One of the best ways to stay cool during your summer vacation in the Smoky Mountains is to go tubing on the river! Whether you want a relaxing float down the creek in the national park or a thrilling white water rafting adventure on the Pigeon River, there are some pretty incredible options for places to go tubing in the Smokies:
Where to Go Tubing in the Great Smoky Mountains
Greenbrier: This area of the national park isn’t an official tubing spot, but this is where the locals go for a calm float on a river tube! You can also go swimming and fishing, plus enjoy the nearby hiking trails and picnic area. It’s easy to spend the entire day here!
Townsend Wye: One of the most popular areas for tubing in the Smokies is at the “Y”, located just past the Townsend entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Little River offers excellent tubing, as well as swimming!
Deep Creek: Located on the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains, this area offers many excellent launching points for river tubing. You’ll even float past Tom Branch Falls, one of three beautiful waterfalls along the Deep Creek Waterfall Loop Trail!
The Best River Tubing and Rafting Companies
If you want to go river tubing in the Smoky Mountains and are looking for a guided adventure, here are the top rafting outposts and tubing companies near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg:
Smoky Mountain River Rat: The #1 spot for tubing in Townsend TN! Choose from two routes: a family and dog-friendly route that has fewer rapids or the adventurous route with more exciting rapids! Either option will provide an unforgettable tubing experience!
Natahala Outdoor Center (NOC): This outpost on the Pigeon River is located in Hartford TN, just a short drive from both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. They offer an exciting upper river trip suitable for ages 8 and up, or a more laid-back trip on the lower river that kids as young as 3 years old can enjoy!
Smoky Mountain Outdoors: One of the leaders in guided white water rafting in the Smoky Mountains, this rafting company is also in Hartford TN and offers multiple trips for all ages. You can also choose the combo package and do both the upper and lower river trips to experience the thrills and the serenity!
Bonus Attractions: Year-Round Tubing in the Smokies
River tubing isn’t the only type of tubing near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg that you can enjoy! While Ober Mountain and several other places offer snow tubing in the Smokies during the winter, these two attractions have year-round tubing:
Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark: You’ll love soaring down this outdoor tubing hill, the longest and fastest in Tennessee! This multi-lane hill is over 500 feet long with a stomach-plunging 70-foot drop at the end. Race side by side or connect a couple of tubes! The conveyor belt takes you back up to the top each time, and the views of Pigeon Forge from the ridge are breathtaking.
Pigeon Forge Snow: This is the only indoor snow tubing attraction in the area! The man-made snow is safe (it’s 100% water), and the climate-controlled building allows you to play comfortably without having to bundle up! There’s also a separate snow play area for building snowmen and making snow angels.
Interested in finding cabins near River Rat Tubing and the other great places for tubing in the Smokies? Browse our cabin rentals in the Smoky Mountains and start planning your trip!
