Experience the elegance and excitement of an adventure with Above & Beyond Ballooning. Hot air balloon rides are offered in NJ, NYC & PA.
Balloon Rides with Above & Beyond Ballooning

Above & Beyond Ballooning has been providing safe, enjoyable hot air balloon rides in NJ and PA for more than a decade. We specialize in private hot air balloon flights for two or more passengers, as well as group balloon flights for up to 30 or more passengers.

Following the traditions of the early aeronauts, we will embark on a journey filled with moments of excitement and serenity alike. As our guests of honor, your flight is guaranteed to be memorable and breathtaking!

Who are we?

Above & Beyond Ballooning is one of the most experienced balloon companies in the Northeast, centrally located in beautiful Hunterdon County, NJ and Chester County, PA. We provide champagne hot air balloon rides, corporate hot air balloon advertising, new hot air balloon sales & construction, hot air balloon flight instruction and much more. With many years in the business, we've been there, done that - and have given smiles to thousands of satisfied customers!

We have been providing hot air balloon rides in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and other locations for over a decade, maintaining a perfect safety record throughout our history in ballooning. This means NO accidents, NO incidents, and NO injuries - ever. We aim to keep it that way!

 

The unique view from another balloon above us

Where do we fly?

We offer a number of convenient hot air balloon launch sites in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We schedule and fly hot air balloon rides in Pennsylvania & New Jersey from June through September. In the months of October through May, we offer balloon rides in Phoenix, Arizona. In October, we offer balloon rides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In New Jersey, we fly in the Readington, NJ area. Our main launch site is Solberg Airport, easily accessible just minutes off of Routes 78, 22 and 202. Readington is approximately 50 minutes West of New York City and is the closest balloon flying area to NYC and Long Island. Our flights often take us over the beautiful landscape of Hunterdon County, Warren County and Somerset County. To schedule a hot air balloon flight in New Jersey, reserve online here.

In Eastern Pennsylvania, we fly primarily from a hot air ballooning facility located near the intersection of Routes 100 and 401 in Chester Springs, PA. This launch site is easily accessible and approximately four miles North of the PA Turnpike at Exit 312 (Downingtown). It's a 45-minute drive from Philadelphia to this launch site. We'll see Chester County, Montgomery County, Berks County and sometimes Lancaster County from the air. To schedule a hot air balloon flight in Pennsylvania, reserve online here.

Visit the Directions page for driving directions and maps to our launch sites.

 

Special Events & Group Flights

For occasions such as company picnics, workshops, team-building experiences, family gatherings, weddings and other functions, we specialize in large group flight excursions. We can easily handle parties of 30 or more with multiple balloons. Large groups will be divided into groups of 2 to 6 passengers per balloon, with our largest balloons capable of carrying up to 12 at a time in luxurious, comfortably-padded baskets. Group discount rates apply for four or more passengers at one time. Be sure to plan ahead at least a few weeks for group flights, although we'll always try to accommodate last-minute bookings.

Amazing, unique and extraordinary Adventure Flight Packages are available for a premium. Check out our one-of-a-kind ballooning expeditions close to home. We are the only hot air balloon company currently offering balloon flights over NYC.

 

Rates, Prices & Online Reservations

Visit our Pricing section to see our current hot air balloon ride rates and book a NJ or PA balloon flight online.

 

Autumn Foliage Sunrise Flight

When can we fly?

We fly hot air balloons seven days a week, morning or afternoon during our flying season. Weekend evenings always tend to fill up first, so if you plan on a weekend flight, be sure to call at least two weeks in advance to ensure your date is available. However, we can often schedule your flight with a day's notice (sometimes less!).

As a rule of thumb, we recommend booking your preferred balloon flight date at least two weeks in advance to be certain it will be available. However, last-minute bookings are always possible - just give us a call to find out if we have immediate availability.

As always, all hot air balloon flights are weather permitting (see below) and at the discretion of the pilot-in-command.

 

When do our balloon flights depart?

We can only launch twice a day, weather permitting - at sunrise and 2 hours before sunset. These times are when the winds are calmest to allow for a most enjoyable flight. During the middle of the day, it's usually too unstable to fly due to thermals and wind gusts. As an added bonus, sunrise & sunset are the most breathtaking times of day for balloon photography. The vivid light and rich color of the low sun on the horizon allows for many fantastic photo opportunities.

For morning flights, we will meet at the launch site approximately 30 minutes before sunrise. In the afternoons, we generally meet two-and-a-half hours before sunset. Be sure to ask for the current meeting time when you call to confirm on the night before your morning flight or the day of your afternoon flight.

 

Treetop flying offers a wonderful view of the wildlife and scenery on NJ, NY & PA balloon rides

How High/Fast/Far will we fly?

Since balloons only travel as fast as the wind is blowing, we won't go much faster than 8 to 10 miles per hour near the ground. If the winds low to the ground are any quicker than that, takeoffs and landings become a bit tricky. In those cases, we simply don't fly. There's an old and wise saying we use in the ballooning circle - "It's better to be on the ground wishing we were up there, than to be in the air wishing we were down here!"

Most of our hot air balloon flights last over an hour, so we will cover anywhere from 2 to 20 miles in that time. You'll traverse lots of countryside and witness diverse changes in scenery on a typical balloon ride in New Jersey.

As to how high we'll be soaring, we can fly anywhere from treetop level to many thousands of feet up! Down low among the trees is arguably the most enjoyable part of any flight. You'll be able to pick leaves and converse with earthbound folks as we gently float along.

We also like to climb up high to give passengers an expansive vista of Central and North Jersey from a few thousand feet up. On a clear day as seen from a hot air balloon, we can usually make out the skylines of both New York City and Philadelphia on the distant horizons, as well as the Kittatinny Mountains and Delaware Water Gap to the Northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the East.

 

Balloons floating gently over a Hunterdon County neighborhood on a beautiful summer afternoon

I'm afraid of heights! What should I expect?

Acrophobia: The fear of heights. I'll venture to guess perhaps 80% or more of all our passengers have some degree of apprehension about leaving the ground.

For those passengers who are adventurous enough to conquer their own fears and take to the air, 99.9% of them get back on the ground and vow to come back and do it again with us!

There's a simple explanation for this seemingly remarkable phenomenon:

When looking straight down the side of a tall building, parking garage or similar high place, you are able to visualize your physical connection to the ground. This actual perceived height is what makes you step back from the edge, grasp that railing a little tighter, or in extreme cases, get a little sick to your stomach. Not fun!

However, in a hot air balloon basket, there is no visible connection to the ground. This detachment from the earth essentially removes any uneasy sensations of height. Furthermore, there is no relative altitude in a balloon - whether two feet above the treetops or two thousand feet up, it all feels the the same. But the view is much better from up high!

We're sure you'll have no worries once you're up there. If you can get past your initial concern about leaving the ground, you'll be just fine!

 

What about motion sickness?

Turbulence is unheard of, as we are not fighting the wind like an airplane has to. Since the hot air balloon floats along with the wind, there's no movement to worry about.

While airborne, the basket is perfectly balanced underneath the balloon and there is no rocking sensation. The entire flight is very smooth, and changes in altitude are gradual and hardly noticeable. Passengers who suffer from even the most severe cases of motion sickness will not feel any effects from a balloon ride.

 

Who can fly?

Barely getting our toes wet in a local pond. This favorite maneuver of pilots and passengers alike is called a "splash & dash."

Everybody is welcome to fly with us! We've flown passengers from age 6 to 96. However, there are a few requirements we need to stand by to make the ride pleasant and enjoyable for all.

You should be in good physical shape with no recent surgeries, broken bones or other medical issues which may affect your ability to take part in a physical activity. You'll also need to be able to stand for the duration of the balloon flight (at least one hour). It is important that we be informed of all potential medical/physical problems at the time of flight reservation. In most cases there is no reason for us not to fly a passenger, but we do need to be aware. The safety of our friends and passengers is paramount.

The weather is the most influential factor on any hot air balloon flight, and the winds will determine our landing conditions. Despite all the advances in modern forecasting technology and up-to-the-minute aviation weather resources we have at our command, weather is still ultimately unpredictable in flight. Keeping that in mind, there is always the possibility of an occasional windy, bumpy landing. In this case, the basket may make a firm touchdown, tip over in the direction of travel, and drag along the ground until the balloon deflates and we come to a final stop.

For many people, this is an exciting addition to an already adventurous flight! However, for others, a hard landing may not be quite what they expected at the end of a graceful balloon ride. We like to educate and prepare all our passengers that every flight has the potential to end this way. Although we will never launch when conditions are expected to result in such an exciting landing, there's always the possibility we might have a little more fun than we anticipated. Our professional pilots are skilled and prepared to handle any possible situation in the air.

Ballooning is one of the safest forms of aviation, but it still has inherent dangers like all other outdoor recreational activities. Please be aware of your physical limitations when scheduling a balloon ride, as it is important to understand all the possible risks involved.

Children are always welcomed, however they should be at least 42 inches tall to be able to see over the basket edge. We don't often recommend children under six years of age, mainly because they'll have to stand still for an hour. Most kids that young will get fidgety and restless after a few minutes of standing in the same place. As well, many youngsters are afraid of the loud noise the burner makes. However, if you're sure your young child will be willing and able to behave well, we'll be glad to have them join us on the balloon flight.

We regret that we cannot take up those who are pregnant. If you wait a few years and take your child up when they're old enough to appreciate it, it'll be a much more enjoyable experience for the both of you.

Per FAA regulations, intoxicated passengers cannot be flown.

 

A breathtaking sunset hot air balloon flight. Hot air balloon rides are offered at sunrise or two hours before sunset.

What should I wear and bring?

There's not much of a noticeable temperature difference at the altitudes we normally fly, so you should dress for an outdoor activity according to the season and temperature of that day. It's probably best to wear clothes that you aren't afraid to get wet or dirty, although we certainly won't aim to do such things!

Waterproof shoes or boots are a good idea in the mornings, as it's not uncommon for the ground to be very wet with dew. Shorts and skirts may not be suitable for some of our landing spots. Hiking boots, sneakers, or a comfortable flat shoe are the preferred footwear. Heeled shoes should be avoided at all costs.

Feel free to bring along your camera or video recorder. Bring extra memory cards and batteries - they run out fast! For large or expensive camera equipment, be sure to bring a padded bag or case to stow the equipment in before final landing. We cannot be responsible for personal property.

Sign me up!

The fastest way to check availability and reserve a flight is to make reservations online:

Please call us toll-free at 1-844-9-HOT-AIR if you have any further questions about hot air balloon rides in New Jersey & Pennsylvania.

We look forward to sharing a truly wonderful experience with you.