[ELI5] how do hot air balloons even work? How do they know where they’re going without steering?

Question

[ELI5] how do hot air balloons even work? How do they know where they’re going without steering?

In: 846

Answer 1

To quote invincible,
“That’s the neat part, you don’t”

One of my college classmates worked on hot air balloons. According to him, Careful planning in regards to winds and weather. They would also release balloons before launch and see where they do.
You can kinda control altitude, but that’s it.