7 Lazy River Tubing Trips In North Carolina To Start Planning Now

Are you up for a little adventure in The Tar Heel State? So are we!  While there are abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation in the state, these lazy river summer tubing adventures might be our favorite. Whether you're craving an adrenaline-pumping, epic ride down a rapid river, or a lazy float where you can take in the North Carolina scenery, these tubing trips are sure to be a blast!

1. Zen Tubing - Asheville

Float along the picturesque French Broad River on what will certainly be a highlight of your summer. No reservations are required at this time and kids as young as four are allowed to tube! Find more information here.

2. Cape Fear River Adventures - Lillington

Spend a lazy day floating aimlessly down the Cape Fear River. Registration takes place entirely online in order to meet social distancing guidelines and all tubes are sanitized after each use. Note that high water levels may mean tubing is a no-go, but current water levels and tubing status can be found on the homepage of the official website of Cape Fear River Adventures.

3. Dan River Adventures - Stoneville

Located just 40 minutes from Greensboro, Dan River Adventures offers a campground, canoe and kayak rentals, and some of the best river tubing along the Dan River.

4. Smoky Mountain Tubing - Cherokee

Always wanted to tube on the Oconaluftee River? Here's your chance! Spend a couple hours enjoying the fresh air and extraordinary views on this trip that allows kids as young as five to participate. Here's all you need to know to book a tubing trip with Smoky Mountain Tubing.

5. Silver Creek Tubing - Saluda

Link your group's tubes together and relish in the fun of swiftly moving at a snail's pace down the Green River outside of Saluda. What could be more fun than spending some quality time on the water with family? Silver Creek Tubing is a unique adventure.

6. Loafers Glory Rafting & Tubing - Bakersville

Bask in the beauty of the scenic Toe River on perhaps one of the most adventurous tubing trips you'll find in North Carolina. Stop along the way to take it all in as you perch on one of the huge island rocks in the middle of this gorgeous river. Learn more about tubing at Loafers Glory here.

7. Dillsboro River Company - Sylva

Tube the Tuck (Tuckasegee River) on one of the two sections suited for tubing. The Tuck is better known for rafting trips, but Dillsboro River Company is the way to go if your heart is set on tubing the Tuck!

In light of current circumstances related to the pandemic, tubing companies around the state are implementing new protocols to respond to new social distancing measures (check with each company to learn their safety plans), so there's one less thing to worry about. Some tubing companies listed above may not have opened for the season yet, but you can check back with them as the weeks pass for more up-to-date information.

How many of these North Carolina lazy river tubing adventures have tried? Did we miss any epic lazy rivers in the state? Let us know in the comments below!

And for more aquatic adventures in The Tar Heel State, be sure to check out these six fun waterparks.