Albuquerque Balloon Festival?

[Ron3rd]

Has anyone attended the Albuquerque Balloon Festival with their RV? Looks like a great event but very crowded with over 100,000 people attending. Campgrounds sell out a year in advance?

Just wondering. Looks interesting.

[Ron3rd]

Thanks for the info.

[otrfun]

Veebyes wrote:
Otrfun, you might specify exactly where you were camping.

The onsite camping overlooking the launch field & between the launch field & Alameda is jammed. These are the areas that have power availability. You pay a hefty premium to be in these areas. There are plenty who simply MUST have power, so they pay.

The dry camping area on the other side of Alameda is massive. There is a balloon landing area within this huge space. Weather permitting, the balloons fly everyday. This is why if you miss the first weekend it is really no big deal. They are just as spectacular every other day.

Veebyes, we were camped on the south side of Alameda (close to the southernmost fence line just north of Paseo Del Norte). Got a beautiful site on a knoll that overlooked the entire dry camping area south of Alameda. Yes, it's a massive area, but nonetheless every single RV spot was filled with few exceptions. We rode our bikes around all the RV camping areas and the area surrounding the launch field (to include the VIP RV sites next to the launch field) at least twice a day and noticed very little to no empty RV sites anywhere.

We inquired about the Balloon Fiesta a little over two years ago here on rv.net. At that time someone also replied there was no need to make reservations, that there would be plenty of availability (especially during the week). I'm sorry to say this is simply not what we experienced when we attended last month. So glad we were able to make reservations back in Oct 2019. These reservations rolled over to the 2021 BF. No 2020 BF due to Covid.

Bottom line, if you're unable to make an online reservation for an RV site at balloonfiesta.com the morning of 5 Jan 2022, your odds of getting an RV site at the Balloon Fiesta Park for the Oct 2022 Balloon Fiesta are very low. They do have a waiting list, but it quickly fills to capacity, too.

We are in agreement on one thing though: the views of the balloons were simply spectacular!!

[Veebyes]

Otrfun, you might specify exactly where you were camping.

The onsite camping overlooking the launch field & between the launch field & Alameda is jammed. These are the areas that have power availability. You pay a hefty premium to be in these areas. There are plenty who simply MUST have power, so they pay.

The dry camping area on the other side of Alameda is massive. There is a balloon landing area within this huge space. Weather permitting, the balloons fly everyday. This is why if you miss the first weekend it is really no big deal. They are just as spectacular every other day.

[vermilye]

In 2018, 2 months prior to the festival we were only able to make a couple of reservations for the dry camping area on the grounds for a Tuesday & Wednesday. We were not able to extend our stay past Wednesday even when we were on site.

The rests of the festival we ended up at the Black Mesa Casino about 20 miles from the grounds. Inexpensive electric only site in a parking lot for $20.00 per night, but a hassle to get to the festival. Long lines to get off of I 25, expensive parking, and leaving the casino at 3:30AM to see the dawn launches, etc.

Still, a great experience. Some Photos:

[otrfun]

RV reservations for the following year’s Balloon Fiesta typically sell out online in about 2-3 hours. RV reservations for the Oct 2022 Balloon Fiesta open up on Jan 5, 2022.

We had RV reservations for (and attended) this year’s Balloon Fiesta (Oct 2021). Contrary to what Veebyes posted, there was zero availability once the BF actively started. The BF website was clear you had to have an advance reservation to partake in any onsite RV camping. They said any last minute drive-ups would be turned away. The only time we witnessed any vacant RV sites was on the very last day of the BF.

[Ron3rd]

Thanks for the info!

[agesilaus]

Now that is excellent advice

[Veebyes]

Don't get sucked in by all of the CG availability hype. Been there three times.

First time with an owners group. There from day before the start. The dry camping area about a mile from launch field. Best area to be IMO.

Each other time we arrived on the Monday & Tuesday after opening weekend. NO reservations. Plenty of space availability since many come for opening weekend then leave. As the week goes by more leave than arrive so there are loads of spaces.

Don't even THINK of going to an area CG. The prices are inflated & getting to the event is a major hassel with commuting, parking & walking.

The dry camping area off of Alameda is huge, has regular shuttle buses to the launch field, or ride your bikes, & is usually downwind of the launch field meaning that you don't even have to leave your RV to enjoy what flies overhead.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

🙂 Hi, we went several years ago with the Airstream group; It was fantastic. We would love to do it again. I believe that it was about $400.00 to $500.00 per trailer / motorhome.

[JKJavelin]

A group of us Open Range owners went with Fantasy rv Tours to the Festival this year. They did a very nice job, providing many meals and assorted side trips for the week and shuttles to the field. Is it worth $3400?
If you're on a tight budget, probably not. If you don't mind spending the money, you'll have a great time.
JK
PS... You have to reserve way in advance.

[agesilaus]

We did not but the Escapees has a Meetup for the festival, they arrange the campground and other stuff. You might check on it next year. The Escapees are worth joining for a lot of other reasons.