Hot Air Balloon Rides in Sedona
$375 per person — that's the published rate at both of the operators permitted to launch over national forest land near Sedona, and they converge on it exactly.
Sunrise only. Sedona's thermals make afternoon flying impractical, so every flight is a pre-dawn start. Budget 3 to 4 hours door to door for roughly 1 to 1.5 hours actually airborne — the rest is transport, inflation, and the traditional post-flight breakfast.
Weather cancels flights regularly and that's a feature, not a failure. Both operators refund fully when they cancel; both have notice requirements if you cancel.
The facts
- Open right now?
- Operating (weather permitting)
- Cost
- $375 per person at both permitted operators
- Hours
- Sunrise launches only, 7 days a week weather permitting
Getting there
The two permitted operators
Launching a commercial balloon over national forest land requires a Forest Service special-use permit, which is why the field here is small.
Red Rock Balloons (redrockballoons.com) publishes $375 per passenger, 1 to 1.5 hours airborne at the pilot's and the wind's discretion, 3 to 4 hours total including transport, sunrise launches seven days a week weather permitting. Cancellation notice scales with group size: 24 hours for five or fewer, 48 hours for six to eight, 72 hours for eight to ten.
Northern Light Balloon Expeditions (northernlightballoons.com) also publishes $375 per person, and offers private buyouts at $2,625 for a small balloon or $4,500 for a large one. Customer cancellations within 48 hours are non-refundable; they refund fully if they cancel for weather. They've been flying since the mid-1970s.
Both figures came straight from the operators' own rate pages. One caution: a similarly-named domain circulating a $325 rate could not be confirmed as the same company as the permitted operator — the verified domain is redrockballoons.com. Book direct.
What the morning actually looks like
Pickup is well before dawn — often around 5am in summer. You'll be driven to whichever launch site the morning's wind dictates, which isn't known in advance and is the reason nobody can tell you exactly where you'll fly.
You'll help watch, and sometimes help with, the inflation. Then an hour or so drifting over red rock as the sun comes up, which is the entire point and is as good as it sounds. Balloons go where the wind goes; pilots steer by changing altitude to find different wind layers, so the flight path is genuinely improvised.
Afterwards, the chase crew meets you wherever you land and there's a champagne breakfast, a ballooning tradition that dates back to the 18th century.
Weather cancellations are common — book early in your trip so there's room to rebook. A pilot who scrubs a marginal morning is doing their job.
Neither operator publishes minimum age or height rules, and we're not going to invent them. If you're travelling with young children, ask before booking.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a hot air balloon ride in Sedona?
$375 per person at both Red Rock Balloons and Northern Light Balloon Expeditions, the two operators permitted to launch over national forest land. Private buyouts run $2,625 to $4,500.
How long is a Sedona balloon ride?
Roughly 1 to 1.5 hours in the air, and 3 to 4 hours in total including transport, inflation and the post-flight breakfast.
What time do Sedona balloon flights launch?
Sunrise only. Pickups are typically well before dawn — Sedona's daytime thermals make afternoon flights impractical.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Flights are cancelled and both operators refund in full when the cancellation is theirs. Book early in your trip so you have room to rebook.
Is there a minimum age for a balloon ride?
Neither operator publishes one that we could find. Ask directly when booking rather than relying on a third-party figure.
Facts on this page last verified July 28, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.