Summertime - It's hot outside and that makes floating in tube down a 72 degree river sound amazing right?? Check out our 3 favorite tubing spots...
1. The Comal River
Photo Credit: Comal Tubes
If you are looking for tubing in the San Antonio area, then consider taking a trip to New Braunfels, Texas. If you go to comaltubes.com and enter your email you can get a free tube and shutle combo!
To go tubing in the comal river park in their free lot, check in to get a city wristband, gear up, and hop on one of their continuously-running shuttles to the river. It is spring fed, so it’s crystal clear and 72 degrees year round. The average depth is 3 to 4 feet, which makes it perfect for the kids to enjoy. There are also areas only a couple of feet deep where kids can play.
The shuttle drops you off at Prince Solms Park, the main entrance of the river. You enter the water upstream their tube chute and float for about 2 hours long. A few hundred yards after the public exit, the Comal River pours into the Guadalupe River tubing area. The Comal river river is just 2 miles long, but they don’t offer tubing services for the Guadalupe River.
They have a gift shop with drink containers, koozies, sunscreen, towels, and much more. Also, on their website is a virtual river float game called “toob time” anyone can play. If you make it in the top 20 scores on the leaderboard., you get free tubing with them! All you have to do is play, rate, review, and score for free tubing. The game is downloadable on iOS and google play.
Tubing rates range from $15 to $20 each. Group rates qualify for discounts, and reservations are required for 20 people and over. Call 830-476-7700 to book a reservation. Currenty their tubing hours and operating schedule are subject to change due to weather conditions, so check their website for up-to-date information.
2. The Frio River
Photo Credit: Frioman.com
Floating in the frio river is one of my favorite rivers to go tubing. It is cold, beautiful, and secluded. That is what makes it ideal to visit in this Texas-summer heat. It is 47 miles long, contains high limestone bluffs, enormous Cypress trees, and boulders. Check with any of the following outfitters about optimum flows, which can vary from 100 to 1000 CFS. The river is 310 miles from Houston, but very worth the trip!
There are a few companies you can consider for tubing services at the frio river:
-
Andy’s, 832-232-5444
-
B&B Store
-
Garner State Park Concessions
-
Happy Hollow Store, 830-232-5266
-
Josh’s Frio River Outfitters
-
Star Rentals
3. The San Marcos River
Photo Credit: Toursanmarcos.com
Texas State Tubes is a low-cost tubing provider on the San Marcos River. For added convenience, they have two parking lots. There is one at the beginning otf the float and one at the end so that you can either park, float, ride or you can park, ride, float depending on your preference. If you are driving, there is no reason to book online.
If you are in Austin, Texas, this service picks you up at Congress Avenue and 3rd street at 11 am.Travel time to the river is 1 hour. Afterward they will take you back to Austin. You have to book online $50 not including taxes.
They also offer a private tubing trip on the San Marcos River. They will pick your party up at your preferred pickup location and take you to the river. The trip to the river is 1 hour and you will have 3 hours to float. Afterward they will take you back to Austin. A minimum of 10 people is required to book a private trip, therefore the trip will cost at least $500 not including taxes. You will need to book ahead of time online to get a private trip.
If this is your first time tubing, then it is important to note if you don’t want to lose it, then don’t bring it. You’ll want to make sure you have the necessities such as sunblock, a hat, sunglasses, foot protection, etc.
