Indiana
Shared flights cost $335 to $400 per person, most launching from Indianapolis's north side. Circle City Balloon Rides says about 65% of flights get rescheduled for weather, so leave room for a second date.
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Weight limit | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shared Sunrise Balloon RideIncludes Post-flight toast, In-flight photos by the crew, Van transport from the meeting site to launch and back, Optional help with setup and teardown |
$335 per person |
About 2.5 to 3 hours total, 45 to 60 minutes in the air |
up to 6 passengers plus the pilot |
Over 7 and at least 42 inches tall | Call ahead if the average passenger weight is over 225 lbs | Weather cancellations rebook with deposit carried over; under 48 hours' notice forfeits deposit; under 24 hours costs 50% of the total. | Check dates | |
Shared FlightIncludes Safety briefing, Transportation to the launch site, Post-flight toast (champagne or non-alcoholic), Photos, videos and a 3D recap video, Free admission for non-riding family and friends |
$339 per person |
Allow 3 to 4 hours, about 45 minutes to 1 hour in the air |
Typically 4 to 5 guests in the basket |
5+, at least 42 inches tall | Cancels for wind over 10 mph, nearby rain, fog or low clouds; reschedule as often as needed with price lock, or deposit refunded. | Check dates | ||
Shared Ride |
$400 per person |
Shared basket for 4 passengers |
Weather or wind cancellations pick a new date; you stay on the list until you fly, final payment due after the flight. | Check dates | ||||
Private FlightIncludes Safety briefing, Transportation to the launch site, Post-flight toast (champagne or non-alcoholic), Photos, videos and a 3D recap video |
$1,099 per group |
Allow 3 to 4 hours, about 45 minutes to 1 hour in the air |
2 to 5 guests, only your group and the pilot |
5+, at least 42 inches tall | 850 lbs total | Cancels for wind over 10 mph, nearby rain, fog or low clouds; reschedule as often as needed with price lock, or deposit refunded. | Check dates | |
Private Ride |
$1,150 per group |
up to 5 passengers, basket to yourselves and the pilot |
Weight limitations apply (no figure given) | Wind or weather cancellations rebook through an emailed link to current availability; the $50 deposit is non-refundable. | Check dates | |||
Private Sunrise Balloon RideIncludes Exclusive use of the basket, Post-flight toast, In-flight photos by the crew |
$1,195 per group |
About 2.5 to 3 hours total, 45 to 60 minutes in the air |
2 to 6 guests |
Over 7 and at least 42 inches tall | Weather cancellations rebook with deposit carried over; under 48 hours' notice forfeits deposit; under 24 hours costs 50% of the total. | Check dates | ||
Homestead Flight |
$2,000 per group |
Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Midwest Balloon Rides draws on about 40 meeting sites, all on the north side and within 30 minutes of Indianapolis, and picks one by that day's wind. It sends updates on where to go during the week of the flight, and its Fishers address on Allisonville Road is for mail only. A van then carries passengers from the meeting site to the launch field.
Circle City Balloon Rides usually launches from the north side near Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield, and lists views of the skyline and the reservoirs. It will also fly from a guest's own site, subject to weather and airspace, charging $2 a mile beyond the first 25 miles from Indianapolis. Indy Hot Air brings a balloon to a customer's property for its $2,000 homestead flight, plus round-trip mileage, and publishes no standard launch area.
Midwest Balloon Rides meets about 30 minutes before sunrise or about 2 hours before sunset. It flies just after sunrise or just before sunset, when wind and thermals are lowest, so passengers are not aloft for the sunrise itself. Inflation, the briefing and launch take about 30 minutes, the flight 45 to 60 minutes and the whole outing about 3 hours. Guests may help set up or pack up. A toast after landing welcomes new aeronauts, and any photos the crew takes are free.
Circle City Balloon Rides meets 30 minutes before sunrise or 2.5 hours before sunset. It asks guests to allow 3 to 4 hours, with about 45 minutes to an hour in the air. Its toast comes with champagne or a non-alcoholic option and a short talk on ballooning history, and every flight includes photos, videos and a 3D recap video. Non-riding family and friends come along free, and anyone too nervous to fly can ride with the chase crew.
Circle City Balloon Rides cancels when ground wind tops 10 mph or rain falls within 100 miles of Indianapolis, and fog or low cloud usually grounds it too. It says about 65% of flights are rescheduled for weather, whichever company a guest books. Midwest Balloon Rides calls cancellations rather common in the Midwest and finds mornings more reliable than evenings. Neither lists an off-season; Circle City says only that meeting times shift with sunrise and sunset through the year.
Circle City opens each month's dates on the first day of the month before, so October dates go on sale September 1, and it takes calls for later dates at 317.572.7480. Indy Hot Air flies its shared basket on Saturday and Sunday mornings and Monday and Tuesday evenings once four riders sign up. A rider stays on its list until the flight happens.
Conner Prairie in Fishers hosted the Jupiter Flights Balloon Festival on September 11 to 13, 2026. Saturday and Sunday morning sessions ran 7:00 to 9:30 am, with pilots competing to drop markers on targets, and Axios Indianapolis reported morning tickets at $10 for members and $20 for others. Conner Prairie's 1859 Balloon Voyage ride rises more than 350 feet, weather permitting, at extra cost.
Midwest Balloon Rides charges $335 per guest for a shared ride, plus a 5.5% fee when booked online or a flat $25 by phone, with 2 to 6 passengers and the pilot. Private rides cost $1,195 for 2, $1,395 for 3 or 4 and $1,695 for 5 or 6. Riders must be over 7 and at least 42 inches tall, able to stand for 90 minutes and walk up to 1,000 feet. It keeps a wheelchair-accessible basket for those who reserve it.
Circle City Balloon Rides charges $339 per guest for a shared flight, usually with 4 or 5 guests from other parties in the basket. Private flights cost $1,099 for 2, $1,249 for 3 and $1,399 for 4 or 5, with an 850 lb combined limit. It flies children from age 5 who are at least 42 inches tall. Its special-shape elephant balloon, Ellie, almost 75 feet tall, takes riders up to 300 lb in total.
Indy Hot Air charges $400 for a shared seat, $25 to join the list and $375 after the flight. Its private rides run from $1,150 for 2 to $1,600 for 5, with a non-refundable $50 deposit, and a 7% equipment fee applies to all rides. Midwest keeps the deposit when a guest cancels with less than 48 hours' notice and charges 50% inside 24 hours. Circle City lets weather-cancelled guests rebook as often as needed at the same price, or refunds the deposit.
from $335 per person
Shared Sunrise Balloon Ride and 1 more option
Says it has flown more than 35,000 passengers
from $339 per person
Shared Flight and 1 more option
Flies a special-shape elephant balloon called Ellie (up to 300 lbs, price on request)
from $400 per person
Shared Ride and 2 more options
Shared basket flies only once 4 riders are on the list; a specific date is not guaranteed
Prices and policies come from each operator's own pages, read on October 21, 2026. Seasons, rules and local details come from the pages below.