Best Places for Hot Air Balloon Rides in the US

Hot air balloon rides across the US offer one breathtaking, memorable activity ideal for couples.

If you’re looking for a unique experience to bond with your partner then look no further than hot air balloon rides and festivals.

Get a bird’s eye view of these picturesque locations or look skyward at dozens of colorful hot air balloons for some postcard worthy pics.

10 Vacation Destinations for Couples for the Best Hot Air Balloon Rides and Festivals

1. Albuquerque, NM

Many see Albuquerque as the cultural center of the Southwest. The city is surrounded by beautiful watermelon-colored mountains and the Rio Grande runs through it.

Best Hot Air Balloon Rides in Albuquerque

• Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co. | 5601 Eagle Rock Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113 | (505) 823-1111
• Fly Albuquerque | 417 Richmond Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 | (505) 800-1646
• World Balloon | 6390 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120 | (505) 293-6800

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in October and is a world-renown event and one of the most popular hot air balloon festivals on the planet.

Click here for more information and exact dates for this year’s festival.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Grab your copies: Date Ideas for Couples Cards (PDF) and Vacation Activities for Couples Checklist (PDF)

2. San Diego, CA

The only US city with beautiful sunny and warm beaches, surrounded by mountains, and with a downtown located right by the bay. San Diego is my all-time favorite US city to visit.

Just an hour north of San Diego you’ll find the mountainous wine-making city of Temecula.

Best Hot Air Balloon Rides in San Diego (and nearby)

• Compass Balloons | 1969 Villa Cardiff Dr, Cardiff, CA 92007 | (760) 704-7407
• San Diego Sky Tours | 3717 John J Montgomery Dr, San Diego, CA 92123 | (619) 757-6419
• Balloon Safari | San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027 | (760) 747-8702

Hot Air Balloon Festival in San Diego (and nearby)

The Balloon and Wine Festival takes place in June.

Click here for more information and exact dates for this year’s festival.

3. Park City, UT

Visitors to Park City, Utah can take advantage of the more than 400 trails used for hiking, biking, snow sports, and more!

Best Hot Air Balloon Rides in Park City, Utah (and nearby)

• Bigfoot Balloons | serves Park City and surrounding areas | (385) 285-5899

• Skywalker Balloon Company | serving Park City and nearby areas | (801) 824-3934

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Park City, Utah (and nearby)

Autumn Aloft features more than 20 hot air balloonists from around the world and takes place in September.

Click here for more information and exact dates.

4. Lakeland, FL

Lakeland, Florida boasts one of the best locations in the state of Florida, right in the middle between my home of Orlando with all of our world-renown theme parks and the Tampa Bay area, including the numerous world-renown Gulf Coast beaches nearby.

Best Hot Air Balloon Rides in Central Florida

• Painted Horizons Hot Air Balloon Tours | 12375 FL-535, Orlando, FL 32836 | (407) 578-3031
• Air Hound Adventures | 8190 Laura Ln, Davenport, FL 33896 | (407) 900-8359
• Sky Pirates Ballooning | 8190 Laura Ln, Davenport, FL 33896 | (407) 717-0969

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Lakeland, Florida

Up, Up and Away Florida Hot Air Balloon Festival is one of the biggest hot air balloon festivals in the state of Florida and features live entertainment, food and craft vendors, balloon rides, tethered rides, balloon night glows, a car show, carnival, helicopter rides and so much more!

Click here for more information and exact dates.

5. Driggs, ID

3 Things to Do in Idaho

• Burgdorf Hot Springs: take a dip in these hot natural springs
• Route of the Hiawatha: bike on one of the most scenic trails in the world.
• Sacajawea Historic Byway: take a road trip on this scenic and historic highway.

Best Hot Air Balloon Rides in Driggs, ID

• Elevated Ballooning | 98 E Little Ave, Driggs, ID 83422 | (208) 709-0777
• Teton Balloon Flights | 360 Chris Ln, Driggs, ID 83422 | (208) 787-5500

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Driggs, Idaho

Teton Valley Balloon Rally features more than 40 hot air balloons that ascend into the sky with the Teton mountains in the background. The festival takes place in the first week of July.

Click here (Facebook page) for more information and exact dates.

6. Plano, TX

3 Interesting Facts About Plano, Texas

• Plano, Texas is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, is currently the 9th largest city in the state, and 71st largest in the US.
• Plano is the 3rd safest city in the US
• The city ranks among the best bike-friendly towns in the country.

Hot Air Balloon Rides in Plano, Texas

• Rohr Balloons | 14933 Co Rd 525, Anna, TX 75409 | (214) 733-9915
• Air Adventures Aloft | Lewisville, TX | (214) 494-9930

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Plano, Texas

Central Market Plano Balloon Festival became an annual event in the hot air balloon capital of Texas back in 1980.

Click here for more information and exact dates.

7. Indianola, Iowa

3 Notable People from Indianola, Iowa

• Inventor of the modern hot air balloon Ed Yost
• Botanical researcher and agronomy educator George Washington Carver.
• American painter and printmaker John Paul Jones.

National Balloon Museum and U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame is located in Indianola, Iowa

Hot Air Balloon Rides in Indianola, IA

• Team FlyinKOAT Hot Air Balloons | 709 W 2nd Ave, Indianola, IA 50125 | (515) 249-9790
• Freedom Balloon Rides | 8899 Gear St, Indianola, IA 50125 | (515) 979-0109
• Serenity Ballooning | 13166 McGregor St, Indianola, IA 50125 | (515) 537-4650

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Indianola, IA

The National Balloon Classic brings the skies of Indianola, IA alive as it sends 100+ balloons in the air every summer.

Click here for more information and exact dates.

8. South Lake Tahoe, CA

Time to put your phone away! Lake Tahoe is a nature lover’s paradise replete with picturesque mountain and lake views. There’s a reason more than 15 million people visit here yearly.

3 Reasons to Visit Lake Tahoe, CA

• You’ll want to witness Lake Tahoe’s (the actual lake itself) blue-green with clear pool-like water.
• Go in the summer to view the waterfalls including the 200-ft tall Lake Tahoe Waterfall.
• Check out one of the world’s premier ski and snow sport destinations. Click here for a list of some of Lake Tahoe’s best resorts and lodges.

Hot Air Balloon Rides in Lake Tahoe, CA

• Lake Tahoe Balloons | 2435 Venice Dr. E, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 | (530) 544-1221|

Hot Air Balloon Festival (somewhat nearby) South Lake Tahoe, CA

The Great Reno Balloon Race takes place about 40 miles away northeast of South Lake Tahoe in Reno, Nevada.

Click here for more information and exact dates.

9. Napa Valley, CA and Sonoma County, CA

The first time I visited Napa Valley and Sonoma I swear time stood still. Looking out on the rolling hills filled with grapevines while sipping on world-class wine I realized this became one of the best moments in my life. rolling hills.

3 Reasons to Visit Napa Valley, CA and Sonoma County, CA

• Built for wine lovers with more than 375 wineries with tasting rooms in Napa and another 300+ in Sonoma
• Beautiful European-style visitor centers at the wineries.
• The natural beauty … and of course, including the hot air balloons! Check out the most photographed spots in Napa Valley.

Hot Air Balloon Rides in Napa Valley, CA and Sonoma County, CA

• Napa Valley Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides | 6525 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599 | (707) 944-4400
• Balloons Above the Valley | 603 California Blvd, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 253-2222
• Sonoma Ballooning | 21870 8th St E, Sonoma, CA 95476 | (707) 819-9223

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Sonoma County, CA

Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic experience the country’s most famous wine country during their popular hot air balloon festival.

Click here for more information and exact dates.

10. Rocky Mountain , CO

I’ve yet to get to this breathtaking part of the country (except for a flyover and layover in Denver). But just like the last two hot air balloon places on this list in California, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado is another time-stands-still, bucket-list-worthy vacation destination.

3 Places to Visit in the Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (and nearby cities)

• Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the US and connects Estes Park, CO to Grand Lake, CO and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountainous region and vast free-running wildlife.
• Bear Lake offers hiking trails to view the glacier-made body of water and two towering mountain peaks- Hallett Peak (12,713 ft.) and Longs Peak (14,259 ft.) 
• Visit Denver, CO: botanical gardens, theatre, breweries, museums, dining

Hot Air Balloon Festival near Rocky Mountain National Park, CO and Denver, CO

• Rocky Mountain Balloon Rides | 8114, 2845 Fenton St, Denver, CO 80214 | (303) 802-7202
• Fair Winds Hot Air Balloon Flights | 2140 North 107th Street Boulder Launchsite, Lafayette, CO 80026 | (303) 939-9323
• Grand Adventure Balloon Tours Year-Round | 220 County Rd 522, Fraser, CO 80442 | (970) 887-1340

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Rocky Mountains, CO

Hot Air Balloon Rodeo in Steamboat Springs, CO (nearly 160 miles northwest of Denver) celebrated its 40th annual hot air balloon festival in 2021.

Click here for more information and exact dates.

Where Would You Like to Go for Hot Air Balloon Rides?