The Best Float Trips in the U.S. to Go with the Flow

Summer is fleeting. You’d think I’d have learned this by now, considering I’m 49 years old, but the end of the season sneaks up on me every year, and I find myself trying to cram as many warm-weather adventures as I can into August. My favorite summer pastime? Floating. Grab an inner tube or a standup paddle board (or an inflatable camping mattress in a pinch) and point it downstream on a lazy river and just … float.

Tubing has always been an integral part of my summer adventures. As a kid, I grew up tubing the Chattahoochee River through metro Atlanta. We hunted for rope swings and jumping rocks. Since those early days, I’ve hunted for ideal tubing scenarios, getting stuck on rivers with no currents and freezing my unmentionables off while careening down snowmelt creeks. I love tubing because it forces you to slow down and move at the speed of the river. It’s less about exploration and more about relaxation.

So I’ve done the research and found some of the best floating rivers in the country. Sure, some of these rivers have the occasional rapid, but these aren’t whitewater paddling trips. These are languid, let the sun beat down on you while draping your toes in the cool water below, trips.

Before summer is over, make the most of it with these epic float trips across the country.

Upper Iowa River, Iowa 

The Upper Iowa is a gem of a river that runs 136 miles through the northeast corner of Iowa before meeting the Mississippi. It was one of the first bodies of water to be nominated for a National Wild and Scenic River designation in the state, and because of that protection, it remains a pristine paddle to this day.

Kayakers and canoeists explore multiple sections of this river, but the perfect stretch runs for almost 20 miles between Kendalville Park access and Bluffton Fir Stand Access, where multiple public access points allow you to tailor the length of the trip. This section also cruises through the most interesting terrain, from natural springs pouring into the river to limestone outcroppings to expansive forests of balsam firs. The highlight has to be the Bluffton Palisades, a half-mile–long stretch of cliffs that rise 300 feet from the edge of the water.

Logistics: Start your trip in the morning to avoid afternoon crowds. Chimney Rock Campground rents tubes and runs shuttles of varying lengths (from $25, including the shuttle).

Where to Stay: Upper Iowa River Resort has campsites and cabins on the river (from $100 a night for the cabins, from $38 a night for campsites). They also rent tubes (from $10) and run shuttles.

Niobrara National Scenic River, Nebraska 

Think Nebraska is just corn fields as far as the eye can see? Think again. The Niobrara River is a 535-mile–long waterway that begins in Wyoming, but the prettiest parts are in Nebraska where a 76-mile-long stretch was designated a National Scenic River in 1991. Here, the mild-mannered river runs through sandstone canyons, rolling sandhills, and forests of aspen and birch. The best section runs for 12 miles from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge to Smith Falls State Park. It’s a full day of cruising with the occasional swift water ripple and the opportunity to see wildlife like eagles, herons, and otters. You can also spot deer and the occasional elk grazing in the meadows. The section is known for its waterfalls, with the opportunity to park your tubes and take short hikes to Fort Falls, a 30-footer over an exposed canyon, and the 63-foot-tall Smith Falls, Nebraska’s tallest. There’s also Berry Falls, which drops directly into the side of the Niobrara River, giving you a chance to feel the spray from the eight-foot drop as you cruise by in your tube.

Logistics: The park service estimates 60,000 people paddle or tube the Niobrara River every year, most of them on Saturdays during the summer, so if that’s your plan, aim for an early morning launch to avoid the majority of the crowds. Or show up during the week if that’s a possibility. Nearly a dozen outfitters rent tubes and run shuttles. such as Brewers.

If you put in at the Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, you’ll need to pay the daily access fee and wear a wristband.

Where to Stay: Smith Falls State Park has a campground on the river, as well as Nebraska’s tallest waterfall. It’s a popular takeout spot for outfitters running trips, so pitching your tent here makes for a seamless adventure (from $15 a night for a site).

The Russian River, Sonoma County, California 

Northern California’s Russian River cruises for a hundred miles through Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. This is wine country, and most visitors are here for the grapes and the food, but a two-mile stretch of the Russian River from Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach has become a hotbed of floating during the summer months. It’s a slow-moving affair with no rapids to speak of, so the trip typically takes four hours, but there are pebble beaches for lounging and plenty of opportunities to cool off by dipping in the water. If you’re an angler, consider turning this into a float/fishing trip, as the Russian River is known for its striped bass, steelhead, and salmon fishing.

Logistics: Parking at Steelhead Beach ($7 per car) fills up fast, so get there early on weekends. It’s a five-minute drive between the parks, so it makes for an easy self-shuttle. The county also runs a river shuttle between the beaches on weekends ($5 per person). Russian River Tubes, located at Steelhead Beach, has tube rentals (from $25 a day).

Where to Stay: This is wine country, so boutique hotels abound, as do private campgrounds. Camp Russian River has RV and tent sites (from $60 a night) tucked into the redwoods with river frontage and quick access to the restaurants in Guerneville and Forestville. They also offer tube rentals ($25 a day).

The Lower Salt River, Arizona 

The Salt River stretches for 200 miles through the Sonoran Desert of central Arizona. While the Upper Salt is a hot spot of whitewater paddling and rafting, with class III-IV rapids, the Lower Salt, below Sauguro Lake, is a more mellow affair with mild water moving through classic desert terrain with 1,000-foot cliffs and more saguaro cacti than any mortal can count.

The most popular stretch for tubing is just 45 minutes outside of Phoenix, where the river cruises through Tonto National Forest. Multiple public put-ins allow you to tailor the trip to your needs, with options from just a few miles to up to 13 miles. Plenty of people opt for paddle boards and kayaks for this run, but it’s quintessential tubing territory with just a few ripples to contend with early on in the trip. You also have the chance to spot wild horses, which graze along the river banks and wade into the water. An estimated 300 feral horses live in a 20,000-acre section of the national forest along the Lower Salt. Coon Bluff Recreation Area, roughly halfway through the tubing run, offers the best chance to see the mustangs. Your odds improve if you’re on the river at sunrise or sunset.

Logistics: Salt River Tubing rents tubes and runs shuttles for trips of varying lengths on the Lower Salt ($28 for tube and shuttle). You’ll also need a Tonto National Forest recreation pass ($8).

Where to Stay: The Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch sits near the top of the Lower Salt River. If you stay at the ranch, you can launch directly from the property and start paddling beneath tall cliffs right away. The ranch has kayaks for rent and guided trip options, too.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey 

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a special place. From a topography standpoint, the “Water Gap” is a notch carved into the Kittatinny Mountains by the Delaware River that’s a quarter mile wide at the bottom and a mile wide at the highest peaks. That’s cool, but the recreation area is even more impressive from a public land standpoint, as it protects 40 miles of free-flowing river in the heart of the most densely populated region of the United States. This National Recreation Area is an oasis of pristine water and lush, forested slopes in an otherwise urban landscape, and it’s best experienced from the hull of a boat or the seat of a tube while meandering on the Delaware River. The current is mostly mild throughout the recreation area, which has a dozen access points, enabling you to create a trip to suit your needs. The six-mile stretch from Smithfield Beach to Kittatinny Point is popular with paddlers, ending at the actual gap in the mountains. Tubers flock to the next section of the river, which runs for four miles from the gap to the small town of Portland, floating beneath the Slateford Bridge and through the occasional class I/II wave train. The river is protected from its source in the Catskills, so the water is pristine and often clear enough to see straight through to the bottom.

Logistics: There are no entrance fees to the national recreation area, but there are some day–use fees at certain put-ins. The Delaware Gap National Recreation Area runs a free boater shuttle to the four Pennsylvania access points of the river on weekends until August 31. Edge of the Woods Outfitters has kayak and tube rentals and shuttles (starting at $40 per person).

Where to Stay: Worthington State Forest has 78 campsites along the river on the New Jersey side of the recreation area (from $20 a night). Sites here not only get you close to the water, but you’ll have fast access to great hiking on the Appalachian Trail, too.

Yampa River, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 

The Yampa River is a free-flowing tributary of the Green River, and it has some classic whitewater sections, particularly through Dinosaur National Monument. But the river is relatively mellow as it cruises through downtown Steamboat Springs, offering locals and visitors an enticing way to cool off without leaving the city limits. A variety of parks and access points allow you to tailor the trip to your timeframe, and several outfitters rent tubes and run shuttles in town. It’s more than a scenic float, though, as there are plenty of standing waves and small rapids to keep things interesting, but nothing you can’t handle in a tube or standup paddleboard. The river has a very relaxed, social vibe.

In addition to plenty of other tubers and paddlers, you’ll pass kids swimming in eddies and people lounging on rocks and beach areas. In other words, it’s a popular respite from the heat, so much so that the city limits the number of commercial trips on the river each day, and divides the river into sections, each with a dedicated user group. The upper stretch is reserved for anglers, while private boaters can launch from Fetcher Park and cruise downstream. If you’re renting a tube, you’ll put in at 8th Street and float two miles to the James Brown Bridge.

Logistics: Local outfitter Backdoor Sports has rental equipment and shuttles right at the 8th street put[[-]]in ($25 includes a shuttle). Typically, tubing season runs through August, but check in with the outfitter before your trip to check water levels. Commercial outfitters like a sweet spot of 500 to 600 cubic feet per second for trips. You want to hit the river before noon to miss the crowds.

Where to Stay: Downtown Steamboat Springs has limited camping, but has plenty of hotel options. Check out the Western Lodge, a renovated motel with retro vibes, in the heart of town within walking distance of the river (from $159 a night).

Ichetucknee River, Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Florida 

Florida can get a bad rap, but the center of the state is a veritable jungle packed with natural springs and lazy rivers that meander beneath a lush, hardwood canopy. I love Florida’s cold springs, and I’d argue that there are so many beautiful rivers in Florida that the state is ground zero for tubing in the U.S. It’s tough to pick one river to focus on here, but the Ichetucknee takes the prize.

The six-mile-long river is fed by eight natural cold springs, and the Upper Ichetucknee, within the 2,500-acre state park, is one of the most pristine bodies of water in the state. Put in at Dampier’s Landing and float for about a mile (the trip takes about an hour) beneath a canopy of cypress and pine. Bring your goggles and head to the head of the river, where you’ll find deep pools with underwater cavern systems formed by the springs; my family got a kick out of snorkeling in these pools. Just keep in mind that the water is a crisp 72-degrees year–round because of the springs bubbling up from below.

Logistics: Entrance fee to the park is $6 per vehicle. Try to get there early, as the park closes when it reaches max capacity. You can get tubes or boats at the park’s General Store (from $8). You can take the tram or hike the trail back to the put-in next to the General Store.

Where to Stay: There’s no camping inside Ichetucknee Springs State Park, but there are several privately owned campgrounds near the park. Bowman’s Landing has campsites and cabins on the Santa Fe River, less than five miles from Ichetucknee, and gets rave reviews by Hipcampers (from $45 a night).

The Lower Green River, Saluda, North Carolina 

The Green River has one of the most lauded class V whitewater runs in the country, with a three-mile section that’s packed with class IV and V rapids and home to the annual Green River Race. But below the Narrows is the more mellow, six-mile Lower Green, where the whitewater settles down to some easy class II waves and drops leading into gentle eddies. If you’re paddling, consider doing the whole Lower Green, which is a four-hour adventure that’s perfect for experienced standup paddleboarders. Most tubers opt for the lower three miles of the run, which is two hours of floating with half a dozen rapids that pass through the protected forest of the Green River Gamelands. The water is clear, and the banks are lined with granite outcroppings and the occasional rocky beach.

Logistics: If you’re doing the full six-mile run, you can set your own shuttle, stashing cars at the Fishtop Access and Bigrock Access points. If you’re tubing, your best bet is to rent tubes and get a shuttle from Green River Adventures, which has an outpost directly on the river (rates start at $20 per person).

Where to Stay: Hotels in the area are scarce, but there are a handful of private campgrounds. Cold Springs Basecamp has three-sided camping shelters as well as A-frames and a deluxe treehouse roughly 20 minutes from the river (shelters start at $55 a night).

Truckee River, Reno, Nevada 

Tubing the Truckee River into downtown Reno is all about timing. Hit the river during the spring snow melt, and it’s a torrent of whitewater popular with kayakers. But wait until late summer and the flows have mellowed, creating ideal tubing territory. It’s an urban experience that has you floating past neighborhoods, wooded slopes,. and several parks before getting out in downtown Reno. And the water is crisp and swift, so you can expect some small rapids even at low volume.

The best part is the finish: tubers take out at Reno’s Truckee River Whitewater Park, a manmade playground with half a mile of waves and drops. If the water level is low enough, you can run tubes through some of the rapids at the Whitewater Park, running laps on the more fun features until you’re exhausted.

Logistics: Multiple parks allow you to vary your trip length, but most people run from Mayberry Park, where there’s plenty of parking, to the Truckee River Whitewater Park. Sierra Adventures, which is located next to the whitewater park, has tube rentals and runs shuttles. ($69 per person including shuttle).

Where to Stay: It’s Reno, so there are hotels (and casinos) everywhere. Whitney Peak Hotel has the world’s tallest outdoor climbing wall and is only a couple of blocks from the Reno Riverwalk and Whitewater Park (from $195).

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Graham Averill is Outside magazine’s national parks columnist, and spends as many days as he can tubing the rivers near his home in Asheville, North Carolina. He recently wrote about the best swimming holes in our national parks.