Every September, tens of thousands of visitors descend on Queensbury, NY, to watch dozens of hot air balloons fill the sky at the Adirondack Balloon Festival. It’s a free, four-day event that takes place in mid-to-late September. And it’s also one of the hardest weekends of the year to find a room anywhere near Lake George or Glens Falls.

If you’re still figuring out where to stay for the Adirondack Balloon Festival, Washington County is worth a look. While it sits a short drive from the festival grounds, it offers a completely different pace: quiet farmhouses, working farms, and rolling countryside instead of lakefront traffic.

Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport is the festival’s main launch site. It’s about a 30- to 45-minute drive from towns like Greenwich, Argyle, and Salem. This means you’ll be close enough to enjoy a famous early sunrise launch – without needing to book inside Queensbury or Lake George, where lodging fills up months in advance.

Typically, balloon launches only happen around sunrise and sunset. That leaves the middle of the day wide open! Luckily, Washington County gives you plenty of fun attractions and experiences to fill it with.

Mid-to-late September is one of the best stretches of the year to be in Washington County. The balloon festival is a perfect excuse to build a full weekend around it.

Foliage, Orchards & Farm Stands

By mid-September, fall foliage is just starting to turn across the county’s hillsides and backroads. Farm stands are filling up with apples, and the season’s pick-your-own orchards are in full swing.

Hicks Orchard in Granville grows over two dozen apple varieties for u-pick, plus cider donuts adorable and goats to feed. Don’t miss a stop into the on-site Slyboro Ciderhouse for tastings.

For something different, Hand Melon at Moses Farm in Eagle Bridge lets you pick your own peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and winter squash right out of the field. And on select September and October weekends, Goose Island Potatoes in Argyle opens its fields for a U-Pick potato event, a genuinely unusual way to spend a fall afternoon digging up your own dinner.

Vineyards & Farm Stores

Washington County’s cold-hardy grapes have made it part of the Upper Hudson Valley Wine Trail. And steadily, our county’s vineyard offerings have been expanding! On select weekends in fall, Ives Hollow Vineyard offers u-pick grapes. Victory View Vineyard, South Dominion Vineyard, Northern Cross Vineyard, and Autumn’s Harvest Vineyard round out the trail with tours, tastings, and vineyard strolls.

For a proper farm store stop, Tiashoke: Farm, Store & More in Easton runs a seasonal pumpkin patch and flower stand alongside its farm store. It’s also stocked with local meat, cheese, and goods from other Washington County producers, so makes a great one-stop shop!

Fall Festivals Worth Planning Around

It’s also prime time for the county’s agricultural side to shine. The Adirondack Wool and Arts Festival runs on the same weekend, right alongside the balloon festival. Hosted at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Greenwich, it brings over 100 local wool and craft vendors sell everything from hand-spun yarn to artisan goods. Visitors can also catch sheep and cashmere goat shows, live shearing demonstrations, and horse-drawn wagon rides.

Between balloon launches, fill a day with orchard visits and a stop at a countryside vineyard. Or, take a slow drive through some of the best fall color in the Adirondack foothills.

Camping Close to the Festival Grounds

If you’re rising early for a sunrise launch, a minimal drive time matters. These Washington County stays in Fort Ann and Hartford generally put you within 15 to 25 minutes of the Adirondack Balloon Festival.

Lake Hadlock Inn & Campground sits directly on Lake Hadlock, with tent and RV sites and a private beach. All just an 11 minute drive from the Balloon Festival! This makes it a great option for visitors who don’t mind camping yet want to be close to both the festival and the water.

Furthermore, Moose Hillock Camping Resort offers campsites and cabins less than a mile from Lake Hadlock. It has a bit more built-out infrastructure for visitors who’d rather not pitch a tent. While its large heated pool closes around Labor Day, this resort stays open until mid-October. And, both the Lake Hadlock Inn and Moose Hillock sit just minutes from the popular Hillbilly Fun Park, which offers 2 unique 18-hole mini golf courses!

Lodges & Bed and Breakfasts Close By

On the other hand, the Granite Hill Lodge and Campground sits on 130 acres in the Adirondack foothills. Offering both a lodge that sleeps nine and a private cabin that sleeps four, this is a great option for groups traveling to the festival together. Plus, they also offer both pull through and back in RV sites for those traveling in a camper!

Last but not least, The Stella Rose Bed & Breakfast (pictured above) in Hartford occupies a restored 1880s home and puts guests about 20 minutes from Glens Falls. This makes it a solid pick for both a romantic getaway or a quiet overnight on the way to the mountains.

Private Rental Homes on Lake Hadlock & the Eastern Shore of Lake George

Beyond the campgrounds, Lake Hadlock in Fort Ann has a real market of private lakefront rental homes. Many of them are just a short walk from the water, and roughly 15 to 20 minutes from Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport!

On top of that, multiple homes there come with docks, kayaks or paddleboards, (or even hot tubs), making it worth a thorough browse directly on Airbnb or Vrbo if you want a full house to yourselves rather than a hotel room.

For a different kind of lake stay, look to the eastern shore of Lake George around Huletts Landing. It’s also part of Washington County, with its own county-run public park and beach! This area sits farther from the festival grounds, closer to 45 minutes to an hour. But it’s a classic, quieter alternative to the busier western shore.

Nearby, Huletts on Lake George offers a variety of family cottages perfect for exploring this lakefront hamlet! Don’t forget to stop by their ice cream parlor, play a round of golf on their 9-hole course, and visit the Huletts Casino, the most unique ‘night spot’ you’ll ever visit.

With so many great lakefront cottage rentals to choose from, this may be one of the best locations to search for the perfect place to stay during your Adirondack Balloon Festival trip!

A Bit Farther, With Real Farm-Stay Charm

Would you rather trade a few extra minutes of drive time for a genuine farm stay near the Lake George balloon festival? Or do you just want quiet lodging further from the flight path? Either way, these Washington County stays are worth the detour.

Lant Hill Farm Bed & Breakfast in Argyle is a working organic farm with two guest rooms. It features sweeping 20-mile views toward Mount Equinox and the Green Mountains. Guests are welcome to sample fruits and vegetables from the garden, meet their heritage-breed cows, or just enjoy a farm-fresh breakfast before heading out for the day.

Blind Buck Valley Farmstead in Salem sits on 180 acres in the Battenkill Valley. It offers a full farmhouse rental as well as a private glamping ground with four furnished canvas tents. So if you’re traveling with a group, this is a wonderfully flexible option!

For visitors open to browsing vacation rental sites directly, Whitehall is also worth a look. It sits closer to the Vermont side of the county and has a growing number of Airbnb and VRBO listings, from lakeside cottages to converted Main Street apartments.

While you’re in the area, there are many incredible experiences to enjoy on the western side of Washington County!

In Fort Edward alone, you’ll find the Old Fort House Museum, Roger’s Island Visitors Center and Museum, the Afred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird Trail & Viewing Area, the Canal Street Marketplace, and the Champlain Canalway Trail.

To the north in Fort Ann, you’ll find even more fun! Beyond the Hillbilly Fun Park’s mini golf and ice cream, guests also enjoy hiking Sleeping Beauty Mountain or Shelving Rock Mountain, or even zipping around the Adk MX motocross track! Adults looking for craft beverages are also in luck. Fort Ann is not only home to Battle Hill Brewing Company, but also Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery and the Lake George Distilling Company!

Of course, there are many other ways to spend a great early fall day in Upstate NY. From horseback riding, golfing, paddling and cycling to waterfalls, up-close animal experiences, covered bridges and charming Main Streets, you’ll find it all here.

However you spend your days, fall in Washington County pairs well with a weekend spent watching balloons rise over the Adirondacks.