Floating the Guadalupe & San Marcos Rivers
| Fact | Guadalupe (Horseshoe Loop / River Road) | San Marcos | Comal (New Braunfels) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive time from Starlight Horizon | About 20 minutes | About 25 minutes | About 25 minutes |
| Cost per person | $20-$30 with a rented tube, $10-$15 shuttle-only if you bring your own | $25 tube + unlimited shuttle (Lions Club), $15 shuttle-only BYO tube, $30 at Don’s Fish Camp | Roughly $20-$30 with a rented tube, similar range across outfitters |
| Typical float time | 1-2 hours on the Horseshoe Loop, longer if the river’s crowded | 45 minutes to 1 hour from City Park | 1.5-3 hours depending on start point, Landa Park or Prince Solms Park |
| Alcohol / containers | Cans OK, no glass, outside New Braunfels city limits; disposable-container ban applies on the in-city stretch | Reusable containers 5 oz+ only, while actively floating, no glass or Styrofoam | Reusable containers only, citywide ban on cans/plastic/glass, fines apply |
| Reservation | Walk-up, pay at the counter; none of the outfitters checked advertise online tube booking, so treat that as the norm rather than a guarantee | Same, walk-up | Same, walk-up |
| Season | March/April through September/October, peak Memorial Day-Labor Day | Same window; some outfitters go weekends-only outside summer | Same window; floats even when the Guadalupe runs low, spring-fed |
Three rivers within a half hour of Starlight Horizon, and every one of them floats differently. Here’s the honest rundown on which one matches your group, followed by exactly how to do each one.
Which River Fits You
If your group wants the classic Hill Country float, big crowd energy, the most outfitters to pick from, and the shortest drive from the cabins, that’s the Guadalupe River’s Horseshoe Loop, about 20 minutes from Starlight Horizon. If you want the clearest, coldest water and a shorter, calmer trip, head to the San Marcos River in San Marcos, about 25 minutes away. If you want the one river that keeps floating no matter what the drought’s doing to the others, spring-fed and consistent, right in the middle of downtown New Braunfels, that’s the Comal, also about 25 minutes out.
None of these are wrong choices. The Guadalupe is the one most people picture when they say “floating the river” in Texas, and it’s the tubing spot closest to the property. But the San Marcos and Comal both solve real problems the Guadalupe doesn’t: the San Marcos gives you visibility to the riverbed the entire float, and the Comal keeps running even in a dry summer when Canyon Lake’s release rate drops too low for a good Guadalupe day.
Floating the Guadalupe River (Horseshoe Loop & River Road)
The Guadalupe below Canyon Lake dam is the river most people picture when they think of Texas tubing, and the Horseshoe Loop, a tight, mile-plus bend of river off River Road, is the heart of it. The loop shape is part of the appeal: park once, float the horseshoe, and walk back to your car instead of arranging a shuttle for a one-way run.
A handful of outfitters run this stretch. Whitewater Sports has rented tubes here since 1972 and is one of the largest operations on the river, open 9 or 10 AM depending on the day with last entry around 3 PM, 2 PM on concert days. Mountain Breeze Campground and River Outfitter, a family-run spot with a general store and riverside grill, rents tubes, kayaks, and its own “mini cat” tube not found elsewhere on the river. River Sports Tubes sits directly on the Horseshoe Loop with short, medium, and long float options. Farther downstream in New Braunfels proper, Rockin’ R River Rides has run tubing, rafting, and kayak trips since 1979 and is one of the largest outfitters on the whole river.
Expect to pay $20 to $30 per person for a tube and shuttle, or as little as $10 to $15 if you bring your own tube and pay for the shuttle only. A normal Horseshoe Loop float runs 1 to 2 hours; some tubers stretch it to 3 or more by hanging out mid-river.
The alcohol rule depends on exactly where you are. On the Horseshoe Loop and most of River Road, outside New Braunfels city limits, cans are allowed; glass is banned, as it is on every stretch in this guide. Once you’re on the stretch of the Guadalupe that falls inside New Braunfels city limits, the city’s disposable-container ordinance takes over instead: no cans, no plastic, no glass, reusable containers only. If you’re not sure which stretch you’re launching from, ask your outfitter; they know their own put-in point’s rule.
Weekdays and mornings on the Horseshoe Loop skew family and small-group; Saturday afternoons in June and July are the river’s full party scene, loud and crowded. It’s the same river either way, just different hours.
Floating the San Marcos River
The San Marcos starts at San Marcos Springs, one of the largest artesian spring systems in Texas, which is why the water stays clear enough to see the riverbed the whole float and holds close to 72 degrees year-round. It’s the calmest, clearest option of the three, and the shortest.
Lions Club Tube Rental, a nonprofit that puts its proceeds back into local charities, runs the main operation out of City Park: $25 for a tube with unlimited shuttle, or $15 shuttle-only if you bring your own tube. They’re open daily 10 AM to 7 PM from June 1 through August 23, and weekends only the rest of the season. Don’s Fish Camp and Texas State Tubes also run rentals and shuttles on the river. A float from City Park typically takes 45 minutes to an hour, shorter than either the Guadalupe or the Comal, depending on water levels.
The alcohol rule here is specific: you can drink while you’re actively floating, but only from a reusable container of at least 5 ounces, no cans, no plastic bottles, and never while standing on the bank or at a dam or bridge. Glass and Styrofoam are banned outright. City Park and Rio Vista Park are the designated points where bringing alcohol onto the river is allowed at all.
Before you pack the cooler: the City of San Marcos splits its riverfront into Go Zones and No Zones. In a No Zone, single-use beverage containers are banned, reusable containers only, and coolers are capped at 30 quarts per person. In a Go Zone, cans and plastic bottles are fine (glass is banned everywhere on the river, and alcohol still follows the reusable rule above no matter the zone). The zones are posted along the river, so check the signs where you put in.
For families with younger kids, this is usually the easiest of the three: short, calm, and clear enough to watch their feet the whole way.
Floating the Comal River (New Braunfels)
The Comal is the shortest navigable river in Texas, about 2.5 miles start to finish, and it’s fed entirely by Comal Springs in Landa Park, which means it holds a steady flow and a cold, clear temperature no matter what Canyon Lake’s dam is doing upstream on the Guadalupe. When drought drops the Guadalupe’s release rate too low for a good float, the Comal is usually still running fine, which is the real appeal behind a Comal float when conditions are uncertain elsewhere.
Several outfitters rent tubes and run shuttles near Landa Park and Prince Solms Park, the river’s two main access points. Starting at Landa Park gives the longest, most scenic run, through the park’s shaded sections and the tube chute, roughly 2 to 3 hours; starting at Prince Solms Park shortens the float to about 1.5 to 2 hours. Pricing lands in the same $20-$30 per person range as the other two rivers for a rented tube.
This is the strictest river on containers. New Braunfels’ Chapter 86.14 ordinance bans every kind of disposable container, cans, plastic bottles, glass, Styrofoam, even food wrappers, on the entire Comal, no exceptions for being outside downtown. Reusable containers only, Yeti-style tumblers, thermoses, wineskins, and getting caught with a banned item risks a fine. Rangers and police patrol the river during peak season specifically to enforce it.
Because it’s short, gentle, and runs right through town with easy in-and-out access, the Comal tends to work well for families with younger kids who don’t want a multi-hour commitment on the water.
Water Levels, Season, and What to Bring
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority controls how much water Canyon Lake dam releases downstream, and that release rate makes or breaks a Guadalupe float. Flows between 250 and 350 cubic feet per second are considered ideal; 150 to 250 is still floatable but you may have to walk a tube across a shallow rock shelf in spots; below 150, expect more walking than floating. The Army Corps of Engineers typically slows its release schedule between April and August specifically to protect the recreation season, but flow still moves week to week, so check GBRA’s current conditions before driving out on a marginal week. The San Marcos and Comal don’t have this problem; both are spring-fed and hold a steady flow regardless of what’s happening at Canyon Lake.
Season runs roughly March or April through September or October across all three rivers, with the heaviest crowds between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Outside that window, some outfitters, San Marcos’s Lions Club Tube Rental among them, cut back to weekends only.
A few things worth knowing before you go: water shoes save your feet at the rocky entry and exit points on all three rivers; Texas requires life jackets for kids under 13 on the water, and most outfitters have them to rent; and the outfitters checked for this guide don’t advertise online tube reservations, it’s walk-up and pay at the counter, though arriving early on a summer Saturday still beats fighting the parking lot at noon.
Five rivers you can float in the Hill Country: the Guadalupe, twenty minutes from your cabin door, plus the Comal, San Marcos, Frio, and Medina.
Photos: Billy Hathorn (CC BY 3.0), Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0), jcutrer (CC BY-SA 4.0), and Zereshk (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons; Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress.
Stay 20 Minutes from the River
Float all day, then head back to a cabin with a pool of its own, a full kitchen, and a fire pit for the evening. Starlight Horizon is about 20 minutes from the Guadalupe’s Horseshoe Loop and 25 from the San Marcos and Comal, close enough to make the river a half-day trip, not the whole one.
“…So relaxing, almost like a vacation… We got to know the area and enjoyed the Guadalupe River at remote locations… Easy access to grocery store and surrounding towns. Excellent hosts.”
Susan D, Google, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 2025-09-16
“So, this place is located a bit off in the country right in the middle of a lot of river activities. A short drive in any direction leads to handy stores. It’s fairly ideal for a peaceful weekend with outdoor activities.”
Charlie Williamson, Google, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 2025-08-21
Airbnb and the other booking platforms add roughly 15% in service fees at checkout; book direct on our site and you skip that markup entirely, cabin for cabin.
Keep Exploring the Hill Country
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to go tubing on the Guadalupe, San Marcos, or Comal?
Expect $20 to $30 per person for a tube and shuttle with most outfitters, or $10 to $15 if you bring your own tube and pay for the shuttle only. San Marcos’s Lions Club Tube Rental runs $25 with an unlimited shuttle, and Comal outfitters near Landa Park and Prince Solms Park land in a similar range. Prices move around by outfitter and season, so treat these as a planning range, not a quote.
Can you drink alcohol while tubing?
It depends on the river and the stretch. On the Guadalupe’s Horseshoe Loop, outside New Braunfels city limits, cans are fine and glass is banned under Comal County ordinance. Once you’re on the Guadalupe inside New Braunfels city limits, or anywhere on the Comal, the city’s disposable-container ordinance applies instead: no cans, plastic bottles, or glass, reusable containers only, and fines apply. On the San Marcos, alcohol is allowed only while you’re actively floating, in a reusable container of at least 5 ounces, never on the riverbank. Check the container rule for your specific stretch before you load the cooler.
How long does a float take?
The Guadalupe’s Horseshoe Loop runs about 1 to 2 hours at a normal pace, longer if the river’s crowded. The San Marcos, from City Park, is the shortest at 45 minutes to an hour. The Comal is 1.5 to 3 hours depending on whether you start at Landa Park or Prince Solms Park. All three vary with water flow, so treat these as typical ranges, not guarantees.
When is tubing season on these rivers?
Most outfitters open in March or April and run through September or October, with the busiest stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The Guadalupe depends on releases from Canyon Lake dam, so flow can vary week to week; the San Marcos and Comal are spring-fed and stay swimmable and floatable even in drought years when the Guadalupe runs low.
Can kids float these rivers?
Yes, on all three, with the usual river-safety basics: life jackets for younger kids, water shoes for the rocky spots, and sunscreen. The Comal’s short, gentle float and the San Marcos’s clear, calm water tend to be the easiest for families with younger kids; the Guadalupe’s Horseshoe Loop is family-friendly too, especially earlier in the day, though it gets rowdier with the weekend crowd as the afternoon goes on.
Which river should I pick?
Go with the Guadalupe’s Horseshoe Loop for the classic big-group float; it’s the closest to Starlight Horizon at about 20 minutes and has the most outfitters to choose from. Pick the San Marcos for the clearest water and a shorter, calmer trip. Pick the Comal for the most reliable float regardless of drought or dam releases, plus easy access right in New Braunfels. All three are within about 20 to 25 minutes of the cabins.