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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 States.
Photo courtesy of River Riders Family Adventure Resort
No. 10: Potomac River
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
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 laid-back river for a mellow float trip.
Photo courtesy of River and Trail Outfitters
No. 9: Shenandoah River
Virginia and West Virginia
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.
Photo courtesy of Explore Minnesota
No. 8: Root River
Lanesboro, Minnesota
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 Yobro10 / iStock Via Getty Images Plus
No. 7: Guadalupe River
New Braunfels, Texas
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. 6: Apple River
Somerset, Wisconsin
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 VISIT PHILADELPHIA, Photo by J. Fusco
No. 5: Brandywine River
Delaware and Pennsylvania
Running roughly 20 miles across Delaware and Pennsylvania, the Brandywine River has been a beloved tubing destination for years thanks to its calm currents. The Brandywine Museum of Art is a particularly popular jumping-off point for a day on the water, with many participants crossing over the border and ending their journey in the idyllic Brandywine Creek State Park.
Photo courtesy of New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism
No. 4: Delaware River
Milford, New Jersey
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 Visit Boise
No. 3: Boise River
Boise, Idaho
The Boise River has three Class II rapids during the first half of the six-mile float from Barber Park, a 15-minute drive from downtown Boise, making for a splashy but safe tubing experience. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like wild mink, deer, and bald eagles; local residents jumping into the river from some of the many bridges; views of the city skyline; and picturesque foothills.
Photo courtesy of Louisiana River Adventures
No. 2: Bogue Chitto River
Washington Parish, Louisiana
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 Candice Helms - Explore Summers County
No. 1: Greenbrier River
West Virginia
In the southeastern reaches of West Virginia, the Greenbrier River provides visitors with more than 160 miles of prime tubing territory. While the river offers long stretches of placid water, it also has a few pockets of Class I and II rapids, providing a little added excitement during a routine tubing journey.
Expert Panel
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.
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Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
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Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
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Jill Robbins
Jill Robbins is an expert writer focusing on family and adventure travel as well as practical tips to help everyone get the most value out of their vacation experience. Jill's work has appeared in AAA Texas, Southern Living, Business Insider, Fodor's Travel and more. She lives in San Antonio with her husband and two sons, but she's usually somewhere else. Learn more about her travels at www.jillgoes.com.
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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
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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.
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