--- title: "What to Bring Tubing Near Austin: Packing List" description: "Tubing packing list near Austin — exactly what to bring (and what to leave) for a perfect day on the spring-fed San Marcos River at Son's River Ranch." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch", "alternateName": [ "Sons River Ranch", "SRR Kingsbury", "Son's River Ranch Kingsbury" ], "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com", "logo": "https://sonsriverranch.com/logo.png", "description": "Family-friendly riverside resort with private river access on the 72-degree spring-fed San Marcos River. Glamping, air-conditioned cabins, tubing and kayaking in Kingsbury, TX — 45 minutes from Austin and San Antonio.", "parentOrganization": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's Getaways", "url": "https://sonsgetaways.com" }, "knowsAbout": [ "San Marcos River tubing", "private river access glamping", "Kingsbury TX lodging", "72-degree spring-fed river", "family river getaways", "air-conditioned cabin glamping", "San Marcos River vs Guadalupe", "San Marcos River vs Comal" ], "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1400 Sherrill Rd", "addressLocality": "Kingsbury", "addressRegion": "TX", "postalCode": "78638", "addressCountry": "US" }, "telephone": "877-577-7667", "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/sonsriverranch", "https://www.instagram.com/sonsriverranch", "https://www.tiktok.com/@sonsriverranch", "https://www.bluerivercamp.com/", "https://sonsisland.com/", "https://www.sonsgeronimo.com/", "https://www.sonsriocibolo.com/", "https://www.sonsguadalupe.com/" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "What to Bring Tubing Near Austin: The San Marcos Packing List", "description": "A no-fluff packing list for a day of tubing near Austin.", "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog/what-to-bring-tubing-near-austin", "image": "https://sonsriverranch.com/og/og-what-to-bring-tubing-near-austin.jpg", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Son's River Ranch", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sonsriverranch.com/logo.png" } }, "datePublished": "2026-05-11", "dateModified": "2026-05-11", "keywords": "what to bring tubing near Austin, tubing packing list, San Marcos River tubing tips" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "What to Bring Tubing Near Austin", "item": "https://sonsriverranch.com/blog/what-to-bring-tubing-near-austin" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can you bring a cooler tubing on the San Marcos?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — a small soft cooler with snacks and drinks is welcome. Glass containers are not allowed on the river." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you need water shoes?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Strongly recommended. The riverbed has small rocks and the shuttle walk back is easier in proper shoes." } } ] } ] --- [ 🎉 Join us for Sunday Fun Day - $79 Cabanas! Includes Entry for 8! — BOOK NOW! 🎉 Join us for Sunday Fun Day - $79 Cabanas! Includes Entry for 8! — BOOK NOW! ](/book-now) [![Son's River Ranch - Tubing, Live Music, Glamping](/assets/logo-cpd7QRHR.png)Texas River Paradise ](/) [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:877-577-7667)Book Now Book Now ![Tubing near Austin packing list on the San Marcos River](/assets/gallery-relaxing-tubes-C6ZX1p6U.webp) [Back to Blog](/blog)Tips & Guides # What to Bring Tubing Near Austin: The San Marcos Packing List The honest packing list — no fluff, just what you'll actually use. May 11, 2026 5 min read Kingsbury, TX You're driving 45 minutes south of Austin for a day of tubing on the San Marcos River. Here's the packing list that'll keep you from making a Walgreens stop in Kingsbury. ## Wear / bring on your body - **Swimsuit + a quick-dry shirt** (UPF if you can) — the spring water is 72° and you'll be in it 4-6 hours. - **Water shoes or strapped sandals** — not flip-flops. You'll lose them in the first rapid. - **Hat with a chin strap**. - **Sunglasses with a strap** (croakies). Trust us. - **Reef-safe sunscreen**, reapplied every 2 hours. ![Family ready to tube near Austin with proper gear](/assets/tubing-packing-flatlay-C_y8eB44.webp) ## The cooler (if you want one) - Soft cooler that floats — buy a separate cooler tube or rent one with your [wristband](/san-marcos-river-tubing) - Cans, pouches or plastic bottles only — **no glass** - Pre-packed snacks: jerky, fruit, sandwiches - Way more water than you think you'll drink - A trash bag — pack out what you bring in ![Friends tubing near Austin with cooler tube](/assets/gallery-friends-tubes-BIA_fJjT.webp) ## In the car for after - Dry clothes + towel - Garbage bag for wet stuff - Phone charger for the drive home - Cash for the shuttle tip (recommended) ## Skip these - **Glass bottles** — not allowed on the river - **Bluetooth speakers** — water kills them and your neighbors will thank you - **Expensive sunglasses** — bring the cheap ones - **Drone** — fine on property, weird on the float ## Optional upgrades Book a [cabana](/cabanas) as your shaded home base, or stay overnight in a [glamping cabin](/glamping-cabins) so you don't have to pack everything in and out the same day. ### Pick your float date Wristbands and cabanas — book ahead, sell out fast on weekends. [Book Now](/book-now/tubing) ## Related reads - [Tubing near Austin: the 72° float](/blog/tubing-near-austin) - [Tubing season near Austin: when to go](/blog/tubing-season-near-austin-when-to-go) - [10 tips for the perfect family river day](/blog/10-tips-family-river-day) SRR ### Son's River Ranch Paradise in Texas 168 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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