Photo 1 / 6
Hot Springs Hot Air Balloon Ride
Very goodTop 11% in Rapid City
42 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Rapid City
- Updated October 31, 2026
Take in panoramic Southern Black Hills views on a sunrise balloon flight from Hot Springs, with post-flight refreshments included.
About this tour
Watch the Southern Black Hills glow with early morning light on a Hot Springs hot air balloon ride. Western Horizons takes off just after sunrise, weather permitting, for panoramic views across this striking South Dakota landscape.
The experience begins with pre-flight setup, giving you a chance to see the balloon prepared before you lift into the sky. The flight lasts approximately one hour, while the full outing, including setup and post-flight refreshments, takes 2–3 hours. A live English-speaking guide accompanies the experience, and refreshments are included after landing.
Choose a Hot Springs hot air balloon ride for a memorable way to take in the Black Hills from above. Book your flight and enjoy the scenery as the day begins.
Highlights
- Rise just after sunrise for sweeping views of the Southern Black Hills
- Watch the balloon take shape during pre-flight setup
- Toast the flight with post-flight refreshments
What's included
Included
- Post-flight refreshments
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
-
View on ViatorViator
5.00 / 5 · 42 reviews
Important information
- Minimum age is 6 years
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health
- Moderate physical fitness is recommended
- Flights depart from Hot Springs, South Dakota, just after sunrise, weather permitting
- Public transportation options are available nearby
Frequently asked questions
How long does the experience last?
The flight lasts approximately one hour, and the full experience, including setup and refreshments, takes 2–3 hours.
Where does the balloon ride depart from?
Flights depart from Hot Springs, South Dakota.
When do flights take place?
Flights depart just after sunrise, weather permitting.
What is the minimum age?
Participants must be at least 6 years old.
Are post-flight refreshments included?
Yes, post-flight refreshments are included in the booking price.
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 5.00 from 42 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
How the score works and rating distribution in Rapid City
- 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 8.5. Top 11% in Rapid City means it ranks in the top 11% of tours in Rapid City by this score.
Provider rating distribution in Rapid City
How many tours in Rapid City have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
- GetYourGuide
- Viator
from $395
on Viator