The Balloon Museum is directly adjacent to and south of the massive Balloon Fiesta Park and overlooks the entire field. It is an approximately 5-10 minute walk from the front of the Balloon Museum to the southern entrance of Balloon Fiesta park. During Balloon Fiesta, vehicular traffic between the museum and the park is not permissible.

Click here to view Balloon Fiesta Maps & Directions

The address for the Balloon Museum is 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

The following instructions apply to traffic and parking during Balloon Fiesta flying events
Mornings: Oct. 7-15, 4:30 am – 10:00 am
Evenings: Oct. 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

During Balloon Fiesta flying events, traffic flow and lane openings are altered. Major streets around the festival and the museum such as San Mateo, Alameda and Jefferson may be one-directional and/or portions closed to the general public for bus use.

To access the Balloon Museum traffic must approach and travel from the west, heading east on Alameda to Balloon Museum Drive. See traffic maps and lane closures here: Maps and Directions

• • Coming from the east side of Albuquerque:
    DO NOT EXIT ALAMEDA from I-25.
    Take either Paseo Del Norte or Osuna Blvd west to 2nd Street. Turn north/right on 2nd Street to Alameda.
    Turn east/right on Alameda. Follow the traffic signs to Balloon Museum Drive.
    Turn north/left on Balloon Museum Drive. 
  • Coming from the west side of Albuquerque:
    Proceed to Alameda Blvd.
    Travel east to Balloon Museum Drive and turn north/left.

If you wish to visit the Balloon Museum in between the flying events (from 10 am-3 pm) traffic flows regularly and the parking lot at the Balloon Museum is open and free for Museum visitors. 

Anticipate 30-90 minutes of heavy traffic to the area, especially after 5:00 a.m.  Doors open to the dining events at Balloon Museum at 5:30 a.m. The Dawn Patrol Ascension begins at 5:45 a.m. Mass Ascension is at 7:00 a.m. Meal service at dining events at Balloon Museum runs 6:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 

It is not uncommon for people to travel very early to avoid some of the heavy traffic and then wait in their cars or outside until doors opens. 

MUSEUM DOORS OPEN AT 6:00 A.M. IF YOU ARRIVE EARLY, YOU MAY WAIT IN YOUR CAR, OR OUTDOORS IN FRONT OF THE MUSEUM. 

There is heavy traffic because Balloon Fiesta is one of the most popular festivals in the USA! It is worth the travel and traffic. Approach the traffic with a sense of adventure, bring your favorite podcast or music. Be generous of spirit to other travelers, traffic police and volunteers.

Travelers may worry that they will ‘miss’ the event because they were stuck in traffic. The balloons flying/glowing and the dining events are ongoing, if you miss the ‘start’ time, there is still so much happening all morning or evening. Now – if you arrive at 10:00 a.m., you will have missed the morning balloons. 

The Balloon Museum Dining Events are held indoors with access to outdoor patios at the Balloon Museum. While the dining events at the Balloon Museum are VIP, the dress code follows the spirit and comfort of the Balloon Fiesta. Balloon Fiesta is about outdoor fun and comfort.

Be casual, comfortable and warm.  The dark pre-sunrise mornings are very cold. People often wear heavy coats, scarves, gloves, warm socks and shoes. When sunrise soon turns to full sun, a hat can be very helpful for the bright sun. Morning temperatures warm as the sun rises, so layers work well for changing temperatures.

For the evenings, bring a light jacket/coat and comfortable shoes. 

Once your Balloon Museum dining event ticket has been processed, there are no refunds.

BALLOON FIESTA IS A WEATHER-DEPENDENT EVENT. While early October weather is generally ideal for hot-air ballooning, strong winds or storms may delay or cancel balloon events. 

However, even if the balloons are not able to inflate, the other programming still occurs such as vendors on Balloon Fiesta Park, fireworks in the evening and dining events at the Balloon Museum. 

Balloon Museum dining events at the Balloon Museum are rain or shine;  the meals and access to the museum are still available.

Please review our Cancelations & Refunds Policy.

Tickets will be available online on April 7th. Between April-September you may purchase Observation Deck tickets from this website, by phone at (505) 880-0500 or in person at the Museum Shoppe. These exclusive passes for this unique event are only available here and in the Balloon Museum Shoppe. You will not be able to purchase tickets anywhere else in the world! We anticipate all tickets to be sold out by September. We strongly suggest purchasing your tickets  well in advance of the event.

Don’t panic. Just follow the general public parking directions, where you will be directed to a Balloon Fiesta parking lot. A fee of $20 will be charged for each car. Cash only. Upon arrival, make your way to the south end of the field to the museum.