The Vacation Finder

Taking a hot air balloon flight with sweeping views of Mount Rainier is not only one of the top things to do in Seattle, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is worthy of a position on any PNW bucket list.

I mean, just image it… you’re floating near Mount Rainier as the sun rises, sending a pink hue across her snow crowned peak. Forests stretch out in all directions and as the basket rises, you brush lightly against the tops of the pine tree tips as you drift up, up, up, toward the cotton candy sky. It is, in a word, magical.

I was invited on a hot air balloon ride with Seattle Ballooning and was very thrilled with everything from the magnificent sights (umm, hello Rainier!) to my incredibly enthusiastic pilot.

In an effort to establish a resource for anybody who is deciding whether or not to schedule a hot air balloon trip in Seattle, I’ve filled this post with my honest impressions, what to anticipate on a flight, and insider recommendations (including what to dress!).

What To Expect

I realize when scheduling a large price item like this, you want to know precisely what to anticipate, so I’m gonna disclose all the details…

Meeting Point

The meeting time for a morning flight is at 4:45 a.m. precisely!
Now, I’m not exactly a morning person, but I often claim that I’ve never regretted waking up for a dawn. And this one in particular. We were coming up from the Portland, OR area so we stayed near by the night before.
After assembling in the parking area of the Muckleshoot Casino, we were separated into our flying groups and we waited for the pilots to choose where we’d take off from.
They informed us they had 25+ various launch locations (3-5 main ones) within a 15-minute radius that they may utilize according on the conditions.

Loading The Basket

We arrived to a field when the morning mist was hanging heavy in the air and you could see Rainier in the distance, beginning to come alive with a pink light.
The pilots spoke and the launch team performed all the heavy work while we got to gaze on, snap photographs of the balloon expanding, and become excited about the approaching ride.
The two other groups of ladies on the trip were becoming excited. One twosome from Kentucky was raving about how this was the first stop of their bucket list vacation which included all the main attractions in Seattle followed by an Alaskan cruise.
It was at this time, listening to them chat, that I wished I wasn’t flying solo.

The Flight

The basket lifted gently, steadily. We drifted just over a pine grove, softly touching their tops, then soared higher, higher.
The other handful of balloons started ascending as well, which made for wonderful photo opportunity, seeing them in the distance.
Our pilot played some soothing music quietly and told us some details about the area we were flying over.
In all, we were in the air for 1 hour and 10 minutes, so we were able to observe the morning mist evaporate and the early shine start to fade.

Landing

Similar to take off, there are a couple of spots where they can land the balloons, depending on the winds.
Each balloon landed in a different area, dependent on their flight route. Most of these sites were people’s yards that they have previous arrangements with, of course.
It was quite amusing since we landed in someone’s yard and they weren’t answering their phone to unlock the gate for the vehicle. But then finally, they opened the door and waved joyously at us all in the balloon in their yard!
After disembarking — again, not a smooth procedure — we gathered around for a little post-flight celebration.

Post Flight Celebration

Apparently, it is tradition in hot air balloon culture to drink a celebration glass of champagne after a trip. (Yep, there is a “hot air balloon culture” and you’ll hear all about it from your pilot if you ask!)
So have a toast, some bubbles mixed with chocolate for a nice little pre-breakfast celebration of what you just experienced!

Seattle Hot Air Balloon FAQs

How much does a hot air balloon trip cost?

$325 per person for a morning flight
$375 per person for a sunset flight

I’m not going to sugarcoat it… embarking on a hot air balloon trip is not inexpensive, no matter where you are in the world. If you’re traveling on a budget, this experience may just not be in the cards this time.

However, enjoying a hot air balloon flight in Seattle is a perfectly justified expenditure (in our view!). If you had some wiggle room in your budget, we don’t believe you’d regret it.

If you’re on a large vacation — like a honeymoon — or you’re a Seattle native looking for a memorable way to commemorate an anniversary or birthday, this experience is a bucket list event that is one you’ll be talking about for years to come (long after you forget how much money it cost).

Which is better: dawn or sunset flights?

I’ve only done the morning trip, so I can’t personally compare, but the pilot informed us sunrise is his favorite since the winds tend to be more calm.

Sunset can be fantastic too, especially if it works better for your Seattle itinerary, but winds can be more choppy and the balloon has to be on the ground before nightfall, so there’s a bit more of a deadline (and less possibility of the trip running a little longer).