Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers to Chicago. While takeoff on the right offers good Ozark views, the landing approach on the left provides more dramatic scenery with the Des Plaines River, suburban development patterns, and the visible transition to Chicago's urban landscape. The left side captures more of the flight's visual interest during the descent phase.

During takeoff from Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats offer views of the Ozark Plateau's rolling terrain and the Illinois River valley as the aircraft climbs northeastward. You'll see the distinctive green hills and river systems that characterize northwest Arkansas before the plane levels off. Notable sights include: Illinois River valley, Ozark Plateau ridgelines, War Eagle Creek drainage patterns, Lake Leatherwood (visible as a small reservoir southeast of Eureka Springs).

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats provide excellent views during descent into Chicago, including the Des Plaines River, suburban sprawl patterns, and the approach corridor over northern Illinois farmland. You'll see the transition from rural terrain to urban development as you descend toward O'Hare. Notable sights include: Des Plaines River, Chicago metropolitan sprawl (visible as grid patterns and developed areas), Lake Michigan shoreline (visible on final approach), Illinois farmland (flat rectangular field patterns in foreground during descent).

The flight from Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

The flight path crosses central Missouri and Illinois, passing over the Missouri River valley near Jefferson City, then continues northeast over central Illinois farmland. Notable features include the Osage River drainage systems in Missouri, the transition from Ozark terrain to Mississippi River valley topography, and extensive rectangular agricultural field patterns across Illinois. The flight typically maintains cruising altitude of 28,000-32,000 feet during the midpoint, where individual landmarks become small but the broad geographic patterns—river valleys, field grids, and occasional lakes—remain visible.