Ballooning Over the Blue Ridge

The June race, the morning and evening flights, and where to actually go up

By The Explore Helen Editorial Team Updated October 8, 2026 Race details from the organizer; flight prices from the operator's own site

Ballooning near Helen, in short

Helen's balloon moment is the Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race in the first week of June, when about 25 balloons lift off at 7 AM on opening Thursday. The 2027 dates haven't been announced. The race is for watching and helping, not for buying a seat. If you want to ride, commercial operators such as Balloons Over Georgia fly from north of Atlanta, where there's flat ground to land, and charge about $350 per person on a shared flight.

Your options at a glance

Ways to see or fly in a hot air balloon near Helen
Option	When	Where	Cost	Good for
Watch the race and local flights	Early June (dates TBA for 2027)	Launch field in Helen	Launch-field parking was $20 per carload or $1 per walker in 2026	Spectators, photographers, families
Help a crew or chase a balloon	Race week, by asking on the field	Helen and the roads east	Ask the organizers	Anyone who likes a little mud on their shoes
Passenger flight, shared	Flights offered through the season; fall is the pitch	Launches north of Atlanta	$350 per person	Couples and small groups
Passenger flight, private	By appointment	Launches north of Atlanta	$950 for two	Proposals and anniversaries

Why Helen is a balloon town

A Bavarian-style village in the mountains is a good place to see balloons, but a hard place to land one. Ridges and valleys funnel the wind, forest covers most of the ground, and conditions change fast. That's why the passenger operators fly from open country north of Atlanta, and why Helen's own balloon tradition is built around a race that points away from the mountains, toward the coast.

The race started in 1974 with an idea from Pete Hodkinson: from the "center of the world" to the "edge of the Earth." The organizers call it the South's oldest balloon event and the only long-distance hot air balloon race in the country. Balloons launch from Helen, and the finish line is Interstate 95 anywhere between Maine and Miami. Our full race guide has the details.

Race week at a glance

Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race schedule and facts
What	Details
Race and festival	Thursday through Saturday, first week of June
Mass ascension	7:00 AM Thursday, weather permitting (about 25 balloons)
Local flights	Thursday around 6 PM, then Friday and Saturday around 7:30 AM and 6 PM, one to two hours each (about 20 balloons)
Midday	No ballooning in the middle of the day
Finish line	Interstate 95, anywhere between Maine and Miami; shortest distance is 225 miles
Winner	First across I-95, or whoever is ahead at sunset Friday
Last race	53rd annual, June 4-6, 2026
Next race	54th annual, early June 2027, dates to be announced

The race takes anywhere from one day to four, depending on the wind. Balloons carry a limited fuel load, so pilots have to land and refuel, which turns the race into a test of the chase crews as much as the pilots. The Helendorf River Inn has hosted the race and served as headquarters since 1974.

Launch-field parking in 2026 was $20 per carload or $1 per walker, with the public vehicle entrance at the end of Chattahoochee Strasse. Entrance details change, so check the race site before you drive over.

Where you can actually ride

Balloons Over Georgia is the operator most people find first. It's based north of Atlanta and bills itself as the largest balloon ride company in Georgia, with views of Lake Lanier, Stone Mountain and, on clear days, the Blue Ridge. Shared flights were $350 per person (marked down from $425) and private flights for two were $950 in October 2026. Gift certificates don't expire. Call or text through the site to book.

Expect to drive an hour or more from Helen to the launch site, and to be there around dawn. Operators fly in calm air, so mornings are standard and weather cancellations are common. Leave a buffer day in your plans.

Head Balloons, Inc. is a Helen business, but it builds balloons and replacement envelopes rather than selling rides. Its founder, Tarp Head, is the race's Balloonmeister; he has taken part since the first race in 1974 and won it in 1979. Call 706-878-0442 for the company.

Tips for balloon day

Plan around the weather

Wind, rain and storms ground balloons. Ask about a rain date before you book a flight, and don't schedule anything tight the same day.

Go for the morning

At the race, flights are around 7:30 AM and 6 PM. Nothing flies at midday, so use that gap for lunch in town or a hike.

Bring layers

June mornings in the mountains run cool; Helen's average June low is 61°F, and it's cooler at altitude and at dawn.

Pair it with fall color

Commercial operators pitch fall as their best season. For the Helen side of it, see our fall color guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take a hot air balloon ride in Helen, GA?

Not on a regular schedule from town. The Helen to the Atlantic race in early June is a spectator event, and its organizers don't advertise passenger rides. Commercial passenger flights in North Georgia, such as Balloons Over Georgia, launch from north of Atlanta, where there's open ground to land.

When is the Helen balloon race in 2027?

Early June 2027, and the dates haven't been announced. The race usually runs Thursday through Saturday in the first week of June. The 53rd race was June 4-6, 2026.

How much does a balloon ride cost near Helen?

Balloons Over Georgia lists $350 per person on a shared flight and $950 for a private flight for two, both marked down from regular prices of $425 and $1,100 on its site in October 2026. Prices change, so confirm when you book.