You can experience the Sonoran Desert in a lot of ways. You can hike it, drive it, or sit back with a cocktail while the sun melts into it. But seeing it from among the clouds offers a new perspective, floating a thousand feet above the saguaros while the desert comes alive in a brand new way.
From a Backyard Dream to one of Arizona’s Most Awarded Balloon Companies
Arizona has its share of balloon companies. But there’s only one that has held the title of “Best Ballooning in Phoenix” by Fodor’s Travel for 30 consecutive years, racked up over a decade of TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, built a fleet that takes off nearly every single day of the year, and done it all while keeping the whole thing family-owned.
That company is: Hot Air Expeditions.
Every legacy starts somewhere. For Hot Air Expeditions, it began in 1991 with a couple from Illinois (Margie and Randy Long), a single hot air balloon, and a sunrise they couldn’t stop thinking about. They watched hot air balloons drift across the sky and everything changed from there. They moved to Phoenix, purchased a small balloon, Randy earned his pilot’s license, and Margie built the business from the ground up, initially running it out of their home.
What followed was decades of growth. More balloons. More flights. A Tucson expansion. A team that became like family. And an unwavering commitment to making every single flight feel like a once-in-a-lifetime event, because for most guests, it is.
As Margie herself once said: “It’s the biggest stress-buster in the world. You forget the whole world, you get so absorbed in being up in the sky and being away from everything.”
The Daughters Who Carried Hot Air Expeditions Forward
Then, in 2013, the unexpected happened. Margie Long passed away, leaving behind a company, a team, and two daughters who had grown up watching her build it all, but who hadn’t planned on running it themselves. Amanda Long and Stephanie Long Turner stepped in anyway.
There was no playbook. No transition plan. Just two sisters who loved their mother, loved what she’d built, and decided that it wasn’t going to end.
More than a decade later, Amanda and Stephanie are co-owners and co-presidents of one of Arizona’s most widely recognized experience companies. They’ve grown the team, expanded the fleet to nine balloons, elevated the catering experience, and built a brand that travelers and locals alike return to again and again.
It’s a female-founded, female-led, family-owned story that feels almost unreal until you read it reflected back in the reviews, the awards, and every hot air balloon ride that takes off from the Valley of the sun.
Named Among the Top 50 Women to KNOW in Phoenix
In 2026, Amanda and Stephanie were recognized as two of the Top 50 Women to KNOW in Phoenix. This is a lifetime honor selected by a panel of community leaders and previous honorees, and one of the most meaningful distinctions available to women in Arizona business.
The recognition, which you can see celebrated on their Instagram, isn’t just a nice accolade to hang on the wall. It reflects something that anyone who has ridden with Hot Air Expeditions already knows: Amanda and Stephanie aren’t just running a balloon company. They’re embedded in the fabric of the Arizona business community, supporting local partners, sourcing local food, and showing up for the state they love.
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“Being recognized by KNOW Women as one of the Top 50 Women to Know in Arizona meant being seen in ways I hadn’t always seen myself, and feeling validated for both the visible work and the behind-the-scenes effort that comes with being a business owner. It was an honor to be included among so many inspiring women making an impact.” – Amanda Long, Hot Air Expeditions
What Actually Makes Hot Air Expeditions Different
Here’s the thing about hot air balloon rides: from the outside, they can all look pretty similar. You go up, you float, you come down. So why does it matter where you book? It matters a lot. Here’s why.
The Catering Experience Goes Way Beyond a Champagne Toast
Most balloon companies hand you a plastic flute at the end and call it a celebration. Hot Air Expeditions built an entire post-flight catered fare that’s woven into what makes the hot air balloon ride memorable.
After landing, guests are treated to a spread of catered fare: locally sourced, thoughtfully prepared, and far more substantial than anything you’ll find with competitors. It’s all part of the experience design, and it reflects the sisters’ commitment to making every element of the morning feel special from takeoff to the post-flight experience.
“The catered fare was developed to extend that feeling after landing, something warm, intentional, and rooted in local flavor. We focus on sourcing thoughtfully and keeping it seasonal and Arizona-inspired, so guests get a true taste of the place they’ve just experienced.” – Amanda Long, Hot Air Expeditions
Two Locations: Phoenix and Tucson
While most balloon companies plant their flag in one city and stay there, Hot Air Expeditions offers flights in both Phoenix & Tucson, providing guests two ways to experience the Sonoran Desert from above.
If you’re looking for a Tucson hot air balloon ride, flights depart from the Marana Airport, just outside the city. In Phoenix, flights launch from Deer Valley Airport. Both locations offer the same trusted hot air team and consistent experience with the views below doing most of the story telling.
The desert looks a little different depending on where you launch, but the feeling once you’re in the air is the same, quiet, wide open and completely removed from everything on the ground.
Open 363 Days a Year (Because Arizona Mornings Are That Good)
Hot Air Expeditions only closes two days a year: Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every other morning (weather permitting), balloons go up. You can read about the best times of the year to fly, but that level of availability is rare in this industry, and it’s a reflection of the fleet behind it.
Our robust lineup of balloons allows us to handle the volume, the demand, and the occasional weather day with flexibility most competitors simply don’t have.
The Awards Tell the Story
Hot Air Expeditions has been racking up recognition for as long as they’ve been flying. A few highlights:
- Fodor’s Travel “Best Ballooning in Phoenix” — for 30 consecutive years
- TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award — 10+ consecutive years
- USA Today Readers’ Choice 2024: Best Hot Air Balloon Ride
- Best of Our Valley 2025 Winner
- Top 50 Women to KNOW in Phoenix (Amanda Long and Stephanie Long Turner)
These aren’t one-time wins from a good year. They’re the result of a company that has consistently shown up, day after day, flight after flight, and delivered something people feel compelled to write about when they get home.
The Full Story In Their Own Words
If you want to understand the real heart behind Hot Air Expeditions, the origin story, the loss of Margie, the decision to keep going, and everything they’ve built since, Amanda and Stephanie recently sat down for their inaugural podcast episode of their show Full of Hot Air and shared it all.
It’s worth a listen before you book. You can also follow along in real time on their TikTok, where they pull back the curtain on what goes into every sunrise flight, from the crew prepping the envelope in the dark to the moment the balloon catches the morning light.
Ready to Book Your Tucson or Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Ride?
Whether you’re looking for the best Tucson hot air balloon experience, planning a Phoenix sunrise flight for a special occasion, or simply checking something extraordinary off your list, Hot Air Expeditions is the place to start.
