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Custer Hot Air Balloon Flight Over the Black Hills
Excellent
582 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score
- Custer
- Updated November 2, 2026
Float above the Black Hills at sunrise, spotting wildlife and rugged peaks on an hour-long balloon flight near Custer.
About this tour
See the Black Hills wake beneath you as the first light touches its granite peaks. This sunrise hot air balloon flight launches near Custer, South Dakota, close to Custer State Park and within reach of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Wind Cave National Park.
Spend approximately an hour in the air, drifting over rugged ridges, broad valleys, and quiet lakes. Keep watch for buffalo, elk, and antelope across the landscape. The changing breeze reveals a fresh perspective on this storied region, while an experienced pilot guides the flight through local conditions. After landing, raise a glass of champagne to the morning’s adventure. Bottled water and all fees and taxes are included.
Meet diagonally across from Lynn’s Dakotamart in Custer. Flights depend on weather, so look for a text or email from Black Hills Balloons the evening before with a status update. Choose this Custer hot air balloon flight for a memorable view of the Black Hills, then book your sunrise adventure.
Highlights
- Rise above the Black Hills’ granite peaks, valleys, and lakes
- Look for buffalo, elk, and antelope from the air
- Take in views near Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Wind Cave National Park
- Toast the flight with a glass of champagne
What's included
Included
- Hot air balloon flight
- Bottled water
- All fees and taxes
- Glass of champagne
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
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View on ViatorViator
4.96 / 5 · 548 reviews
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View on GetYourGuideGetYourGuide
4.88 / 5 · 34 reviews
What reviewers mention
Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.
Common complaints
Important information
- Minimum age is 4 years
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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- Meet diagonally across from Lynn’s Dakotamart in Custer
- Check for a text or email from Black Hills Balloons the evening before your flight for a weather and flight-status update; contact the provider if you have not heard by 6:30 p.m.
- Flights are weather permitting
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight?
The flight lasts approximately one hour.
What time do flights take place?
Flights take place at sunrise, weather permitting.
What is the minimum age?
The minimum age is 4 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Is the flight suitable during pregnancy?
The flight is not recommended for pregnant travelers.
How will I receive the flight status update?
Black Hills Balloons will text or email you the evening before the flight with a weather and flight-status update. Contact the provider if you have not heard by 6:30 p.m.
How this score is calculated
This tour scores 4.96 on Viator and 4.88 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.
How the score works and rating distribution in Custer
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 9.2.
Provider rating distribution in Custer
How many tours in Custer have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
- GetYourGuide
- Viator
from $375
on Viator · GetYourGuide