Tubing is a Texas religion, and Austinites have been making the New Braunfels pilgrimage for generations. But the smarter move — quieter water, cleaner river, friendlier prices, and unlimited floats — is one exit further south. Son's Blue River Camp in Kingsbury, TX runs unlimited all-day tubing on the spring-fed San Marcos River for $29.99 per person, shuttle included. This is the complete Austin guide.
Why Son's Beats the New Braunfels Floats
The Comal and Guadalupe in New Braunfels are great rivers, but they're crowded, the parking is brutal, and the per-float pricing adds up. The San Marcos at Son's is private, lightly used, and unlimited — float as many times as you can fit in a day. The water itself is cleaner and clearer because the springs above San Marcos filter it through the limestone aquifer. The 72°F temperature is the same year-round.
For the city-by-city breakdown of float options, the tubing near Austin landing page compares routes head-to-head.
How the Float Works
Park free on property. Walk to the rental hut. Grab a tube. Hop the shuttle to the upstream put-in. Float back to the property — about an hour of lazy drift past cypress trees, fish, and the occasional turtle. Climb out at the take-out beach. Walk back to your car (or your cabana, or your cabin). Repeat as many times as you want.
Drive From Austin
I-35 South to San Marcos, US-90 East to Kingsbury. About an hour from downtown Austin. Most South Austin neighborhoods are closer to Son's than to the busier Comal put-ins.
What to Bring
- Closed-toe water shoes (mandatory in our books)
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Wide-brim hat and polarized sunglasses on a strap
- Waterproof phone pouch on a lanyard
- A small dry bag tied to the tube for snacks
- Cooler with non-glass drinks (left at your spot)
- A long-sleeve UPF shirt for the second lap
- Water — a quart per person per hour
- Cash for tube rental upgrades and snacks
What not to bring: glass, single-use plastics, anything you can't tie to your body or tube, expensive sunglasses without a strap.
Tubing With Kids
Kids 5+ generally do great in a tube with a properly fitted PFD and a parent's tube tied alongside. Toddlers do best in shallow shoreline play instead of the float; the river beach has a long, ankle-deep wade-in zone perfect for pre-school splashing. The 10 tips for a family river day post is the cheat sheet.
Make a Day or a Weekend of It
A pure tubing day works on a weekend afternoon. To get the full effect, add a cabana for the day ($69, shaded, your basecamp between floats) or upgrade to an overnight in a log cabin or glamping cabin so you can float two days in a row without the drive. The bundled discount makes that math even better — see specials.
Best Times to Float
Best time of day: 10 AM first lap (sun manageable, river quiet). Avoid 1–3 PM in midsummer if you burn easily.
Best season: Late April through early October for the warm-air-cool-water sweet spot. Spring break and Memorial Day are the busiest weekends; mid-week summer is paradise.
Safety
Wear the PFD. Don't try to stand in moving water — float on your back, feet downstream, swim to shore. Hydrate constantly. Get off the river immediately if lightning approaches.
FAQ
Cooler tubes?
Yes — separate cooler tube rentals available at the hut.
Alcohol policy?
Allowed in cans only — never glass. Be the chill version of your group, please.
Reservations required?
Strongly recommended on summer Saturdays. Book ahead on the book now page.
Book Your Tubing Day
Unlimited floats. Shuttle included. $29.99 per person. An hour from Austin.
