Since the balloon travels with the wind, the balloon will only go as fast as the wind is blowing, which varies from ground level to higher altitudes. Generally balloons will not travel much faster than 8-10 mph.

A hot air balloon is entirely dependent on the wind, meaning it travels at the exact same speed as the surrounding air currents. On a typical commercial flight, a balloon usually moves at a leisurely pace of between 5 and 10 miles per hour (8 to 16 km/h). Because the balloon is moving with the wind rather than through it, passengers feel no wind chill or movement once in the basket; it feels as though you are standing perfectly still while the world moves beneath you. Pilots aim for these slow speeds to ensure a gentle flight and a safe landing, as higher wind speeds make the landing process much more difficult and "bumpy." Most flights take place at dawn or dusk when the winds are at their calmest. While specialized racing balloons can travel much faster by catching high-altitude jet streams, the standard tourist experience is designed to be a serene, slow-motion drift that provides a perfect platform for photography and taking in panoramic views from 1,000 to 3,000 feet in the air.