Black Hills Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Flight Near Mount Rushmore
The silence at altitude is the surprise: no engine noise, just wind and the landscape unfolding below.
A hot air balloon flight over the Black Hills near Custer, South Dakota, launches at sunrise for approximately one hour aloft over granite peaks, valleys, lakes, and roaming wildlife. The flight includes champagne, light snacks, and a souvenir certificate. Flights are weather-dependent and depart daily. The company has operated since 1984 and is recognized as a Top 10 U.S. ballooning operation.
Step-by-step itinerary
Hot air balloon flight over Black Hills
- Arrive at meeting point in Custer
- Travel to balloon launch site
- Attend safety briefing and watch inflation
- Fly approximately one hour over Black Hills
- Land and pack balloon with crew
- Celebrate with champagne and snacks
The experience
You make your own way to the meeting point in Custer, where the crew loads you into a vehicle and drives to the launch site. There, you'll watch the balloon being unfolded and inflated. A process that takes time and draws a crowd if you want to photograph it. A short safety briefing happens on the ground before you step into the basket. The whole setup, from arrival to liftoff, takes about an hour.
Once airborne, you spend roughly one hour floating over Black Hills National Forest. The flight path depends entirely on wind direction and the pilot's read of the day's microclimates. The region's unique air patterns are what the company's pilots have spent decades learning to navigate. You'll drift over rugged granite peaks, sweeping valleys, and serene lakes. Buffalo, elk, and antelope move across the landscape below. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Wind Cave National Park sit within view of the flight corridor, though the balloon's path is determined by conditions, not by a fixed route.
Landing happens wherever the wind takes you. The ground crew follows by vehicle and meets you there. Once on solid ground, you and your pilot share a glass of champagne and light snacks while the crew packs the balloon. You'll receive a souvenir certificate marking the flight. The whole experience, from meeting point to return, runs two to three hours. Flights depart at sunrise and are always at the pilot's discretion based on weather. The company texts and emails the day before by 6:30 p.m. with a status update.
What’s included
- Approximately one hour in the air over Black Hills National Forest.
- bottled water and a glass of champagne after landing.
- light snacks and a souvenir certificate.
- all fees and taxes.
Information
Lasts 2h–3h, from US$ 375 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated 18 days ago
Operated by Black Hills Balloons
Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Custer without a rental car. The shared flight includes ground transport from town to the launch site, so you skip the need to arrange your own way out to the remote area.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the actual flight time in a hot air balloon over the Black Hills?
The flight itself lasts approximately one hour aloft. The full experience from meeting point to return takes two to three hours, including ground preparation, the flight, and the champagne celebration after landing.
What wildlife might I see from the balloon over the Black Hills?
Buffalo, elk, and antelope roam the landscape below. The bird's-eye view from the balloon gives you a vantage point over the open terrain where these animals move, though sightings depend on where the wind carries you during the flight.
Does the flight go directly over Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse?
Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Wind Cave National Park all sit within the region near the launch sites in Custer, and the flight corridor passes within view of these landmarks. The exact path depends on wind direction and the pilot's navigation of the day's conditions.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my flight?
Flights are weather-dependent and always at the pilot's discretion. The company will text and email you the day before by 6:30 p.m. with a flight status update and weather check, so you'll know in advance if conditions aren't safe for flying.
What's included in the price of the hot air balloon flight?
The flight includes bottled water, champagne, light snacks, a souvenir certificate, and all fees and taxes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and gratuities are separate.
Black Hills Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Flight Near Mount Rushmore
2h–3h · EN
from US$ 375 per person