Some of the best tubing rivers in Florida are with two hours of the Orlando area. Whether you are camping or planning a trip to Disney, river tubing is within two hours of your Orlando vacation. Some of the best rivers for tubing are located right in Central Florida.
Not all Florida rivers allow tubing so always check before going. For a fun filled relaxing day, here are the best Florida tubing rivers within two hours of Orlando.
In less than an hour you can be tubing down the St. Johns River and viewing the largest natural spring on this river. This area is a refuge for the Florida Manatee that migrate to the area for the rivers warm waters during winter. The water temperature of the spring remains at 73 degrees Fahrenheit year round. This is one of the many reasons it is one of the best rivers because visitors can go tubing year round.
The Florida Manatee are not the only creatures with history at this tubing location. For those history buffs, you’re in for a real treat. Another reason why this river is one of the best rivers in Florida for tubing is because of its history with Native Americans. Native Americans occupied this Florida spring area for hundreds of years that we know of.
Although the rivers do not close during winter, the spring run on this river is closed during the months of November through March due to the Manatee migration. There are also many hiking trails which also help make this one of the favorite outdoor destinations near Orlando. For more information on tubing rivers and hours visit their website .
A little further away, but still within a two hour drive is another one of the best tubing rivers near Orlando. One of the things that makes this location one of the best is the campground that is within 10 miles of the tubing run.
The Rainbow River is a little less than 6 miles long that eventually converges with the Withlacoochee River. The crystal clear waters of this river help make it one of the best rivers not only near Orlando but in the entire state of Florida.
For those interested in Florida history, visit the historical room at the visitors’ center. There is evidence that pre-historic Indians used this spring nearly 10,000 years ago (Rainbow Springs, n.d.). This is by far one of the main reasons this is one of the best Florida tubing rivers near Orlando. For more information and hours visit their website .
