USA TODAY 10Best
Float down these 10 rivers, voted as the best for tubing this summer
Best River for Tubing (2024)
Nothing beats the summer heat like sipping a cold beverage under the sunshine while lazily floating down a river on a giant rubber donut. River tubing — both inexpensive and family-friendly — has become a popular summer pastime in the United States, so USA TODAY 10Best searched the nation for the best tubing rivers it has to offer.
An expert panel nominated their top picks for the best places to enjoy this activity, then readers voted for their favorites. Here are the 10 best rivers for tubing in the United Sates.
- French Broad River - Asheville, North Carolina
- Delaware River - Milford, New Jersey
- Chattahoochee River - Helen, Georgia
- Rainbow River - Dunnellon, Florida
- Guadalupe River - New Braunfels, Texas
- Apple River - Somerset, Wisconsin
- Bogue Chitto River - Washington Parish, Louisiana
- Root River - Lanesboro, Minnesota
- Potomac River - Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- Shenandoah River - Virginia and West Virginia
Photo courtesy of AleksandarNakic / E+ Getty Images
No. 10:
The French Broad River (believed to be the third-oldest river in the world) offers plenty of floating opportunities for tubing enthusiasts. Asheville has several access points along the French Broad's urban stretch, where you can float past Carrier Park and the River Arts District. For views of cliffs and forests, there are put-in sites and outfitters in the historic town of Marshall. To float the Upper French Broad, look to the town of Rosman.
Photo courtesy of New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism
No. 9:
The Delaware River is one of the major rivers on the Atlantic Coast, flowing through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. It's one of the most popular waterways to float in New Jersey. The floatable portion of the river extends about 6 miles and takes about three to four hours, depending on conditions.
Photo courtesy of CurtisC Photoography / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 8:
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, north Georgia's Chattahoochee River fills with tubers floating through the alpine town of Helen, just 90 miles northeast of Atlanta. A watery journey will last from two to four hours, depending on where you put in. Locals in the know call this popular summer pastime "shooting the Hooch."
Photo courtesy of Florida State Parks
No. 7:
At a constant 72 degrees and naturally fed by Rainbow Springs, the Rainbow River provides a refreshing tubing experience on hot Florida days. Tubers get shuttled upstream, entering the incredibly clear river and floating for a couple of hours. Spy fish, turtles, otters, birds, and vibrantly colored aquatic plants along the tropical and picturesque route.
Photo courtesy of Yobro10 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 6:
Floating the Guadalupe River near New Braunfels, a short drive from Austin or San Antonio, is a true Texas summer pastime. With a few rapids, tube chutes, and boulders along stretches of lazy river, the Guadalupe offers a little something for everyone. Plan a float trip that ends near the historic town of Gruene, where you can cap a day of tubing at Gruene Dance Hall.
Photo courtesy of Brian Malloy/Travel Wisconsin
No. 5:
The Apple River in northwest Wisconsin has a serene, meandering current for a relaxing two- to three-hour tubing experience, as well as some rapids in the last half of the 77-mile river for thrill seekers. Tubing is insanely popular along the river with a wealth of camping resorts and outfitters, especially in Somerset, serving as the main put-in/take-out point for Apple River tubing.
Photo courtesy of kitzcorner / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 4:
Float trips along the beautiful Bogue Chitto River in Louisiana's Washington Parish can last anywhere from two to seven hours — plenty of time to relax with a drink or two from the floating cooler. The largely gentle-flowing river has a couple of sections of small rapids and quick currents, adding a little adrenaline to the experience.
Photo courtesy of Explore Minnesota
No. 3:
With oak and hickory tree-topped bluffs gradually giving way to rolling pastures, Minnesota's Root River offers floaters a wealth of scenery. The slow-flowing South Branch of the river is a popular stretch for floating, particularly on a hot summer day.
Photo courtesy of River Riders Family Adventure Resort
No. 2:
Adrenaline junkies in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, go for the Potomac River, where Class II and III rapids carry them down one of the most scenic stretches in Potomac River Cap and Harpers Ferry National Park. Below Harpers Ferry, tubing enthusiasts will find a more laidback river for a mellow float trip.
Photo courtesy of River and Trail Outfitters
No. 1:
The Shenandoah River offers a mellow tubing experience. The portion popular with tubers near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, takes one to two hours to float, while the stretch of the river's South Fork, near Luray, Virginia, takes three to five hours, depending on the trip you choose.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Angelica Talan
Angelica Talan is the founder & editor of two... Read More
Angelica Talan is the founder & editor of two popular Washington, D.C. based blogs, Angelica In The City and Clarendon Moms. She has written articles for Arlington Magazine, DUN magazine and has been featured on several Washington, D.C. based television news channels to share family travel tips. A passionate fly fishing enthusiast, Angelica is one of the current brand ambassadors for TakeMeFishing.org and a brand ambassador for the Trout Routes an app dedicated to making fly fishing more accessible and a brand ambassador for Fishewear, a women’s line of fly fishing clothing and accessories based out of Alaska. Angelica has served over three years as the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Liason for United Women On The Fly and is excited to continue to connect with others in the great outdoors and to be a source of positive inspiration for those interested in learning to fly fish. You can connect with her on Instagram, TikTok and X.
Angelica Talan
Angelica Talan is the founder & editor of two popular Washington, D.C. based blogs, Angelica In The City and Clarendon Moms. She has written articles for Arlington Magazine, DUN magazine and has been featured on several Washington, D.C. based television news channels to share family travel tips. A passionate fly fishing enthusiast, Angelica is one of the current brand ambassadors for TakeMeFishing.org and a brand ambassador for the Trout Routes an app dedicated to making fly fishing more accessible and a brand ambassador for Fishewear, a women’s line of fly fishing clothing and accessories based out of Alaska. Angelica has served over three years as the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Liason for United Women On The Fly and is excited to continue to connect with others in the great outdoors and to be a source of positive inspiration for those interested in learning to fly fish. You can connect with her on Instagram, TikTok and X.
Chelle Koster Walton
Chelle Koster Walton — the Local Expert for... Read More
Chelle Koster Walton — the Local Expert for Naples, Florida and the Caribbean — has been covering the destination for 30 years. Her top-selling Sarasota, Sanibel Island, and Naples guidebook (Countryman Press) is in its sixth edition. She was contributing editor for Caribbean Travel & Life for 12 years and has written guidebooks on the Bahamas. A veteran travel writer, Chelle has published thousands of articles for Miami Herald, USA TODAY, Latitudes; has written/contributed to a dozen guidebooks, and produces travel shows for the local PBS station.
Chelle Koster Walton
Chelle Koster Walton — the Local Expert for Naples, Florida and the Caribbean — has been covering the destination for 30 years. Her top-selling Sarasota, Sanibel Island, and Naples guidebook (Countryman Press) is in its sixth edition. She was contributing editor for Caribbean Travel & Life for 12 years and has written guidebooks on the Bahamas. A veteran travel writer, Chelle has published thousands of articles for Miami Herald, USA TODAY, Latitudes; has written/contributed to a dozen guidebooks, and produces travel shows for the local PBS station.
Dave Stamboulis
Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer/photographer... Read More
Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer/photographer based in Bangkok. Born in Greece and growing up in the U.S., Dave discovered Bangkok on a 45,000-kilometer world bicycle trip and moved there in 2005. Dave is the author of Odysseus' Last Stand, which received the Silver Medal for Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers. He is the author of 500 Hidden Secrets to Bangkok, a writer for Lonely Planet, Fodor's and DK Eyewitness Guidebooks, and his travel features and photography appear in publications around the globe.—
Dave Stamboulis
Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer/photographer based in Bangkok. Born in Greece and growing up in the U.S., Dave discovered Bangkok on a 45,000-kilometer world bicycle trip and moved there in 2005. Dave is the author of Odysseus' Last Stand, which received the Silver Medal for Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers. He is the author of 500 Hidden Secrets to Bangkok, a writer for Lonely Planet, Fodor's and DK Eyewitness Guidebooks, and his travel features and photography appear in publications around the globe.—
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She... Read More
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for Insider, Fodor's Travel, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Viator and Reviewed among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer. Jamie can be reached at [email protected] and can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for Insider, Fodor's Travel, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Viator and Reviewed among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer. Jamie can be reached at [email protected] and can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in... Read More
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion... Read More
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Tamara Gane
Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best... Read More
Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. She's based in Reno/Lake Tahoe and in addition to USA Today 10Best, her work has been published in Travel & Leisure, Fodor's Travel, The Washington Post, SF Gate, Houston Chronicle, Lonely Planet, and more.
Tamara Gane
Tamara Gane is an expert panel member for 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. She's based in Reno/Lake Tahoe and in addition to USA Today 10Best, her work has been published in Travel & Leisure, Fodor's Travel, The Washington Post, SF Gate, Houston Chronicle, Lonely Planet, and more.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
