Virginia
Shared seats cost $267.50 with Valley Ballooning, flying daily all year near Woodstock, or $350 with Star Ballooning, which flies only weekend sunrises from Bridgewater. Valley Ballooning lists the Shenandoah's Seven Bends among its views.
| Operator | What you get | From | Length | Group | Min age | Weight limit | Cancellation | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon Rides |
$267.50 per adult |
Usually 30 to 60 minutes |
Max. 4 people per flight |
No minimum age stated; children must be 50 inches tall with shoes on | $100 charge for 250 to 274 lb; 275 lb and over contact the pilot | Check dates | ||
Shared FlightIncludes Champagne toast after landing, In-flight photo from a mounted GoPro |
$350 per person |
About 40 to 60 minutes in the air; about 2 to 3 hours start to finish |
up to 6 passengers per basket |
Deposit forfeited if you cancel within a week; within 72 hours counts as full payment; no charge if the operator cancels for weather. | Check dates | |||
Private Ride, two people |
$856 per group |
Usually 30 to 60 minutes |
2 or 3 people |
No minimum age stated; children must be 50 inches tall with shoes on | $100 charge for 250 to 274 lb; 275 lb and over contact the pilot | Check dates | ||
Private FlightIncludes Champagne toast after landing |
$1,495 per group |
About 40 to 60 minutes in the air; about 2 to 3 hours start to finish |
2 passengers (a third can be added) |
Deposit forfeited if you cancel within a week; within 72 hours counts as full payment; no charge if the operator cancels for weather. | Check dates |
From each operator's own website, checked October 21, 2026. How we compare.
The Shenandoah Valley runs northeast to southwest between the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the front ridges of the Appalachians on the west, with a floor at 500 to 1,500 feet. Massanutten Mountain splits its central section in two. Valley Ballooning works from 16350 Old Valley Pike in Edinburg, near Woodstock, and lists views of both mountain ranges, the Seven Bends of the Shenandoah River, many vineyards and white-tailed deer.
Star Ballooning launches from its own field in Bridgewater and says its rides are near Harrisonburg. Passengers leave their cars at the field and are dropped back there after landing. Star describes its route only as the "scenic Virginia Valley" and names no landmarks. Farming has shaped the valley since colonial days: during the Civil War it was called "the breadbasket of the Confederacy", and vineyards became a new industry in the late 20th century.
Star Ballooning meets passengers at its Bridgewater launch field 30 minutes before sunrise, so the meeting time moves with the season. Plan on 2 to 3 hours in all; the flight itself runs about 40 to 60 minutes, with weather, fuel and the available landing spots setting the length. Every passenger signs a liability waiver first, printed at home or signed at the field. After landing the crew opens champagne for a toast, and the homepage promises a free in-flight photo from a mounted GoPro.
Valley Ballooning flies in the first hour after sunrise or the last hour of daylight, because the air gets much more active during the day. Flights last about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on wind speed and direction and on an open landing spot, and the pilot may set down in a field of tall grass. There are no public restrooms at its launch sites. Its ride page does not describe a toast or what follows the landing.
Valley Ballooning flies year-round, seven days a week, normally in the first or last hour of daylight. In cooler months, it says, weaker convection can make daytime flights possible. Star Ballooning lists no months and flies only Saturday and Sunday sunrises, with no weekday flights at all.
Star Ballooning names wind, fog and precipitation in the area as the conditions that ground it. It checks the forecast often, contacts passengers the week before, and warns that plans can still change right up to liftoff. When it cancels for weather or anything else outside its control, it charges nothing and tries to rebook.
Valley Ballooning charges less and flies more often: $267.50 per adult (18 and over) and $214 for children 17 and under, any day of the week, with at most four people per flight. Children must stand 50 inches tall in shoes. Passengers weighing 250 to 274 pounds pay a $100 weight charge, and anyone at 275 pounds or more must contact the pilot first. Private rides cost $856 for two and $963 for three, booked online.
Star Ballooning charges $350 per person for a shared flight with up to six passengers, or $1,495 for a private flight for two, plus $150 for a third person. A deposit holds the booking and the rest is due on flight day. Cancel within a week and the deposit is lost; inside 72 hours the full fare is owed. Star calls itself a small family business, claims a 100% safety record and sells sunrise proposal flights.
from $267.50 per adult
Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon Rides and 1 more option
Operates year-round, seven days a week
from $350 per person
Shared Flight and 1 more option
Flies only Saturday and Sunday sunrise flights; no weekday flights
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.