When is the Chicago to Denver route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

ORD to DEN Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Chicago to Denver flight turbulent?

The ORD–DEN route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on ORD to DEN?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 737 · Airbus A320, that's rows 10–18. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from ORD to DEN?

The ORD to DEN flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 920 miles at 34,000 feet.

Is the Chicago to Denver flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

ORD

→

DEN

Chicago · Denver · 2h 10m

Turb Score

2h 10m

Duration

800 nm

Distance

34,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for ORD–DEN

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h2h 10m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the ORD–DEN route

The Chicago to Denver route crosses the Rocky Mountains — one of the most turbulent regions in North America. Mountain wave turbulence occurs when strong winds blow over mountain peaks, creating powerful invisible waves that extend to cruise altitude. The worst turbulence typically occurs in the first 30–60 minutes when the aircraft is climbing over the range.

The route is served by United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines on Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 34,000 feet over a distance of 920 miles (800 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Mountain wave turbulence hits early. If flying over Rockies, expect the first hour to be bumpy.

Chicago to Denver Flight Time

How long is the flight from ORD to DEN?

2h 10m

Flight Time

920 mi

Distance

34,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 737

Aircraft

The Chicago (ORD) to Denver (DEN) flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 920 miles (800 nautical miles) at 34,000 feet. The route is operated by United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on ORD–DEN

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly ORD–DEN

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on ORD–DEN

Boeing 737

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–18

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 19+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

Chicago → Los Angeles

Denver → San Francisco

Light

See all mountain routes →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Mountain Turbulence

Why mountain routes are the bumpiest

→

Severe Turbulence

What it feels like and how to prepare

→

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

Some light chop on the climb out — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in June.

Regular traveler · June

The 2h 10m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · January

Flew Chicago–Denver in April, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · April

All ORD routes→ All DEN routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chicago to Denver flight turbulent?

The ORD–DEN route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 54/100.

When is turbulence worst on ORD to DEN?

Mountain wave turbulence hits early. If flying over Rockies, expect the first hour to be bumpy. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on ORD to DEN?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 737 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–18. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from ORD to DEN?

The ORD to DEN flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 920 miles (800 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly ORD to DEN?

The main airlines operating this route are United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, flying Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data