2025 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Imagine looking up into the clear skies over New Mexico and seeing hundreds of hot air balloons in every imaginable size and shape.  The Albuquerque overnight ride is your chance to experience this amazing event as the Chapter makes its excursion to the 2025 Painted Horizons Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. This 7 day ride will go KSU from HEB Leander at 7:15am on October 8th with a NEW route. We'll spend the first night in Lubbock and continue on the next day to Albuquerque. This year, a different hotel, (with very good Google reviews), was selected, allowing the fun and adventures to continue.

While in ABQ, there are several hot air ballooning events going on at the field, permitting one to get up close and personal with the balloons and pilots. Sunday presents a ride opportunity where we'll tour the Jemez Loop through the Caldera, through Los Alamos, circling Santa Fe, and down the Turquoise Trail to Madrid, home of the "Wild Hogs," for lunch.  Later that evening, we'll take another group ride to dinner at the excellent, family run El Brumo's New Mexican restaurant. (You'll find it's a little different than traditional Tex-Mex!)

The return trip home begins on the 13th, again taking a diffferent route to Big Spring.  We'll spend the night at a "new-to-us" hotel before making the final leg home on the 14th. KSD is in Llano at approx. 1:00pm, with mileage credit to the Leander HEB. This Level 4 ride offers plenty of fun and excitement. Be sure to bring you camera!  More information on the Balloon Fiesta can be found at Balloonfiesta.com

HOTEL INFORMATION:

Day 1: MCM Elegante Hotel, 801 Ave Q, Lubbock.  In: 10/8/25   Out: 10/9/25   Single King or Dbl Queen $99+tax.   Call the hotel direct at (806)763-1200 to make a reservation, or click HERE for reservation link. Please be sure to indicate you are with "CTHOG" to ensure you receive the reduced rate.   Cutoff date is 9/8/25; blocked rooms not reserved by this date will be released to the public.

Days 2 - 5: Days Inn by Wyndham Downtown ABQ., 615 Central Ave Northeast, Albuquerque,NM.  In: 10/9   Out: 10/13   Single King $159.38+tax.   Dbl Queen $166.18+tax.   To make a reservation, call direct (505)373-3621. Please be sure to indicate you are with "CT HOG GROUP" to ensure you receive these rates.   Cutoff date is 9/25/25; blocked rooms not reserved by this date will be released to the public.

Day 6: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Big Spring, 1102 IH-20 West, Big Spring.   In: 10/13/25   Out: 10/14/25   Single King $113+tax.   Dbl Queen $115+tax.   To make a reservation, call direct (432)264-0222, or click HERE for reservation link.  Please be sure to indicate you are with "CT HOG BLOCK" group to ensure you receive the reduced rate.   Cutoff date is 9/29/25; blocked rooms not reserved by this date will be released to the public.

After securing all hotel reservations, remember to register for the overnight ride by clicking REGISTER HERE.  This lets the RC know you are going and ensures you receive any related updates.  For questions, please send an email to Sheri Karol at [email protected].