PRE-FLIGHT INFO
What to Expect on Your Hot Air Balloon Ride
MEETING TIMES
Our hot air balloon rides Napa passengers meet at the The Estate Yountville, 6525 Washington Street, in Yountville, adjacent to our launch site early each morning. Meeting times vary because sunrise varies from month to month. Because it is highly unlikely that space will be available at the last minute, we can only accommodate our Napa Valley balloon rides passengers with advance reservations at our meeting place.
JAN 1–31 | 7:05 AM |
FEB 1–28 | 6:50 AM |
MAR 1–11 | 6:20 AM |
MAR 12–19 | 6:50 AM |
MAR 20–31 | 6:50 AM |
APR 1–9 | 6:35 AM |
APR 10–30 | 6:15 AM |
MAY 1–31 | 5:30 AM |
JUN 1-30 | 5:30 AM |
JUL 1–14 | 5:30 AM |
JUL 15–31 | 5:30 AM |
AUG 1–15 | 6:00 AM |
AUG 16–31 | 6:00 AM |
SEP 1–14 | 6:15 AM |
SEP 15–30 | 6:15 AM |
OCT 1–15 | 6:35 AM |
OCT 16–31 | 6:50 AM |
NOV 1-5 | 6:50 AM |
NOV 6-14 | 6:30 AM |
NOV 15–30 | 6:30 AM |
DEC 1–15 | 6:50 AM |
DEC 16–31 | 6:50 AM |
SHUTTLE SERVICE
We provide complimentary shuttle service to our Napa Valley hot air balloon passengers who are staying in the immediate Yountville area. Shuttle service is offered from Napa, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena for an additional fee of $10 per person. Please let us know when booking your reservation if you will require this service.
Participating hotels:
- Embassy Suites
- Andaz
- Westin Napa
- Napa River Inn
- Best Western Elm & Ivy
- SENZA Hotel
- Napa River Inn
- River Terrace Inn
- Meritage Resort
- Marriott Napa Valley
- Archer Hotel
- Hilton Gardens
- Napa Winery Inn
- Auberge du Soleil
MEETING DIRECTIONS
If you need further directions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help you. To learn more about ballooning over Napa, please see our information on hot air balloons or see our hot air balloon photos. For hot air balloon Napa deals, please browse the other pages of our website.

DIRECTIONS WITHIN THE NAPA VALLEY
From the South, on Highway 29, drive approximately 10 miles north, bypassing the city of Napa. Take the Yountville/Veteran’s Home exit; turn right at the bottom of the exit ramp (heading East) onto California Drive. Continue to the stop sign and make a left onto Washington Street. You will pass three stop signs. After the third stop sign, continue on Washington Street a short distance until you see the Napa Valley Railway Inn on your left. You will see an entrance into the V Marketplace’s south parking lot as you reach the last railway car. Enter the SOUTH parking area for V Marketplace. Park in the area closest to the Main Building. One of our staff will greet you, or follow the signs to “Balloon Check-In.”
From the North (Rutherford, St. Helena, Calistoga), take Highway 29 south to the traffic light Madison Street. There is a left-hand turnout at this intersection. Turn left and continue to the stop sign. Turn right onto Washington Street. Continue several blocks south on Washington until you see the Vintage Inn on your right. Continue past the entrance to the Vintage Inn and turn right into the V Marketplace south parking lot entrance. Park in the area closest to the Main Building. One of our staff will greet you, or follow the signs to “Balloon Check-In.”
DIRECTIONS TO YOUNTVILLE FROM SAN FRANCISCO
Take the Golden Gate Bridge and proceed North on Highway 101 about 20 miles to the Vallejo/Napa exit (Highway 37). Go east on 37 for about 6 miles to the Sonoma/Napa turnoff. Turn left onto Highway 121 and follow signs to Napa for about 15 miles. Be sure not to turn off of Highway 121 - at about 6/7 miles when you reach a gas station on your left (West), the highway will take a big bend to the right, following Highway 121 - do not go straight ahead to the blinking red light. When you intersect Highway 29 at the southern end of the Napa Valley, there is a traffic light where you must turn left or right. Turn left (direction Calistoga) and proceed about 10 miles north to the town of Yountville. (See directions above for "within the Napa Valley-from the South.")
DIRECTIONS TO YOUNTVILLE FROM THE OAKLAND AREA
Take Highway 80 East in the direction of Vallejo and Sacramento. Just after crossing the toll bridge at Vallejo you will see a sign indicating that the Napa turnoff is 5 miles ahead. Proceed 5 miles and take the Napa/Columbus Parkway exit. Head West on Highway 37 about 2 miles until it intersects Highway 29 (also called Sonoma Boulevard at this point) at a large traffic-light controlled intersection. Turn right and proceed North following signs for Highway 29/Calistoga. Bypass the city of Napa, staying on Highway 29 and proceed about 10 miles north to Yountville. (See directions above for “Within the Napa Valley – from the South.”)
DIRECTIONS TO YOUNTVILLE FROM THE SACRAMENTO AREA
Take Highway 80 West past Vacaville to Fairfield. Look for the Napa/Highway 12 exit. Follow Highway 12 and turn right onto Highway 29/Calistoga (third traffic light you come to). Bypass the City of Napa and proceed about 10 miles north to Yountville. (See directions above for “within the Napa Valley – from the South.”)
DIRECTIONS TO YOUNTVILLE FROM SONOMA
Take Highway 12 south to Highway 121. Turn right and follow Highway 121 for about 6 miles until you intersect Highway 29 at the southern end of the Napa Valley. There is a traffic light where you must turn left or right. Turn left (direction Calistoga) and proceed about 10 miles north to the town of Yountville. (See directions above for "within the Napa Valley-from the South.")
If you need further directions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help you. To learn more about ballooning over Napa, please see our information on hot air balloons. For hot air balloon Napa deals, please browse the other pages of our website.