Pittsburgh to Chicago flight path: PIT to ORD

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Pittsburgh to Chicago. The right side offers the only real scenic payoff on this short, mostly flat route — a glimpse of Pittsburgh's river confluence on departure and Lake Michigan with the Chicago skyline on arrival, while the left side sees mainly featureless Ohio and Indiana farmland.

During takeoff from Pittsburgh International (PIT), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing PIT to the west, the aircraft typically banks north toward Chicago, giving right-side passengers a good look at Pittsburgh's downtown triangle at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers before climbing over the hilly Allegheny Plateau. Notable sights include: Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle, Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, Point State Park, wooded ridge terrain of western Pennsylvania.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Arrivals into ORD from the east often pass near Lake Michigan and the Chicago shoreline before turning onto final approach, so right-side passengers get glimpses of the lake and the city's skyline silhouette on a clear day. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago skyline (Willis Tower, Loop skyscrapers), O'Hare's grid of runways, flat suburban sprawl.

The flight from Pittsburgh International (PIT) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes about 1 hour 25 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 411 miles (662 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Flat agricultural plains of eastern Ohio and Indiana, with the Maumee and Wabash River valleys occasionally visible below