquirrh Mountains to the west.

The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Salt Lake City International (SLC) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.

The flight tracks west-southwest across Iowa's flat agricultural grid, then Nebraska's Platte River valley is visible below around the midpoint. Crossing into Colorado, the Rocky Mountains appear on the right (north) side as a distant white wall. Over eastern Utah, the Uinta Basin's high desert terrain and Book Cliffs escarpment are visible below before the descent into the Salt Lake Valley.