Santa Ana to Chicago is 1,722 miles (2,772 km), a flight of about 3 hours 55 minutes.
The right side wins on the strength of the Newport Beach coastal departure and a skyline-and-lake glimpse on arrival into Chicago, bookending an otherwise flat cruise over the Mojave and Great Plains. The left side has only a brief chance at distant Rockies views to offset long stretches of featureless plains.
Flight Path
After crossing the Mojave Desert and the Colorado River near the Arizona-Nevada border, the route passes north of the Grand Canyon's rim country, then clips the southern Rocky Mountains near the Colorado-New Mexico border before leveling out over the wheat fields of Kansas, the farmland of Missouri, and the Mississippi River near St. Louis on the way into Illinois.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from SNA
RIGHTSNA's noise-abatement departure off 20R sends the aircraft out toward Newport Beach before the turn onto course, and the right side keeps the coastline in view longest. Passengers see the harbor, the ocean, and often Catalina Island's silhouette on a clear day, while the left side only shows inland Orange County rooftops and the Santa Ana Mountains foothills.
Landing at ORD
RIGHTUnder typical southwest-wind operations, arrivals from the west descend toward ORD's east-west runways, and on the final miles the right side offers a distant look at the Chicago skyline and the edge of Lake Michigan before the flat grid of western suburbs takes over. The left side mainly shows repetitive subdivisions and DuPage County farmland with no skyline payoff.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John Wayne Arpt Orange Co (SNA) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Santa Ana to Chicago. The right side wins on the strength of the Newport Beach coastal departure and a skyline-and-lake glimpse on arrival into Chicago, bookending an otherwise flat cruise over the Mojave and Great Plains. The left side has only a brief chance at distant Rockies views to offset long stretches of featureless plains.
What can I see during takeoff from John Wayne Arpt Orange Co in Santa Ana?
During takeoff from John Wayne Arpt Orange Co (SNA), sit on the Right side for the best views. SNA's noise-abatement departure off 20R sends the aircraft out toward Newport Beach before the turn onto course, and the right side keeps the coastline in view longest. Passengers see the harbor, the ocean, and often Catalina Island's silhouette on a clear day, while the left side only shows inland Orange County rooftops and the Santa Ana Mountains foothills. Notable sights include: Newport Beach and Balboa Peninsula, Pacific Ocean, Catalina Island (distant silhouette), Newport Harbor.
What can I see when landing at Chicago Ohare International in Chicago?
When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Under typical southwest-wind operations, arrivals from the west descend toward ORD's east-west runways, and on the final miles the right side offers a distant look at the Chicago skyline and the edge of Lake Michigan before the flat grid of western suburbs takes over. The left side mainly shows repetitive subdivisions and DuPage County farmland with no skyline payoff. Notable sights include: Chicago skyline (Willis Tower and the Loop), Lake Michigan shoreline, western suburban grid, DuPage River.
How long is the flight from Santa Ana to Chicago?
The flight from John Wayne Arpt Orange Co (SNA) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes about 3 hours 55 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 1,722 miles (2,772 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Santa Ana to Chicago flight path pass over?
After crossing the Mojave Desert and the Colorado River near the Arizona-Nevada border, the route passes north of the Grand Canyon's rim country, then clips the southern Rocky Mountains near the Colorado-New Mexico border before leveling out over the wheat fields of Kansas, the farmland of Missouri, and the Mississippi River near St. Louis on the way into Illinois.