There’s an art to a day of tubing in the South. It’s kind of like tailgating, but on the water: You’ll be in an extended friend group, you’ll likely make more friends (with strangers you literally bump into along the way), and you’ll have a designated cooler strapped to a spare tube and packed with whatever libations and snacks you deem necessary. And if you’re a pro, you might also bring bungee cords to bind your party’s tubes together, plus an oar or paddle for a little extra control when needed. At the end of the day, you’ll emerge smelling vaguely of river, sunburnt no matter how many times you reapplied, dehydrated no matter how much water you drank, starving no matter how many snacks you ate, and absolutely ready to do it again next weekend.
Though some rivers offer a little too much whitewater action and are better suited for rafting or kayaking, the South offers lots of options for a lazy float, too. Below, we rounded up seven of the best rivers for minimal-effort tubing, all with outfitters that rent tubes.
Frio River
Texas
The Frio threads through the heart of Texas Hill Country, a little more of a trek from Austin than other popular tubing spots on the Comal, San Marcos, and Guadalupe Rivers. But its spring-fed, blue-green water is refreshingly cold all summer long, and after putting in around Concan you’ll sail past stunning limestone bluffs and river banks lined with water willows, cypresses, Texas pecans, and cottonwood trees.
Outfitters: Happy Hollow Frio River Outfitters, Josh’s Frio River Outfitter
Little Cahaba River
Alabama
The Cahaba River is a global hotspot of aquatic biodiversity, home to turtles and salamanders, endangered mussels, and a whole host of fish species found nowhere else in the world. The best tubing branch is on its tributary, the Little Cahaba, which offers miles of clear water, a sandy river bottom, and views of Talladega National Forest. And the most bang for your buck comes in late spring and early summer, when the dramatic white blossoms of the rare Cahaba lily burst into bloom on the water.
Outfitter: Limestone Park Canoe Rental
Shenandoah River
Virginia
Put in at the North or South Fork to ride through the Shenandoah Valley on a gentle current with a few rapids and riffles along the way, surrounded by the rolling Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Sandy banks and gravel bars invite a picnic stop, and keep an eye out for bald eagles, ospreys, kingfishers, sunning turtles, and the odd river otter.
Outfitters: Shenandoah River Outfitters, Downriver Canoe Company
Chattahoochee River
Georgia
Shooting the Hooch is a Georgia summer must. This river flows through the heart of the Peach State and is even accessible from metro Atlanta, but the most popular section to tube starts in Roswell or Sandy Springs and winds slowly—studded by a few more lively bits—through the protected Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Watch for turtles, beavers, and great blue herons, and count on ice-cold water even in the dead of summer.
Outfitters: High Country Outfitters, Nantahala Outdoor Center
Bogue Chitto River
Louisiana
The wide, winding Bogue Chitto flows through piney woods and sandy bluffs in southeastern Louisiana, offering a relaxed float with a few gentle twists and gravel bars for sunbathing or snacking. The most popular tubing stretch runs through the tannin-tinted waters near Franklinton. There, watch out for herons, egrets, and wild hogs rooting along the shore—plus the occasional rope swing or swimming hole.
Outfitters: Bogue Chitto Tubing, Louisiana River Adventure
Ichetucknee River
Florida
This spring-fed river—with crystal-clear water that hovers around a balmy 72 degrees year-round—meanders through the heart of Ichetucknee Springs State Park in North Florida. The most popular float begins at the North Entrance, where you ease into the water under a canopy of towering cypress and mixed hardwood trees. Then, a gentle current wafts floaters along, past waving eelgrass, ancient limestone formations, and river bottom sand boils caused by water rushing up from underground spring vents.
Outfitters: Tube rentals are available at the State Park’s General Store, located at South Entrance.
Hiwassee River
Tennessee
The Hiwassee River in eastern Tennessee might be best known for its whitewater rafting and kayaking opportunities, and its tributary, the Ocoee, even served as the canoe slalom venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics. But there’s still opportunity for tubing here, though it’s a little spicier than your average lazy float—expect to hit a few Class I–II rapids as the river carries you through the Cherokee National Forest.
Outfitters: Hiwassee Outfitters, Hiwassee Adventures
