Rivers / Tubing
Floating the river is a Texas institution, and the tubing towns have local rules you need to know before you go. They vary by river and change, so check the current rules - but here's the lay of the land.
San Marcos: San Marcos has its own single-use beverage-container ban on the river and in posted 'No Zones.' It took effect in 2024, and a violation can cost up to $500. The upper Guadalupe outside New Braunfels does not use the city's disposable-container ban, but Water Oriented Recreation District rules still prohibit glass, foam, and open plastic containers of 5 ounces or less, with fines up to $500.
New Braunfels, San Marcos, and the Water Oriented Recreation District all prohibit glass in their managed river areas. Rules elsewhere can differ, but broken glass stays in gravel for the next bare foot, so a reusable non-glass bottle is the sensible default.
Do not assume one rule covers the whole float. New Braunfels prohibits alcohol at named public parks and exits. San Marcos prohibits public display or consumption in city parks. Outfitters can be stricter, and public-intoxication law still applies. Check the official route rules before packing a cooler.
New Braunfels allows one cooler per person, up to 30 quarts, with a locking lid. San Marcos allows one cooler per person in its No Zones; it must be under 30 quarts and secured so nothing falls out.
Inside New Braunfels, an inflatable float cannot exceed 5 feet in length or width, and each person may have no more than two tubes. Other river stretches set their own limits.
New Braunfels prohibits volume-drinking devices and containers under 5 fluid ounces. Music may not be audible more than 50 feet away and is not allowed from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Inside New Braunfels, children under 8 must wear a life jacket when the Guadalupe is above 500 cubic feet per second. Everyone must wear one above 750 cfs, and tubing stops above 1,000 cfs. Check the city's current flow links before leaving home.
New Braunfels prohibits jumping from bridges, dams, and trees. As of July 2026, nonresidents also pay a $2 river-management fee on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; parking may cost extra.
The simplest rule of thumb: The simplest way to stay legal everywhere: bring reusable containers, no glass, a right-sized cooler with a latching lid, and pack out every bit of trash.
Official sources
Tubing rules are local ordinances set by the cities of New Braunfels and San Marcos. They change and differ by river, so the city pages (and your outfitter) are the final word.
Before you act: Cooler sizes, container rules, and fees change and vary by river. Always confirm the current rules with the specific city or outfitter before you go. How to use Texas Porch carefully.
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