2020 Albuquerque Balloon Festival RV Reservations

I had talked to a guy a few years ago that was stationed in Albuquerque (NMNG) and he said the hotels and RV parks are booked up months in advance of the balloon fiesta. Based on the number of balloons and the crowd pictures I have seen, I can see why lodging and camping accommodations fill up quickly.

Just a bunch of “hot air” IMO.

AR NMNG, Iraq? Or flyers?

Where are you trying to get accommodations?

We have been to the balloon fiesta 3 times. Only once, the first time as part of an owners group, did we have reservations.

DO NOT attempt to stay anywhere but onsite at the Fiesta Park campsites. Remote CGs are expensive & the traffic is horrendous. Think about getting up at 3AM to get to the field in time for the 7AM launch, IF they are flying.

Here is the work around learned from experience. Do NOT plan to be there for the first couple of days. The first SAT & SUN are by far the busiest days. Plan to arrive MON or, better still, TUE. They fly everyday weather permitting. Stay in the dry camping section. It is huge but empties out considerably by MON & TUE. Arrive full of water & holding tanks empty. If needed there is a honey truck that prowls the CG & there is also a water truck.

Best part about the dry camping area is that air currents being what they usually are the balloons come to you. Right over your head. Some land in an open area in the middle of the dry camping area. We have had them land right in the midst of the CG mid week & later as campers leave & big holes develop in the CG.

Do not be pressured into making expensive reservations at a CG miles away from the fiesta grounds.


Click For Full-Size Image.


Click For Full-Size Image.

Veebyes wrote:
Where are you trying to get accommodations? . . . DO NOT attempt to stay anywhere but onsite at the Fiesta Park campsites . . .

As the link in my post noted, nearly all the RV reservations for the Oct 2020 Balloon Fiesta grounds itself were booked within 2 hours (1000+ on a waiting list). The sad reality is, the vast majority of RV'rs who want to attend the Balloon Festival will not be able to stay at the Balloon Fiesta RV campgrounds. Luckily we were online at the precise moment the reservations were made available and were able to book the exact days we wanted.

The problem is that it's a year away. So many people have no idea what their next year plans are. So they snatch up reservations with the hope of making it and utilizing the Fiesta's very generous cancellation policy.

Me. I'm "so many people". I have a reservation that I have no idea if I'll actually use.

Glad you got a reservation. I assume it was one with at least power. They are the ones in demand. People don't like to rough it a little. As suggested, the dry sites are easy without reservations as long as one drives in on Monday or after.

Veebyes wrote:
Glad you got a reservation. I assume it was one with at least power. They are the ones in demand. People don't like to rough it a little. As suggested, the dry sites are easy without reservations as long as one drives in on Monday or after.

Huh? I'm interested. What does that mean?

We'd love to go, but we're horrible about making rezzies. What are the options for dry camping?

dedmiston wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Glad you got a reservation. I assume it was one with at least power. They are the ones in demand. People don't like to rough it a little. As suggested, the dry sites are easy without reservations as long as one drives in on Monday or after.

Huh? I'm interested. What does that mean?

We'd love to go, but we're horrible about making rezzies. What are the options for dry camping?

Read my first response to the OP. Works a charm. We rarely make reservations unless for a special event that we know has high demand & limited camping sites such as a bluegrass festival.

I might add regarding the Balloon Fiesta, if no other morning, plan to do the launch field for the last day. After the last balloon has taken off & people are leaving the field for the last time, that is when the vendors who have had insane prices all week start to drop them. We did a little horse trading & picked up two Alpacha bed covers at better than half price.

Veebyes wrote:
Glad you got a reservation. I assume it was one with at least power. They are the ones in demand. People don't like to rough it a little. As suggested, the dry sites are easy without reservations as long as one drives in on Monday or after.

I'm guessing things have changed since you last attended.

Little to no reservations (of any kind: power/water, dry, tent, etc.) were left, for either weekend, a couple of hours after reservations were opened today at 9am MST. After just two hours they had 1,100 people on the waiting list for various dates and sites. There may be some sporadic reservations left during the week, but they're going fast. Bottom line, unless you're on the current waiting list I'd say you have zero chance of getting a site of any kind anytime in 2020--much less as a walk/drive-up in Oct 2020.