One of the best outdoor adventures when the weather starts to get hot in Texas is floating in the river. Whether you want a day with your family or want to hang out with friends, there are many options of rivers to go tubing in the Lone Star State. Keep reading to find the best places to go river tubing in Texas:
Table of Contents
San Marcos River
View this post on Instagram
San Marcos is a famous party river in Texas, so expect to hear blasting speakers, food, and lots of fun young people from Texas State University, especially during the summer months. This spring-fed river serves as a tributary to Guadalupe, so it boasts cool temperatures through the year at 72oF. You can access the river through the San Marcos City Park entrance, where you get a more family-friendly experience and beautiful scenery full of green vegetation. There are a lot of places around the San Marcos River offering tube rentals and trips so you don’t need to bring anything. Tubing along this San Marcos River usually takes around 3 hours, and afterward, you can stop at one of the restaurants in the area.
Comal River
Comal River is a perfect place for families looking for a tubeable and easy-to-float river. This spring-fed river runs through New Braunfels to Guadalupe River, and it’s one of the shortest rivers in the Lone Star State, making it an excellent spot for first-time tubers. Comal River maintains a temperature of 70-72oF throughout the year, making it a great tubing river for warm weather. One of the best parts of this river is the abundance of shade you will find from the huge oak trees along the river.
Did we mention there are many attractions in the area, including Schlitterbahn waterpark, sandbars, a party hall, and a lot of restaurants where you can grab delicious meals? You can also bring your beers and other alcoholic beverages but know that glasses and styrofoam aren’t allowed in the area.
Medina River
View this post on Instagram
Located in San Antonio, Medina River is a perfect remote river for people looking for a less crowded place to go tubing. The 120-mile river boasts maple trees, cypress trees, and clear waters that form breathtaking scenery and shade from the scorching sun. Medina River is a remote river, so you need to find a reliable shuttle service, floating trips, and equipment rental. One of the famous river outfitters here is the Medina River Company which grants easy access to the river and offers floating equipment and trips.
Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River boasts crystal clear water and great scenery that attracts a lot of crowds from Texas and the rest of the United States. This 230-mile river is one of the best river tubing spots in Texas, and its length runs from Central Texas to the Gulf of Mexico. There are different stretches where you can float here, with the best being the ones in Canyon Lake, San Marcos, and near New Braunfels. Guadalupe River also boasts beautiful cypress trees and pecan trees where you can enjoy shade away from the sun after floating in the river. There are a lot of outfitters and tube rentals around the river, including in San Antonio, San Marcos, and the Texas Hill Country, where you can find shuttle services and tubing equipment. Sit back, enjoy your beverages, and enjoy floating in the friendly currents of the river.
Frio River
Frio River is very cool, calm, and beautiful, and it’s an excellent spot to float. The best way to access this 200-mile crystal clear river is through Garner State Park, which is about one hour drive from San Antonio. Frio River is located in a remote setting, making it the best place to go tubing if you do not want crowds or if you are looking for an intimate experience with your friends.
Also, this river has incredible scenery with tall limestone buffs, giant cypress trees, and clear waters. For a more fun experience, you can consider lodging in one of the campsites and cabins for an overnight stay.
South Llano River
Located in the North West of Austin, this river is a perfect place to go tubing, kayaking, and engage in other water sports. A part of the river runs through the South Llano River State Park, where you and your family can engage in more outdoor activities like canoeing and kayaking. There are also cabins and campsites where you can spend the night. South Llano River State Park doesn’t allow alcoholic drinks, so you may want to drop your beers at home before coming to this area to float on the calm waters.
Blanco River
View this post on Instagram
Blanco River is one of the best rivers to go tubing in Texas, and the easiest way to get to Blanco River is through the Blanco State Park. The river is perfect for tubing during the summer months, as you will be treated to giant cypress trees, beautiful pecan trees, and stunning waterfalls that form a really great landscape. It also offers a gentle and relaxing float, features many shores and alcoves, and boasts some picnic areas making it a perfect place to enjoy cool waters with kids. Blanco River has quite a number of places you can get equipment, so all you need is to bring the action to the park.
Trinity River
View this post on Instagram
If you need a place to go tubing around Dallas, we recommend going to one of the best rivers in the area, the Trinity River. This river hosts different tubing activities and concerts throughout the year, especially in June. You can float on the river while listening to 4 hours of live music from bands that play from June to August.
Colorado River
View this post on Instagram
If you find yourself in Texas on a summer day, you can stop by the Colorado River for a fun floating adventure. The Colorado River is one of the largest rivers to float in Texas: the river is so large that it flows through several states, including Texas. It also offers a cool and steady float while you are treated to views of beautiful trees, birds, and various animals like deer and rabbits.
Bottom Line
Tubing in Texas is a great way to cool off and relax during the summer months. If you happen to be around here, grab a beer, rent a tube, and keep it cool at one of the many places to float in the Lone Star State. Also, no matter the river you choose, rest assured you will find outfitters nearby to rent tubes and get easy access to the river.
Get Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).
Book Flights
I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! My second favorite site to find flights is Momondo, another great site for finding cheap flights.
Book a Place to Stay
I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.
If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO.
Rent Clothes
Rent clothes for your trip with Travel Style Expert for only $50 a month! The first 30 days are free!
Choose Activities and Tours
To find great activities in any area I use Get Your Guide and Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available.
When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If I am going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean I use Apple Vacations.
Rent a Car or Take a Lyft
More often than not Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Discover Cars.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!
Read Next:
