ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s no stranger to anyone in the state that Albuquerque is known for hot air ballooning. In 2023, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta saw over 900,000 in attendance. Yet, a new ranking from USA Today did not name an Albuquerque balloon operator as the best in the country.
The Top 10 list ranked Albuquerque’s Rainbow Ryders as the second-best ride in the country. While Rainbow Ryders is the official hot air balloon ride operator during the balloon fiesta, they offer balloon rides every day of the year. The company also flies in Phoenix/Scottsdale area year-round and Colorado Springs, CO, and Park City, UT between June and September.
Grand Adventure Balloon Tours in Winter Park, CO took the No. 1 spot. They too offer year-round flights where people can see views of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain National Park.
The southwest is represented pretty well among the rest of the list as Vegas Balloon Rides in Nevada took the No. 3 spot, Red Rock Balloons of Sedona, AZ came in at No. 4, and Phoenix’s Hot Air Expeditions came in at No. 6. California was represented in two spots – California Dreamin’ Balloon Adventures in Temecula, CA was No. 8 and No. 9 went to Lake Tahoe Balloons in South Lake Tahoe, CA.
