--- title: "Austin Tubing Guide: San Marcos vs Comal vs Guadalupe" description: "An Austin tubing guide comparing the San Marcos, Comal, and Guadalupe rivers — water temps, crowds, drive times, and what to expect on each float." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "LodgingBusiness", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "alternateName": [ "Sons Blue River Camp", "Blue River Camp", "Son's Blue River" ], "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com/", "logo": "https://bluerivercamp.com/favicon-192x192.png", "image": "https://bluerivercamp.com/og-image.png", "telephone": "+1-(877) 577-7667", "priceRange": "$$", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "2769 Sherrill Rd", "addressLocality": "Kingsbury", "addressRegion": "TX", "postalCode": "78638", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 29.72751, "longitude": -97.76306 }, "parentOrganization": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Getaways", "url": "https://sonsgetaways.com" }, "sameAs": [ "https://sonsriverranch.com", "https://sonsgetaways.com", "https://www.facebook.com/sonsblueriver", "https://www.instagram.com/sonsblueriver" ], "amenityFeature": [ { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Air-conditioned glamping cabins", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Spring-fed San Marcos River access", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Private riverside cabanas", "value": true }, { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "On-site tubing and kayaking", "value": true } ] }, [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Tubing Near Austin: Float the San Marcos River All Day", "image": "/assets/family-tubing-DDGklnV2.webp", "datePublished": "2026-05-07", "dateModified": "2026-05-07", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Blue River Camp", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bluerivercamp.com/og-image.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog/tubing-near-austin", "description": "The complete guide to tubing near Austin — unlimited tubing, shuttle service, family-friendly water, and how to plan your perfect float day.", "keywords": "tubing near Austin, San Marcos River tubing, river tubing Texas, float trip near Austin, unlimited tubing" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tubing Near Austin", "item": "https://bluerivercamp.com/blog/tubing-near-austin" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does tubing cost?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Unlimited all-day tubing at Son's Blue River Camp is $29.99 per person and includes shuttle service." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the river safe for kids?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — the San Marcos River through our property is calm, shallow in many spots, and life jackets are available. Most kids age 5+ tube comfortably with a parent." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long is the float?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A typical loop takes about an hour. With unlimited tubing and onsite shuttles, most guests float 2–4 times a day." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I bring my own tube?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — BYO tubing is welcome at a reduced rate. See the day rentals page for current BYO pricing." } } ] } ] ] --- [🎉 $29.99 Tubing & Kayaking Today at Son's River Ranch! — BOOK NOW! 🎉 $29.99 Tubing & Kayaking Today at Son's River Ranch! — BOOK NOW! ](https://sonsriverranch.com/book-now) [![Son's Blue River Camp](/assets/logo-transparent-CYNVRjE4.webp)](/) [Stay Overnight](/stay-overnight) [Day Rentals](/day-rentals) [Tubing & Kayaking](/day-rentals#tubing-kayaking) [Property Map](/property-map) [Plan Your Visit](/plan-your-visit) [About](/about) [Specials](/specials) [Contact](/contact)[(877) 577-7667](tel:+18775777667)Book Now Book Now ![Tubing near Austin on the San Marcos River](/assets/family-tubing-DDGklnV2.webp) [Back to Blog](/blog) # Tubing Near Austin: Float the San Marcos River All Day May 7, 2026 18 min read 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](/tubingaustin) compares routes head-to-head. ![Group tubing near Austin on the San Marcos River](/assets/gallery-friends-group-tubes-DLyeZvMa.webp) ## 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. ![Tubing shuttle service near Austin](/assets/shuttle-service-BYPKt6y9.webp)![Scenic tubing on the San Marcos River near Austin](/assets/gallery-tubing-woman-BC17G8fw.webp) ## Drive From Austin I-35 South to San Marcos, US-90 East to Kingsbury. About 45 minutes from 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. ![Big group floating the San Marcos River near Austin](/assets/gallery-group-tubing-D5RRSBVj.webp) ## 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](/blog/10-tips-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](/day-rentals) ($69, shaded, your basecamp between floats) or upgrade to an overnight in a [log cabin](/log-cabins) or [glamping cabin](/glamping) so you can float two days in a row without the drive. The bundled discount makes that math even better — see [specials](/specials). ## Lock In Your Tubing Day Unlimited floats, shuttle included. Add a riverside cabana or stay overnight to make a real weekend of it. [Reserve Day Pass](/day-rentals)[Stay Overnight](/stay-overnight) ![Couple tubing near Austin](/assets/gallery-couple-tubing-DiJkiMcl.webp)![Moms and kids tubing near Austin](/assets/gallery-moms-kids-tubes-DZdabxW7.webp) ## 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. ![River beach near tubing put-in near Austin](/assets/river-beach-property-DimfzXs_.webp) ## 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-now). ![Son's tubes family float near Austin](/assets/sons-tubes-family-float-Db603G5Q.webp) ## Book Your Tubing Day Unlimited floats. Shuttle included. $29.99 per person. 45 minutes from Austin. [Book Day Pass](/day-rentals)[Stay Overnight](/stay-overnight) ### Related reading - [Kayaking near Austin](/blog/kayaking-near-austin) - [Glamping near Austin](/blog/glamping-near-austin) - [Camping near Austin](/blog/camping-near-austin) - [Family getaways near Austin](/blog/family-getaways-near-austin) - [Fun things to do near Austin](/blog/fun-things-to-do-near-austin) - [Cabin rentals near Austin](/blog/cabin-rentals-near-austin) - [Riverfront cabin rentals near San Antonio](/blog/riverfront-cabin-rentals-near-san-antonio) ![Son's Blue River Camp](/assets/logo-transparent-CYNVRjE4.webp) 8 acres of family-friendly river paradise on the San Marcos River. Float, grill, relax — then fall asleep to the sound of the river. 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