Phoenix to Chicago flight path: PHX to MDW

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Phoenix to Chicago. The right side wins on both ends of the flight: desert mountain scenery near Phoenix at takeoff and a lakefront/skyline view of Chicago at landing, while the left side offers mostly flat, unremarkable terrain throughout.

During takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing PHX to the northeast, the right side offers views of the Superstition Mountains and the rugged desert terrain east of Phoenix, plus glimpses of downtown Phoenix's skyline as the aircraft climbs. The left side mostly shows flat suburban sprawl toward the West Valley. Notable sights include: Superstition Mountains, McDowell Mountains, Downtown Phoenix skyline, Salt River bed.

When landing at Chicago Midway International (MDW), sit on the Right side for the best views. On approach into MDW from the southwest, the right side offers a good look at Lake Michigan's shoreline and the Chicago skyline before the final turn onto the runway, a distinctive urban and lakefront view. The left side mostly shows flat residential neighborhoods with no major landmarks. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago skyline (Willis Tower, Loop skyscrapers), Midway's grid of suburban neighborhoods.

The flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to Chicago Midway International (MDW) takes about 2 hours 50 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 1,441 miles (2,319 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Flat high plains of eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle, followed by rolling farmland across Oklahoma and Kansas, with the Ozark Plateau visible in southern Missouri before the terrain flattens again into Illinois farmland.