Want to go tubing down a river really close to Greenville, SC?
The Saluda Outdoor River Company is about a 15-minute drivefrom downtown Greenville, and is the spot closest to Greenville for a day of tubing with your family. Kristina took her kids and told us what to expect. Thank you to the Saluda Outdoor Center for inviting us to review the tubing experience!
Once they were old enough, my kids and I have gone tubing every summer and have attempted as many rivers as possible. Most locations are at least an hour and fifteen minutes from Greenville, but not the Saluda Outdoor River Company. This outfitter on the river is 15-20 minutes outside Greenville. They rent tubes and host SUP State for paddle board tours and rentals. They even have tiny houses and camping cabins for overnight stays through their sister company, Saluda Outdoor Center.
Saluda Outdoor Center
The Saluda Outdoor Center and Saluda Outdoor River Company opened in 2020 and haven’t stopped growing since. They’ve relocated their check-in area to a beautiful new building up the street from their tiny house village. The address is 1001 Old Easley Highway, Greenville. Use this address and not the one that pulls up on Google.
You’ll check in at the main building and can pick up any essentials you may have forgotten like a hat, sunscreen, water, or dry bag. They have a lot of other cool things for sale like cute t-shirts and snacks. After you check-in, leave your keys at the desk (always a good idea) and head to the back for a life jacket. Everyone must wear one.
If you need to use the restroom or change, you can do that in the hallway behind the check-in building. The changing rooms are really nice and useful! Once you’re ready to get rolling, you’ll get on the bus and head to the river.
After tubing, you’ll get out at the tiny house village, where you can play cornhole or just relax.
Once you’re ready to head back, another bus will return you to your car at the check-in spot. If you need some nourishment, there’s a Snack Shack with nachos, ice cream, and hot dogs. You can also change into dry clothes if you want.
Check out Saluda Tiny the next time you’re looking for an escape but want to stay close to home.
The Tubing Run on the Saluda
I’ve gone tubing on the Saluda River twice, and my kids’ ages ranged between 6-12. We loved it both times! The length is generally two hours but totally dependent on the water level. If the water is higher and running fast, the trip will take less time, and vice versa if the water is lower and running slow. Either way, the river is pretty relaxing, wide, and calm for the the majority of the float.
The Saluda River is a good option for many reasons. The river is calm for nearly the entire ride. There are rapids at the end that may bump you around, but we never fell off. And the river is so close to Greenville that you don’t need to plan an entire day trip if you want to go tubing.
Once we checked in and signed the waiver (you can do it online or when you check in), we picked up our life jackets and listened to the crew give a safety talk. It’s pretty standard. They advised us to watch out for wildlife like snakes, fish, and turtles. They gave tips on how to not flip or what to do if we did flip. They told us when to get out of the river, not to bring valuables on the water, and to stay off the riverbanks as they’re on private property. They then loaded our tubes onto a cute little school bus and shuttled us to the drop-in.
A couple of things to note about the drop-in point which is right below the Saluda Dam (I thought this was pretty cool): the path is a bit steep in some places, so watch your footing. You should wear shoes that will stay on your feet. Watch out for glass. It’s a popular fishing spot, and some people don’t clean up after themselves. Once you get in the water and go under the bridges, try to push yourself off so you don’t float and go nowhere like we did. We got a stick, and I pushed us into the current, so it was all good.
Once on the river, just chill. It’s a relaxing journey. My kids compared it to a lazy river at a water park. Try to stay in the middle of the river with the current and not get swept under branches. There are a few small rapids and a slightly larger one near the end. I held onto my kids, who were tethered to my tube, and we bounced around a bit. I’ve tubed on several rivers in our area, and the Green River was probably the wildest one (but it was really exciting and fun!). The Saluda River is nowhere near that experience.
We saw more than 40 turtles when we tubed. They were really cute! My daughter saw a snake, and I think we may have seen a beaver, but I’m not sure. We’ve tubed in May and July, and the water was pretty warm both times.
Tips for Tubing on the Saluda River
To make the most of your time, here are a few tips.
- Apply sunscreen and bring or wear a hat. It’s really hot on the river, and there isn’t any shade.
- Bring a change of clothes. I hate sitting in a wet bathing suit. You can change at the building when you get back from the trip.
- Ask for tethers if you want to keep your kids close to you during the tube run.
- Kids must be 42″ tall to tube, so measure them beforehand.
- Bring water. Again, it’s hot, so don’t get dehydrated.
- You’re in the Great Outdoors, and there will likely be wildlife. Maybe even a snake or two. It happens. Just pay attention and steer away from fallen branches and trees where they like to hang out.
Booking Your Float
You must book online to secure your spot on Saturdays and Sundays. No walk-ins accepted. Be prepared for busy days, especially on weekends when the outdoors feels like an oven and tubing is one of the best ways to cool off.
The 2026 season kicks off Memorial Day weekend. Tickets are $29 per person and $24 per person for groups of 10 or more. Price includes a life jacket, shuttle service, one tube run (additional runs are $10 per person), and any tethers. They also offer cooler tubes if you have drinks and food you want to take.
Children must be 42″ tall to tube. Life jacket sizes start at 50 pounds, so if your kid is 42″ tall but under 50 pounds, you need to supply the life jacket. Everyone must wear one.
Are you ready to float the Saluda River?
Saluda Outdoor River Company
1001 Old Easley Highway, Greenville
864-777-3053
Love River Tubing?
Check out our huge list of places to go river tubing near Greenville, SC. Adventure awaits!
