Above Reality Hot Air Balloon Rides
from $395 per adult
Vermont Views Shared Flight (sunrise or sunset) and 1 more option
- Length
- 3-4 hours from check-in to the post-flight toast, about one hour in the air
Flies at sunrise and at sunset
Every option side by side
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Weight limit | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vermont Views Shared Flight (sunrise or sunset)Includes FAA-licensed pilot as guide, Pre-flight safety briefing, Watching setup and inflation, All transportation before and after the flight, Post-flight toast with bubbly, orange juice, non-alcoholic cider and Vermont-made truffles |
$395 per adult |
3-4 hours from check-in to the post-flight toast, about one hour in the air |
If weather cancels, you are offered the next available flights; if you can't rebook, there is no charge. | Check dates | ||||
Private CharterIncludes FAA-licensed pilot as guide, Pre-flight safety briefing, All transportation before and after the flight, Post-flight toast |
$2,370 per group |
3-4 hours from check-in to the post-flight toast, about one hour in the air |
Small, medium or large basket |
If weather cancels, you are offered the next available flights; if you can't rebook, there is no charge. | Check dates | |||
Sunrise SpectacularIncludes Champagne or sparkling cider toast after landing |
Not listed |
About 3 hours start to finish |
2 to 8 passengers, depending on the balloon |
No set limit; must be able to get in and out of the basket safely | Weather checked at 8pm the night before. flights transferable, non-refundable; Flight 101 page offers refund or reschedule if cancelled. | Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 21, 2026. How we compare.
The Essex Resort and the Ottauquechee at Quechee
Above Reality Hot Air Balloon Rides checks passengers in at the front door of the Essex Resort and flies at sunrise or sunset. Nearby Essex Junction sits about 6 miles east of downtown Burlington on Vermont Route 15. Above Reality lists views of Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks and the rolling foothills of the Green Mountains.
Balloons of Vermont flies from Quechee, a village in the town of Hartford on the Ottauquechee River, with Quechee Gorge along its southeastern edge. Simon Pearce runs its glass-blowing workshop and restaurant in the old Quechee mill there. The operator confirms the exact meeting spot at booking and lists rolling hills, rivers, covered bridges and the Upper Valley among its views, along with mountains lit by sunrise. Its FAQ also mentions a "Splash & Dash", in which the basket brushes the water and nobody gets wet.
Check-in at the Essex Resort and Quechee
Above Reality asks passengers to check in at the Essex Resort's front door 20 minutes before the listed flight time, sunrise or sunset. Allow 3 to 4 hours between check-in and the toast after landing, with about an hour in the air. There are no seats in the baskets, and passengers stand throughout the flight. The celebration afterward comes with story time, French bubbles, orange juice, non-alcoholic cider and Vermont-made truffles.
Balloons of Vermont asks passengers to sign the liability release in advance and arrive promptly; launch times depend on the season, weather and daylight and are confirmed at booking. Passengers may watch the inflation and sometimes help. The whole outing runs about 3 hours and ends with a champagne or sparkling cider toast. At the Quechee festival, an Adventure Ride lasts about 2 hours, with 40 to 50 minutes aloft, a champagne toast and a chase-vehicle ride back to the field.
October foliage weeks and Father's Day in Quechee
Above Reality flies from May through September and adds foliage flights in October, when its rate rises. It says peak color in its area usually comes in the first two to three weeks of October. The exact timing cannot be predicted, it adds, since the color comes in waves and wind or rain can strip the leaves quickly. Balloons of Vermont says September through November brings some of the best flying conditions, and it sells fall foliage rides.
Balloons of Vermont monitors the weather hourly and, if conditions are unsuitable at 8 pm the night before, contacts passengers to reschedule. Its Flight 101 page adds that the call can also come early on the morning of the flight, and FAA-certified pilot Darrek Daoust makes the final decision. When Above Reality cancels for weather or safety, it offers the next available flights, and there is no charge if you cannot rebook.
The 46th Quechee Balloon Festival, a Father's Day weekend tradition on the Quechee Village Green, ran June 19 to 21, 2026, with launches at 6 am and 6 pm, weather permitting. Its $425 rides, plus tax, include admission and usually sell out before the festival; $30 tethered rides up to 100 feet are sold on site only. The Stowe Balloon Festival on Mayo Field ran June 26 to 28, 2026.
$395 summer seats and the $475 October rate
Above Reality publishes its prices: $395 per adult and $345 for ages 8 to 17 from May to September, then $475 for every passenger in October, with no child rate. Private charters are priced per basket, from $2,370 for the small basket in summer ($2,850 in October) to $5,530 for the large one ($6,650 in October), by request when available. Its pages list no age or weight limits and point health questions to a Fit for Flight section.
Balloons of Vermont, whose FAA-certified pilot is Darrek Daoust, posts no prices on its site. Its balloons carry 2 to 8 passengers depending on which one flies, it sets no weight limit beyond getting in and out of the basket safely, and it welcomes children. Its FAQ says flights are transferable and non-refundable, while its Flight 101 page offers a reschedule or a full refund when a flight is cancelled.
At the Quechee festival, rides cost $425 per person plus tax and carry up to eight per basket, and groups over four may be split. Children must be able to stand and see over the basket edge, usually at least 45 inches tall, and fly with an adult. Ride refunds are available before June 1, minus a $50 fee, and not after.
Before you book
- For an October or November flight, bring a jacket, gloves and warm socks; Balloons of Vermont also suggests layers, closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat.
- Sign Balloons of Vermont's liability release at home and bring it on flight day; the crew keeps spare copies at check-in for anyone without a printer.
- Book Quechee festival rides early. They usually sell out ahead of the festival, and any that remain are sold on the grounds once the gates open on Friday.
- Expect to stand for about an hour. Above Reality's baskets have no seats, and check-in at the Essex Resort is 20 minutes before flight time.
- Getting there. Burlington is the nearest city for flights from the Essex Resort. Essex Junction lies about 6 miles east of downtown Burlington on Vermont Route 15.
The operators
Balloons of Vermont
Price on request
Sunrise Spectacular
- Length
- About 3 hours start to finish
- Group
- 2 to 8 passengers, depending on the balloon
- Weight
- No set limit; must be able to get in and out of the basket safely
Founded in 2005, per its site; owner and pilot Darrek Daoust
Vermont questions
How much is a hot air balloon ride in Vermont?
Above Reality's shared flight from the Essex Resort is $395 per adult and $345 for ages 8 to 17 from May to September, and $475 per person in October. Private baskets start at $2,370. Balloons of Vermont in Quechee doesn't publish prices.
When is the Quechee Balloon Festival?
It is held Father's Day weekend on the Village Green in Quechee (June 19 to 21 in 2026). Festival balloon rides are $425 per person plus tax, including admission, and usually sell out in advance; tethered rides are $30 on site.
More hot air balloon rides in the Northeast
- Hudson Valley, New York from $300
- Hunterdon County, New Jersey from $300
- Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from $275
Sources
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.