Balloon Nevada
from $325 per person
Classic Sunrise Flight and 1 more option
- Length
- 45 minutes to 1 hour in the air
- Group
- up to 8 passengers per balloon
- Age
- 8+ and at least 48 inches tall
Flies Carson Valley November to April
Quick picks
- Lowest price Balloon Nevada $325 per person for Classic Sunrise Flight
- Private flight Balloon Nevada $1,900 per group for Private Sunrise Flight (Morning VIP)
- Smallest groups Balloon Nevada Up to 8 passengers per balloon
- Youngest riders Lake Tahoe Balloons 6+ and about 42 inches tall, with a parent or guardian
Every option side by side
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Weight limit | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Classic Sunrise Flight |
$325 per person |
45 minutes to 1 hour in the air |
up to 8 passengers per balloon |
8+ and at least 48 inches tall | Check dates | |||
Tahoe Balloon AdventureIncludes Pre-boarding coffee and light refreshments, Launch from the Tahoe Flyer boat, Post-flight champagne toast, mimosas and snacks |
$399 per person |
About 4 hours total, 45 minutes to 1 hour in the air |
Largest balloon carries up to 12 passengers |
6+ and about 42 inches tall, with a parent or guardian | Full refund 72+ hrs out; within 72 hrs a 12-month credit. Unsafe weather (checked 4 am): full refund or free reschedule. | Check dates | ||
Private Sunrise Flight (Morning VIP)Includes Own pilot, Post-flight sparkling wine toast |
$1,900 per group |
1-12 guests |
8+ and at least 48 inches tall | Check dates | ||||
Group Outings / Private Charters |
$5,000 per group |
up to 24 guests |
Younger children considered case by case | Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Tahoe Keys Marina and the Tahoe Flyer
Lake Tahoe Balloons meets passengers at Tahoe Keys Marina, 2435 Venice Drive East in South Lake Tahoe, and flies from the Tahoe Flyer, a launch vessel it had custom built. The homepage says the boat is inspected and approved by the US Coast Guard. Flights begin at about 6,220 feet above sea level and can reach 10,000 feet when conditions allow.
From the air, the operator names Emerald Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Lake and Desolation Wilderness, with the Sierra all around and Yosemite's peaks visible on the clearest mornings. Balloon Nevada's Carson Valley flights meet at 1144 US Highway 395 North in Gardnerville. They look over the Carson River and the Carson Range, a spur of the Sierra Nevada that includes Jobs Peak, and the company says some flights can see Lake Tahoe beyond the mountains.
Pre-dawn marina check-in and a landing on deck
Lake Tahoe Balloons makes its weather call at 4:00 am on the morning of the flight. Passengers arrive at the marina before dawn, at a time given in the confirmation email. The crew serves hot coffee and light refreshments and gives a safety briefing before the balloon lifts off from the Tahoe Flyer. Flights last 45 minutes to an hour, and the whole outing takes about 4 hours.
The landing is back on the boat. The pilot brings the balloon down close to the lake's surface, and the Tahoe Flyer moves underneath to give it a deck to settle on. After landing, passengers get a champagne toast with mimosas and snacks. Balloon Nevada's Carson Valley flights also last 45 minutes to an hour; its private VIP flights end with a sparkling wine toast.
Mid-May to mid-October over the lake
Lake Tahoe Balloons calls mid-May to mid-October its usual season, and its booking banner shows May 9 through October 18, with no year given. That window has closed for 2026, and no 2027 dates were posted as of October 22. Flights go daily at sunrise, weather permitting. If the 4:00 am check finds conditions unsafe, the company cancels and offers a full refund or a free move to any open date within 12 months.
Balloon Nevada flies over Carson Valley in fall and winter. Hot Air for Hope, a free festival at Lampe Park in Gardnerville, ran May 15 to 17 in 2026 with 6:00 am launches, and Balloon Nevada sells $375 flights during it. The Great Reno Balloon Race, free at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, is set for September 9 to 12, 2027; Balloon Nevada has sold flights there from $425.
Lake flights from $399, valley flights from $325
Lake Tahoe Balloons charges $399 per person for its shared sunrise flight, and its largest balloon carries up to 12 passengers. Group outings for up to 24 guests start at $5,000. Children from 6 can join shared flights if they are tall enough to look over the side of the basket, about 42 inches, and fly with a parent or guardian. Private charters may take younger children case by case. The company says it was established in 1992.
Cancel more than 72 hours ahead for a full refund; inside 72 hours, Lake Tahoe Balloons gives a credit good for 12 months. Balloon Nevada charges $325 per person for its Carson Valley flight, in balloons certified for up to 8 passengers with divided baskets. Its private VIP flights cost $1,900 for 1 to 4 guests, $2,900 for 5 to 8 and $3,900 for 9 to 12. Riders must be at least 8 and 48 inches tall, expectant mothers cannot fly, and no cancellation terms are published.
Before you book
- Wear comfortable layers and a hat, plus shoes you can walk in.
- Bring sunscreen; you are out in the open for the whole flight.
- Your check-in time at Tahoe Keys Marina comes in the confirmation email, so check it the night before.
- Children under 6 cannot join shared flights; Lake Tahoe Balloons considers younger children on private charters case by case.
- Getting there. The closest scheduled airline service to South Lake Tahoe is at Reno-Tahoe International Airport; the town's Lake Tahoe Airport serves general aviation only. US 50 links the south shore with Sacramento and Carson City, and it often closes in bad winter weather.
The operators
Lake Tahoe Balloons
from $399 per person
Tahoe Balloon Adventure and 1 more option
- Length
- About 4 hours total, 45 minutes to 1 hour in the air
- Group
- Largest balloon carries up to 12 passengers
- Age
- 6+ and about 42 inches tall, with a parent or guardian
Boat-based launch and landing
Head to head
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.