This text was dropped at you by IceMule, the makers of beer backpacks which are waterproof, floatable, and designed with rivers, seashores, and all method of summer season enjoyable in thoughts.
Midway between the music festivals and tech headquarters of Austin, Texas and the Spanish-colonial great thing about San Antonio is San Marcos. A quickly rising metropolis generally nicknamed “San Marvelous,” for its rising attractiveness. Newcomers, whether or not they’re new residents or guests, are discovering what some folks have recognized for tens of hundreds of years about this little oasis on the confluence of the San Marcos and Blanco rivers.
River tubing the San Marcos is extraordinarily common. Its additionally top-of-the-line methods to get pleasure from water that keep a cool 72 levels year-round. These in search of a problem may be within the Texas Water Safari.
It’s a 262-mile canoe race from San Marcos to the gulf that should happen inside simply 4 days and 4 hours, utilizing solely human energy and no matter provides opponents initially carry onboard. If that seems like a bit a lot, nevertheless, you may take a chiller strategy with river tubing:
It’s straightforward to see why San Marcos is without doubt one of the oldest frequently habited sights in North or South America. In truth, latest archeological finds point out indigenous folks have inhabited the world round San Marcos Springs for 20,000 years. That spring, and the quite a few rivers and creeks on this nook of Central Texas, are additionally what make San Marcos a super vacation spot for anybody enthusiastic about paddle sports activities.
The place to Attempt San Marcos River Tubing
If you wish to plan your individual San Marcos River tubing journey, it’s nearly as straightforward as displaying up inside the metropolis limits. The San Marcos Metropolis Park, for instance, is a well-liked and free put-in. In case you don’t have already got a floatie of your individual, the native Lion’s Membership rents tubes for a full day of enjoyable. And the charges embrace an infinite shuttle move so you may run all the way down to Rio Vista Park as typically as you want.
There are quite a few different outfitters, too. Together with Texas State Tubes, Lonestar Float Home, and Nice Gonzo’s Tubes— which lease gear for river tubing the San Marcos. If you wish to keep in a single day, a number of space campgrounds provide tent websites and straightforward river entry.
Relying on the place you begin, the standard float journey is about an hour-long. In case you select to drift from Metropolis Park to County Highway 299, you may anticipate a couple of two-hour journey.
Floating past CR 299/Cape Highway could be harmful for inexperienced tubers. So it’s greatest to take out and trip your shuttle again if you happen to’re nonetheless jonesing to drift. Many tube rental corporations and campgrounds provide all-day charges with shuttles included. However double-check together with your clothes shop beforehand to be sure you understand how lengthy you may keep out on the water.
Need an journey of your individual? Discover free tenting close to you
Do you know that the majority states within the US have free tenting?
Though, a few of it’s not-so-great and could be laborious to search out.
There’s a neater approach:
- Hand-picked free campsites
- Pre-saved to your cellphone
- The very best in all 50 states
It’s the one hand-picked checklist of 5,000 free tenting areas that you will see anyplace.
It comes with a bunch of different options like last-minute tenting texts, offline maps, and many others.
You possibly can test it out totally free at this time by beginning a free 7-day trial. After the 7-day trial, the membership is simply $35.99 for a full yr of entry — effectively price it if you happen to camp greater than 2 instances per yr.
What to Pack for a San Marcos River Tubing Journey
You don’t want a lot to efficiently tube down a river, apart from the apparent inflatable machine. However there’s a couple of issues that do make river tubing on the San Marcos extra comfy and enjoyable.
- An grownup beverage: Sipping one thing chilly and fizzy to keep up a buoyant day buzz shouldn’t be solely allowed whereas tubing the San Marcos River, it’s virtually the default. There’s nothing like enjoying a sport of Lone Star bottle caps with mates as you bob downstream. Simply you should definitely carry a coozy on your cans and undoubtedly skip the glass— and as all the time, drink responsibly.
- Sunscreen: That is Texas, in any case, one of many sunniest locations in america. The water may really feel cool whilst you’re in it. However that burn goes to really feel sizzling lengthy after the solar goes down if you happen to don’t handle your pores and skin. Choose a reef-safe sunscreen method though you’re miles from the ocean— in any case, the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers do finally attain the Gulf of Mexico.
- Good sandals: Convey water sneakers or sandals like Chacos that securely connect to your toes. There’s nothing worse than having to step on sharp, sizzling river rocks if you come ashore as a result of your flip flops acquired misplaced within the present
- A drybag on your cellphone: if you happen to select to carry any electronics alongside, preserve them secure and dry in a product like a Lok Sack or different purpose-made drybag. For additional peace of thoughts, slip that smaller drybag in your beer backpack so your cellphone could have double the safety.
The place to Camp for San Marcos River Tubing
Picture from The Dyrt camper Brent F.
There’s loads of good tenting in Texas alongside the Guadalupe River and different waterways round San Marcos. Nevertheless it’s additional good to camp proper alongside the water throughout your San Marcos River tubing journey. Listed below are 4 spots the place you are able to do simply that, and actually benefit from tubing the San Marcos River.
San Marcos River Retreat
The non-public campground and San Marcos River tubing vacation spot stands out within the space for being each family-oriented and Christ-centered. There’s an on-site Cowboy Chapel which turns out to be useful for the church camps San Marcos River Retreat continuously hosts, in addition to scout teams and different gatherings who admire the property’s strict no-alcohol coverage. You possibly can anticipate loads of peace and quiet within the evenings, when site visitors on the river dies down.
That is, like many campgrounds that double as locations for San Marcos River tubing, is primarily a tent tenting outfit. Twenty campsites are located within the pecan backside by the shore, and there aren’t any sewage hookups or 50 amp service. That stated, RVers are welcome to boondock, and tent campers could have no bother getting cozy.
“It is a non-public campground managed by an excellent candy household that actually cares concerning the river and the group. This place thrives as a result of the people who use it respect the house owners, and the house owners respect the customers . . . It’s an attractive gem and everybody that is aware of about it fights to maintain it this fashion.” — The Dyrt camper Brent F.
Don’s Fish Camp
If a extra festive ambiance is your velocity, head to Don’s Fish Camp. It’s been described as a chill place to unwind with a little bit of a seaside vibe. Not solely are their campsites proper by the river, but additionally a rope swing that’s utterly Instagram-ready. Had you any doubts it is a good spot to, say, go tenting for spring break or host an outdoorsy bachelorette celebration, Don’s additionally hosts DJ nights each weekend.
The facilities are easy, with first-come, first-served tent and RV websites, bogs, showers, picnic tables, and grills. There’s no electrical or sewage hookups, however you’re free to boondock or automotive camp so long as you don’t use a generator. Don’s can also be pleasant for first-time campers.
Leisure Resort on the San Marcos River
Household owned and operated since 1982, Leisure Resort has had quite a lot of time to get the main points good. Nestled in a 150 yr previous pecan orchard, Leisure Resort lives as much as the identify with additional facilities that make it straightforward to unwind. Along with entry for tubing the San Marcos River, visitors can get pleasure from a sand volleyball courtroom, basketball courtroom, horseshoe pits, a playground, clubhouse with WiFi, mini golf course, and canine run.
Leisure Resort boasts lodging types for campers of all stripes. There are 117 websites with a full vary of hookup choices, paved pull-thru websites that may accommodate even massive rigs, river-front websites, primitive tent websites, and cabins. A must-do, nevertheless, if you happen to’ve ever needed to camp in a treehouse, is to e book their air-conditioned perches with creature comforts like bunk beds, mini-refrigerators and microwaves.
“So pleasant! I like this place as a result of its on the San Marcos river. They show you how to again in if you happen to want it, nice little retailer, quiet, clear, fairly priced.” -The Dyrt camper Alice R.
River Bend RV Park
Twenty-five miles down river from San Marcos is the city of Luling, Texas, a former railroad city that at this time hosts enjoyable festivals on the river. Luling can also be a cease on the mouth-watering Texas Barbecue Path. With pitmasters at joints like Luling Metropolis Market and Luling Bar-B-Q serving up juicy, fresh-smoked ribs, pork, and extra. Tenting at River Bend RV Park will put you in simply the suitable spot to get pleasure from all that tasty goodness, in addition to San Marcos River tubing.
With full hook-up pull-thru areas, 30 and 50 amps, back-in websites with full hook-ups in addition to water/electrical solely, and primitive tent websites, it’s straightforward to search out what you want right here. This gated group options volleyball and basketball courts, a catch-and-release fishing pond with bait and deal with out there on the market, and a retailer promoting tenting provides and propane.
The river isn’t the one method to cool off, both, as River Bend is a campground with a swimming pool. And even your four-legged mates are welcome— it is a dog-friendly vacation spot and an equestrian campground with stables.
“San Marcos river within the again with just a little place to fish, youngsters catch and launch pond. Websites are extraordinarily shut. A number of issues to do within the surrounding space.” — The Dyrt camper Eric-Misty S.
This text was dropped at you by Icemule.
ICEMULE Coolers
Icemule’s backpack coolers will preserve your beer cool all through your 3 hour float down the river.
Associated Campgrounds:
In style Articles: