Tailwinds Over Frederick - Maryland Hot Air Balloon Rides
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Your Hot Air Balloon Adventure Begins With Tailwinds!

       Our Hot Air Balloon Rides give you the chance to fly with the winds, safely and comfortably supported inside our gondola. Frederick County, Maryland is your flying venue, and along with the breathtaking views of the Appalachian mountains and downtown Frederick you will also be able to witness deer grazing in the fields, talk to neighbors up early for their morning coffee, or maybe even catch the sun right before it goes to sleep! The experience of leaving the bonds of the earth and floating with the tailwinds will make memories that will last a lifetime. Below is a sample of a few of our flight packages, however we are always willing to try and accommodate your special requests! We are available for weddings and parties, or even corporate events! All flights meet either 1/2 hour before sunrise or two hours before sunset when the winds are the calmest.


​Hot Air Balloon Rides in Frederick, Maryland

        For your next adventure, join the Tailwinds Over Frederick Team for a Sunrise or Sunset Hot Air Balloon Ride! Your flight begins at the launch site where you will assist your pilot and his crew with the assembly of the aircraft.  As the balloon slowly inflates you will watch as your pilot fills the fabric with cold air, and then you will experience the powerful burners heating that air as the balloon climbs up and stretches itself into its true form!  
         After climbing aboard and receiving a safety briefing, we will take flight and ride the winds as our trusty support crew follows along on the ground. In flight, you will have the opportunity to get pictures and video as we climb higher and higher, all suspended by hot air! As you near the end of your flight the balloon will descend to treetop level and look for an appropriate, safe and suitable landing spot to end our travels. Once back safely on the ground the chase crew will be there to assist in packing the equipment back safely into it's trailer ready for another flight! Our flight will end with a recap of the adventure and a celebratory champagne (or sparkling cider) toast and there will be plenty of time for photos!Your entire experience lasts approximately three hours. 
2023 Season PRICING 

$385 per passenger
We can accommodate parties of up to 7 passengers
Flights may be booked as a PRIVATE flight (below) for an exclusive experience!
*Passengers ages 8-14 $325 booked with an adult.
*Please call to discuss flying passengers younger than 8 years old.
 
Sunrise Flight
Sweethearts

-Exclusive Private Flights-

With the same flight profile as our above Hot Air Balloon Adventure, we also offer something for your next special event or occasion: a chance for you to reserve the entire gondola for you and that special someone alone with the pilot! In order to do so, all passenger space in our gondola will be reserved for YOUR party. This will give you a chance to experience this together with no other passengers on board, giving you the ability to create your own magical memories. This is a perfect opportunity for Proposals, Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays or other special occasions! Sit back and let us do the work while you enjoy the memories. We can even provide photography for a small fee! Your experience will last approximately three hours and end with a celebratory champagne toast to your new memories!

2023 Exclusive Flight Pricing:
Up to 5 passengers $2,250.
Additional passengers $150 per passenger up to 7
(Subject to weight requirements.) 

​*Private flights up to three passengers can be flown in our Newest balloon - Maryland One (when available)




Why Fly With Tailwinds Over Frederick?​

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  • We are Family Owned & Operated - I'm sure if you call you will hear our kids! (No, really.. they can hear me talking to passengers and its like a magnet!)
  • Our basket is BUILT for 8! We NEVER fill the basket! Much more private and roomy than others! We have a DOOR! 
  • We fly only new equipment with all available safety upgrades as  safety is our most important factor! 
  • Hands on interactions are encouraged! Our pilot is an instructor: Get ready to learn!
  • Easy & Convenient to Baltimore and DC, no bridge tolls!
  • Commercially owned and insured Chevy 12 Passenger Van for our chase vehicle! Not our personal vehicles you need to cram into!
  • Your pilot has over 4,400 hours in aircraft, no accidents, incidents! 100% safety rating!
  • We will always send you any photos we have available at no charge for you to share on social media!
  • (Professional Photography IS available for an additional fee)
  • Just ask our past customers - We encourage you! Our reviews and word of mouth referrals are so important to us!

Tipping policy

For the Tailwinds Team, Ballooning is our adventure too! We work very hard to make your experience safe and memorable. If you feel we did an outstanding job we will of course welcome your gratuity! Typical gratuity for the crew is $10-15 per passenger per crew member or more if they exceed your expectations!

A gratuity is customary and appreciated for excellent service, and our tips go directly to the team! We strive to provide you an experience you can remember and share for a lifetime. Feel free to be generous for those hard working crew. If for any reason we did not meet your expectations, please let us know how we can resolve the situation and provide a better experience for our future passengers. As always, thanks for choosing to adventure with the Tailwinds Over Frederick Team!




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Special Rates and Offers


We offer 10% discount to any current or retired Military, Fire Department, Police, EMS personnel. (5% on our Private flights) 5% discount for School/College educators. Please let us know upon booking and THANK YOU for your service!
*Discount is applied per passenger and not combined.

Repeat passengers are entitled to a 10% discount!

2023 Booking & Deposit Information 

       To book your Hot Air Balloon Adventure please visit the Information Request page and fill out our contact form! We will be in touch with you shortly to schedule your flight. To reserve your adventure we accept a non refundable $50 reservation fee per person payable by credit card. (For private flights, the reservation fee is $300) We will begin planning for your adventure and coordinate everything including crew, launch site availability, and reviewing our meteorological forecast. In the event of a weather related cancellation we make every attempt to reschedule your flight at our next available opportunity. Our reservation fee goes into planning your flight and is not refundable, if your flight happens to be subject to a weather related cancelation, we would always reschedule your adventure with the your locked in rate for a future flight.

 Unfortunately because of the time and effort that goes into planning a flight, our reservation fees are non refundable should you choose to not reschedule your adventure. We make every effort for you and value your business so please keep in touch!
        In the event you need to reschedule your flight, please do so within 7 days before your flight. Inside of three days no changes for any reason can be made to your scheduled adventure.  Once we have confirmed the details of your flight (the evening before your flight), an unexpected "no show" will be charged your full fare. We don't expect this to ever happen, but this is due to our limited flight availability and crew scheduling.
       Remaining payment is accepted in cash, check, or by credit card at time of flight. We can accept paypal and Venmo payments as well! Credit card payments of the remaining balance are subject to a 3.5% processing fee. We are happy to provide you with an invoice by email of any payment for your records!
**All flights are subject to weather conditions! Adverse weather is out of our control and due to the above, is not subject to a refund of your reservation fees. 
       

Gift certificates are available. They never expire, do not lose value, are fully transferable and offered at a special rate.
​They are non refundable for any reason upon purchase however due to the terms above.
​This is important to understand as we are completely dependent on the weather. 
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©2023 Smith Ballooning LLC

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