Washington
Balloons fly here from May to October, most reliably June through September, and shared sunrise flights start at $325. Launch fields sit around Woodinville or on the Enumclaw Plateau facing Mount Rainier.
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Weight limit | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seattle Sunrise Shared Hot Air Balloon FlightIncludes Champagne toast, Ice cold water |
$325 per person |
About 60 minutes in the air; about 3 hours total |
5+ | Check dates | ||||
Seattle Sunrise Private Hot Air Balloon FlightIncludes Champagne toast, Ice cold water |
$1,600 per group |
For 2; 3-6; 4-8; 7-10 |
5+ | Check dates | ||||
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon RideIncludes Van transport from the meeting point to the launch site and back, Champagne and juice (mimosa) toast, or sparkling cider |
Not listed |
About 3 hours total; morning flights about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes in the air |
6 to 9 people per balloon on shared rides |
5+ | No fixed limit; parties averaging 200 lbs or more per person may be declined | Full refund 48+ hours ahead; 50% charged at 24 to 48 hours; full charge under 24 hours (credit toward a standby flight). | Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Over the Rainbow meets in Woodinville, which it puts 20 miles from downtown Seattle by road, and chooses among about a dozen launch sites using reports from several official weather sources. Its sunrise page names a favorite, a large field behind the Maltby Cafe at the south end of Snohomish County, used because summer morning winds tend to come from the northeast. From Maltby the balloon works back toward Woodinville's wineries, with the Cascades to the east and Puget Sound, the Seattle and Bellevue skylines and the Olympic Mountains to the west.
On light south-southwest winds the crew reverses the plan, launching in the Woodinville valley and flying north toward Maltby or into the Snohomish valley, a route it calls the "backwards flight." Woodinville has about 130 wineries and tasting rooms in and around the city, according to Wikipedia. Over the Rainbow's sunset page adds Lake Union, Mount Baker, the Everett skyline and the Paradise Valley Conservation Area to the sights.
Seattle Ballooning flies south of the city on the Enumclaw Plateau, which a lahar from Mount Rainier laid down roughly 5,700 years ago. Its FAQ counts more than 15 launch sites around Enumclaw and Auburn. Depending on the wind, the operator says, flights cross the White River, where it reports old-growth trees and dozens of bald eagles. Others follow the Green River's horse pastures and Christmas tree farms, or pass over Lake Tapps, a man-made lake. Its shared-flight page also lists Mount St. Helens, Puget Sound and downtown Seattle among the views.
Over the Rainbow's sunrise flights meet at 6:00 am from May through mid-August, then later as sunrise moves. Guests park in the Downtown Woodinville Shopping Center lot at 17641 Garden Way NE, across from Haggen, and ride a van 10 to 15 minutes to the launch field. Fans fill the envelope before the burners stand it up, and passengers climb in once the basket is upright. Morning flights last about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes and cover 5 to 8 miles on average.
After landing, the pilot tells the story behind the balloonists' toast and pours a mimosa of sparkling wine and juice, with sparkling cider for anyone who prefers it. The van then takes everyone back to Garden Way, about 3 hours after check-in. Sunset flights meet at the same lot 2 hours and 15 minutes before sunset, and Woodinville wine is poured during the flight.
Seattle Ballooning's FAQ has sunrise guests meet 45 minutes before sunrise outside the main parking garage at the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. It asks for arrival 15 minutes ahead of the booked time, since it cannot wait for late parties. Flights last about an hour and usually land 5 to 10 miles from launch, with a chase crew following. Guests get aged champagne, snacks and bottled water after the flight, and the team drives them back to the casino. The FAQ puts a usual tip at 10 to 20%, split between pilot and crew.
June through September is Over the Rainbow's main season, when it finds the weather most dependable, and in some years it manages a few flights in May and October. Its homepage lists sunrise flights from June to mid-September. Sunset meeting times run from about 7:00 pm in June to about 4:30 pm by late September. Seattle Ballooning flies seven days a week from May through October and treats May 1 to October 1 as its core season.
Seattle Ballooning's FAQ lists what grounds its flights: rain, fog, snow, fast wind, low cloud, a threat of thunderstorms, and smoke that hurts visibility or health. The operator says low fog often sits on the Green River at dawn, and Wikipedia's Enumclaw entry also names the Green River as a fog source west of the city. Over the Rainbow watches wind, cloud cover and cloud height, plus how close a route runs to airports.
Over the Rainbow asks guests to phone two days before the flight and again 60 to 90 minutes before meeting. A flight can be called off the day before, early that morning or shortly before takeoff, and the company says such cancellations come only a few times a year. Seattle Ballooning also sells festival rides in Walla Walla in May and in Prosser in late September.
Seattle Ballooning lists shared sunrise flights from $325 per person and private balloons from $1,600, in sizes for 2, 3 to 6, 4 to 8 or 7 to 10 guests. Extras include a $50 flight-track and photo package and a $500 drone video and photo package. The company says it costs about $50 to $75 more per person than cheaper operators. Over the Rainbow, which says it has flown for more than 30 years, posts no prices online; call (425) 487-8611 or check its booking calendar.
Over the Rainbow splits each basket into two compartments built for four, carries 6 to 9 people on shared flights, and may turn away parties averaging 200 lb or more. Seattle Ballooning flies baskets for 2, 6, 8 or 10. It wants a group average under 200 lb, requires a second ticket above 235 lb and flies no one over 270 lb. Both FAQs exclude children under 5, though Seattle Ballooning's tour page says age 4.
Over the Rainbow refunds in full with more than 48 hours' notice and charges half the fare at 24 to 48 hours. Inside 24 hours it charges the whole fare, which can go toward a standby flight. Seattle Ballooning refunds or credits cancellations made more than 7 days ahead, allows rescheduling up to 48 hours out and counts anything later as a no-show. Both offer a refund or a new date when weather cancels.
from $325 per person
Seattle Sunrise Shared Hot Air Balloon Flight and 1 more option
Launches near Enumclaw at the base of Mount Rainier; often lands in Enumclaw or Buckley
Price on request
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride
Says it has operated for more than 30 years
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.