Smoky Mountain River Rat Tubing Review: Here's what to expect on your first river tubing on the River Rat in Townsend TN...or ANY Outfitter! (2023)

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I had ridden motorcycles through the Great Smoky Mountains for years before moving to the area. When I first saw the river pipeline signs forRato do Rio Smoky MountainsYears ago, I knew that one day I would find myself floating down the river, but I wasn't sure.whenexactly.

Well a few years later... our family recently enjoyed our summer stay in Townsend, TN and we have finally made it a priority to take time to float on the Little River withriver pipe!

I am happy to share my experience going down the river with my family of 3 adults, 2 college students, 2 teenagers, 1 5 year old and 2 children under 3 years old.

I will share with you what I found out.I hope my tips make your first River Rat Tubing experience in Tennessee a great one, especially if you're floating with small children!

Non-River Rat Tubing Season Steps

I have to tell you... it was such a fun and amazing experience that I reallyupgraded my husband and I to a season pass (for another $30each) just before leaving!

The season pass includes a rafting trip and15% discount that can be used in these places:

• River Rat Gift Shop
• Toobers Coffee
• Autocine Burger Master
• GSM providers

From River Rat inTownsend TN is only 45 minutes from my house, I was sure that we would get the full value of the season pass.

River boating is a fun activity to do together and forces us to unwind from our busy lives.

Floating on a real river is a relaxing way to cool off and get out into nature when it's hot and sticky here in the Smoky Mountains.

Also, it's fun to start daydreaming about owning one of the beautiful homes situated right on the riverfront, with all its fun outdoor spaces that can be seen all along the riverfront.

Before you head to Tubing with River Rat Tubing...

Here are some highlights and tips I learned first hand in my days tubing with River Rat in Townsend, TN.Before you go tubing with the River Rat for the first time, it helps to know the following:

#1: You can get snacks and drinks after you're done tubing at Toobers Cafe, which is on-site.

However,be prepared to pay tourist prices and wait a while for foodif they are busy (such as weekends and holidays).

ADVICE:I've found it's best to bring your own snack and snack cooler that you can take out of the car after the subway. They also provide a shaded common area with picnic tables, and I saw several families with their own coolers there.

#2 – Make sure everyone in your group is well fed and hydratedbeforefollowing down the river.

the family stall(Outpost A) is a floating tour of approximately 2 hoursDown river.

ADVICE:Other than a refillable water bottle, drinks are not allowed while floating down the river. That's great... because I didn't see as much trash as I usually see when there's a lot of general public using a common space.

#3 – River Rat Tubing has life jackets in all sizes.

If you're more comfortable in a life jacket, get one, especially if you're not confident in your swimming abilities.

But more important,they also have life jackets in small sizes for children. A life jacket ismandatoryfor all children under 12 years of age.

ADVICE:You can bring your own life jacket(s) if you wish.

#4 – They offer slips for a $2 refundable deposit.

Tethers can be used to connect the tubes while they are floating on the water!

That ismandatorythat every child under the age of 5 be tied in a closed-bottomed tube to a responsible tubercle.

ADVICE:For adults, they have open and closed bottom tubes (both tubes with and without bottoms), so you can choose your personal preference. And if you have your own subway that you prefer to use, you can pay $8 for the all-day shuttle that will take you back to your car and to the River Rat facility.

#5 – River Rat Tubing prices start at $17 for adults and $12 for children ages 6-12. Children from 2 to 5 years FREE!

The costincludes unlimited bus and river tubing rides all day.

ADVICE:You can save $2 per ticket if you book online or arrive at the River Rat Outpost before 11am.

#6 – With River Rat Tubing in Tennessee, you have 2 amazing routes to choose from.

There are 2 River Rat outposts:

• Outpost A is the lower section of the river and is what we made for a "family float".If you have children between 2 and 6 years oldoIf this is your first time floating down a river, you'll want to take this route. This section of the river hasrelaxing scenic views, smaller rapids, and a rock drop. Rock jumping ("River Rat guests only") was a fun activity for my husband and the older kids in our group. It's so shallow that you can see the bottom, so you'll want to shoot if you decide to jump to avoid hitting the bottom. The little rapids were my 2 year old's favorite, because he likes to hit rocks and other pipes! It was also a highlight for me, because you can pick up and run without knowing where you're going to end up. (I suggest getting your butt up on fast-moving sections, to avoid bumping your butt into a rock. I speak from experience here...I got a really good charlie horse and a nasty bruise from one.) i want to do this too. Be alert if you tube with small children on the faster sections, because the tubes can be unpredictable if they hit a rock the right way.
  
• Outpost B is considered the upper reaches of the river and is what they call an “adventure buoy”.This part of the river includesscenic views, rock pools, and faster rapids. You must be 6 years of age or older to float this section of the river.

ADVICE:There are sections of the river where you feel like you're not moving. I would recommend getting a push stick that the store sells for $6. I bought one on my second trip and it helped immensely! The push stick gives you a bit more control, in terms of the direction you're traveling.

#7 – River Rat Tubing hours vary slightly depending on which outpost (type of floating trip) you select.

• Outpost A (the "family carriage" outpost) is open 7 days a week, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. m. to 5:00 p.m. m., from May to September. Its exact opening and closing dates vary depending onwater level and temperature. It's best to call them ahead of time if you plan to travel there in the off-season, which is early May (before Memorial Day) and mid-September (after Labor Day), because they have shorter hours, plus sporadic days. of operation.
• river ratOutpost B (the "floating adventure" outpost) officially opens on Memorial Day and officially closes on Labor Day.

ADVICE:The busiest times on the river are during peak season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

#8 – River Rat Tubing trips start at 2 different locations:

• outpost Ais located at 205 Wears Valley Road in Townsend TN. It's very hard to miss with all the huge billboards telling you to "turn at the light" and "watch for the yellow tubes."
• outpost Bis located at 8435 State Highway 73 in Townsend TN. Please note that this location does not open until Memorial Day weekend.

ADVICE: River Rat Whitewater Ridesstarting from a separate outpost located in Hartford, Tennessee.

#9 – River Rat has clean restrooms and locker rooms.

This is great if you need to use their facilities before or after your float trip.

In addition, its facilities areuseful for anyone who has made last minute plans to spend the day on the river!

ADVICE:I think they also have locker rentals.

#10 – The River Rat Store sells items that tourists would like, as souvenirs or for last-minute needs.

Sell ​​items like:

• Waterproof bags around the neck
• floating keychains
• refillable water bottles
• Protector solar
• dry sacks

…to name a few.

ADVICE:If you haven't already purchased a dry bag prior to your arrival at River Rat Tubing, I highly recommend purchasing one at the gift shop!

#11 – The staff (and the entire operation) at River Rat is top notch!

There are a few other providers in Townsend TN that also provide river tubing services such asRiver Rage Pipe(green tubes),cowboy pipe(orange tubes) andSmoky Mountain Outdoor Center(red tubes). So why did we choose River Rat?

i think we choseriver pipe(yellow tubes) simply for their marketing efforts. They were the first thing that came to mind when choosing a place to go tubing in Tennessee!

At first glance, it seems that they also have the most efficient service. Operation Smoky Mountain River Rat is no joke, it showsThey have been in business since 1995 and they know what they are doing.

They are family owned, their entire staff is super professional and friendly, and their team is top notch. Everything from start to finish is a finely tuned performance.

Also, when you have a large group with a wide variety of interests, it's hard to please everyone. Smoky Mountain River Rat can accommodate a large group becauseThey offer a wide variety of outdoor activities.besidestubing, such as rafting, kayaking, and ziplining.

Here's an example of how River Rat is different from other providers...

We went to Townsend TN to enjoy some tubingthe weekend of July 4th. River Rat Tubing was packed... there like a line around the building waiting for the tubes. We decided to try a different provider to see if we could get on the water faster. Cowboy Tubing across the street had no tubing so they didn't have a line. River Rage down the street only allows kids ages 3 and up, as they float the fastest part of the river. And the other vendor near the Rage River did not allow children under 5 as they also went down the more adventurous part of the river. We ended up going back to River Rat and waiting in line. We could say thatthe whole team was in a hurry to get the queue moving as fast as possible. You could see, bus after bus, the tubes coming back quickly... and the people. We waited for about 45 minutes, but then we were able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon on the water. River Rat clearly has more subways and more buses to handle large crowds on busy days. Further,they are the only family operation you can count on if you have kids just over 2 years old. The bus driver asked how long we had waited on the way back to the car and apologized for the long wait. But we could clearly see that the traffic in the city was a major factor in the delays. It was busy everywhere that holiday weekend. In my opinion,River Rat beats all other edging garments with their customer service.

Our family had a memorable River Rat Tubing experience as a group, and I had a great time on several other River Rat trips with friends, my son, and/or my dog. (I'm so glad I bought season passes!)

ADVICE:Dogs under 70 pounds. they are allowed with River Rat Tubing, as long as they are tethered. They also offer doggy tubes and a shuttle service for your furry friend.

here it ismy video floating with dogs and some more tips for your first float with River Rat Tubing:

#12 – There is an RV campground next to River Rat called Big Meadow Family Campground.

I thinkIt would be nice to spend a few days campingNoBig Meadow Family Campon a lot overlooking the Little River with our toy truck.

ADVICE:There are also severalother RV campsites along the Little Riverto choose from if you decide to stay in Townsend, TN, but Big Meadow would be just a short subway ride away.

Before you go river tubing for the first time...anywhere

Continuing my long list of tubing tips, here are some additional things I thought of while floating down the river.Before going to the river tubing withanyprovider, please note the following:

#13 – Minimalist packaging is key.

I saw:

• water shoes (onehe mustbecause the bottom of the river is full of river stones!)
• swimsuit bikini
• swimsuit

I pack:

• waterproof dry bag(to keep everything I want to access in the tube)
• refillable water bottle

I keep each item (my phone, car keys, a few baby wipes, and 1 extra diaper) in a separate zip-top plastic bag to keep them safe and easy to find inside the waterproof dry bag.

Leave your towel, change of clothes and anything else you don't absolutely need locked in the car. And… if you put sunscreen on your car, you will have one less thing to carry!

ADVICE:On my first river tubing trip, I wished I had the waterproof bag around my neck, for easier access to my phone. I lost so many photos. so I askedEs. (I packed my GoPro but forgot the flotation strap at home so it became a hassle to open and close my dry bag while babysitting my 2-year-old who sat on me for most of the trip. GoPro is the go-to safer when these are waterproof devices.)

#14 – Use a refillable water bottle that has a loop.

That way you can tie it to your tube and let it float in the water (to keep it a bit cooler because the water is cold).

ADVICE:It would also help to put some ice in your water bottle at the start of the tubing trip.

The bottom line…

East Tennessee is hot, and when you're looking for a way to cool off with family and friends, floating down the river is the way to go!

For me,the River Rat Tubing season pass was a no-brainer, because it's the most convenient way to get on the water without the commitment, logistics, or work of a canoe or kayak.

I have been tubing with River Rat several times and have always had a great time.

I can't put a price on seeing my son's face light up when he sees a fish in the water, goats on the river bank, and the other ducks and geese.

I can't wait to try the "adventure float" which I'm told only takes about 1 hour. I'm already planning my next tubing trip with River Rat and have told all my friends who haven't tried it yet.

I have tried to include everything that I think might be helpful when planning your first trip with River Rat Tubing. I hope you found this article helpful in planning your float on the Little River in East Tennessee.

Happy tubing!

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