Ohio
Shared seats cost $425 for one rider or $875 for two with Columbus Aeronauts, four to a basket. Sunrise and evening flights launch around north, west and southwest Columbus with the wind, some crossing Alum Creek or the Scioto.
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Weight limit | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shared FlightIncludes FAA commercial pilot |
$425 per person |
About 1 hour in the air |
up to 4 passengers per balloon; larger groups use several balloons |
10+ and able to climb in and out of the basket unassisted | 275 lb per rider; 450 lb combined for a couple | Cancel 48+ hours ahead to avoid charges; weather cancellations reschedule (good until taken); refundable option costs $25 extra per passenger. | Check dates | |
Private FlightIncludes FAA commercial pilot |
$1,125 per group |
About 1 hour in the air |
2 to 5 passengers; 5 may need a second balloon depending on weight |
10+ and able to climb in and out of the basket unassisted | 275 lb per rider; 450 lb combined for a couple | Cancel 48+ hours ahead to avoid charges; weather cancellations reschedule (good until taken); refundable option costs $25 extra per passenger. | Check dates | |
Hot Air Balloon Rides |
Not listed |
Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Columbus Aeronauts launches from sites on the north, northwest, west and southwest sides of the Columbus area, chosen each day by wind direction. Its water flights cross Alum Creek around Lewis Center and Polaris, the Hoover Dam reservoir near Westerville, or the Scioto River past Dublin, Powell, Shawnee Hills and Delaware. Other routes cover central Ohio countryside. The ground crew tracks the balloon by radio and meets it in an open landing area.
Fly Ohio Ballooning says only that its flights cover the central Ohio area and return passengers to the point of departure. Neither company publishes a fixed meeting address, and both take bookings by phone: 614-699-1492 for Columbus Aeronauts and (614) 209-1449 for Fly Ohio Ballooning.
Columbus Aeronauts asks passengers to arrive 60 minutes ahead of sunrise; for evening flights, the meeting is an hour ahead of launch. Setup and inflation take about 20 minutes, with a gas-powered fan filling the envelope with cold air before the burners heat it. Each flight needs a pilot and at least two ground crew, and the company says passengers often pitch in as crew. Expect 50 to 60 minutes in the air, with refreshments and photos taken aloft.
The crew is waiting when the balloon comes down in an open area, and it recovers the equipment and drives everyone back to the launch site. Columbus Aeronauts warns that landings can be bumpy, with the basket sometimes tipping and dragging, and says any flight can end that way. A ceremonial toast follows, with non-alcoholic choices, and an edited flight video can be ordered in advance. The company says certificates are sometimes provided when that suits everyone.
Fly Ohio Ballooning flies at sunrise and before sunset and says its flights last approximately one hour, without separating time aloft from the rest of the outing. Its $550 romantic flight for two includes a bottle of champagne. Its pages do not give a meeting time or mention a toast or certificate for other flights.
Columbus Aeronauts flies only under FAA visual flight rules, with surface winds below 9 mph and winds at 2,400 feet below 19 mph. It needs excellent visibility, no rain and no fog, and any cloud layer must be at least 3,000 feet up. Its ideal range is 3 to 6 mph. Winds tend to be calmest just after sunrise and in the hours before sunset, so flights go early and late.
Columbus Aeronauts' homepage takes bookings for spring, summer and fall, and its shared-flight page says it flies every day of the year when the weather permits. A flight lost to weather moves to the next date that suits the passenger and stays good until it is flown; the FAQ adds that a refund may be offered if no other day works. Fly Ohio Ballooning also flies weather permitting and moves weathered-out bookings to another date.
The All Ohio Balloon Festival at Union County Airport in Marysville marked 50 years in 2026. It ran August 21 to 22 with more than 15 hot air balloons, daily launches and a glow after dark. Its site lists helicopter and plane rides and does not mention balloon rides. It had not posted 2027 dates by late October 2026.
Columbus Aeronauts sets its 2026 prices by party size. A shared flight costs $425 for one passenger, $875 for two, $975 for three, $1,225 for four and $1,300 for five, and an exclusive private flight is $1,125. It flies no more than four passengers in a basket and splits larger groups across balloons. Riders must be at least 10, able to stand for an hour and climb in and out unassisted, and no heavier than 275 lb, or 450 lb combined for a couple.
The homepage asks for a $50 non-refundable deposit to hold a date, while the FAQ says $100; the deposit counts toward the price. The balance is due on flight day, and paying it in cash avoids a card surcharge. Cancelling at least 48 hours ahead avoids charges, and a fully refundable booking costs $25 more per passenger. Gift certificates last one calendar year. Pregnant passengers cannot fly, and anyone visibly impaired by drugs or alcohol is turned away without a refund.
Fly Ohio Ballooning's pricing page lists $250 for one passenger, $450 for two, $550 for three and $650 for four, and prices children by size and weight. It also sells a $550 private flight for two that comes with a bottle of champagne. The same page carries a 2022 date in its footer, asks you to call (614) 209-1449 for seasonal pricing and warns that prices can change, so confirm before booking. Columbus Aeronauts charges $150 for an edited video of a private flight.
from $425 per person
Shared Flight and 1 more option
Limits each balloon to four passengers
Price on request
Hot Air Balloon Rides
To call for seasonal pricing
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.