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ORD → XNA
Which side of the plane to sit from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Chicago) to Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (Bentonville)?
Left Side of the Plane
The Left Side is superior for this route, offering the iconic Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan views upon departure, followed by the Mississippi River crossing and the scenic Beaver Lake reservoir during the descent into Northwest Arkansas.
Search flights from ORD to XNA
Chicago Skyline
Breathtaking views of the Willis Tower, Hancock Center, and the downtown 'Loop' area immediately after takeoff from O'Hare.
Lake Michigan
The deep blue expanse of the Great Lakes coastline as the aircraft banks south-southwest.
St. Louis & The Arch
On clear days, the Gateway Arch and the St. Louis metropolitan area are visible as you pass the Illinois-Missouri border.
Illinois River
Aerial perspective of the winding Illinois River snaking through the agricultural heartland.
Beaver Lake
The massive, turquoise-tinted reservoir east of Rogers, Arkansas, serves as a primary landmark during the final approach.
Sit on the Left Side (Seat A or similar) for the best morning light on the Chicago skyline. If departing on runways 9R or 10L, you'll get a direct 'postcard' view of the city. During the descent, keep your camera ready about 15 minutes before landing to catch the Ozark lake systems.
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O'Hare Operations
An expansive view of one of the world's busiest airport infrastructures, including the myriad of terminals and runways.
Midwestern Patterns
The geometric beauty of the 'American Grid' system with vast corn and soybean fields across Illinois and Missouri.
Central IL Wind Farms
Massive clusters of wind turbines visible across the flat plains of central Illinois.
Ozark Plateau
The transition from flat farmland to the rugged, forested hills and deep valleys of the Missouri Ozarks.
The Right Side is ideal for evening flights to witness the sunset over the Great Plains. It offers a quieter, more natural scenery profile, focusing on the changing topography from the prairies of the Midwest to the hills of the Ozark Plateau.
Book Hotels in BentonvilleDistance: 840 km (522 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 24 min
Departure: ORD (41.9786, -87.9048)
Arrival: XNA (36.281898, -94.306801)
Route Type: Domestic
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