Located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, Harpers Ferry, one of the most charming small towns in West Virginia, is an ideal spot for tubing in the Shenandoah Valley. You can rent tubes or bring your own, hit the water, and enjoy a relaxing float — or an exciting whitewater ride.
To help you plan your adventure, we’ve created a guide to tubing in Harpers Ferry. It includes when and where to go and what you’ll need when you get there.
Read on to learn all there is to know about tubing in Harpers Ferry and book your stay at Blue Maple to be close to the action.
Where To Go Tubing in Harpers Ferry
Where you choose to go tubing will depend on the kind of river tubing adventure you want to have. Within close proximity to metropolises like Baltimore and Washington, DC, there’s both calm, flat-water tubing and more exciting whitewater tubing available. And with miles and miles of water to explore, you could easily spend a full day (or more) out on the rivers.
Shenandoah River
Tubing on the Shenandoah River will be a relaxed, mellow experience. The river is flat and calm, meandering through gorgeous scenery. Since you’ll be moving at a slower pace, keep an eye out for critters like black bears and river otters who live along the banks.
Potomac River
Tubing on the Potomac River is more of a thrill ride than the quiet Shenandoah. You’ll tube through Class I to III whitewater rapids, making this a great choice for adults and older kids. You might also be sharing the river with folks out on whitewater rafting or kayaking trips.
Best Time to Go Tubing in Harpers Ferry
Since the Shenandoah and Potomac can get unpleasantly chilly during the winter, it’s generally best to go tubing in Harpers Ferry during the warmest months of the year. The rivers will stay pretty cool even on the hottest days, and there’s nothing quite like dipping your toes in the water on a sunny summer day — ideally, with a beverage or two close at hand.
Summer
With that said, summer will obviously be the busiest time of year to go tubing, and you may end up an unwilling participant in a game of bumper tubes.
Spring & Fall
If you want to avoid other tubers, try to time your visit to late spring or early fall. Daytime temperatures will still be fairly warm, and though the water may be a little more chilly than in the dog days of summer, the feeling of floating down a wide-open river with nary another tube in sight can’t be beat.
As an added bonus, you’ll get to see some unusual Harpers Ferry sights if you tube during the “off-season.” The fall leaves around Harpers Ferry are spectacular, as are the spring displays of wildflowers like Virginia bluebells, New England asters, and bird-foot violets.
What to Bring Tubing in Harpers Ferry
If you want to put together your own tubing trip, you’ll need a tube, a life vest, water bottle, sunscreen, and swimming clothes. Comfortable water shoes with good traction are also necessary for wading around slippery rocks. You should also plan your shuttle route in advance, as your float will take you far from your car.
Since tubing trips in Harpers Ferry can last more than an hour, you may want to bring along snacks, a picnic lunch, or even a floating cooler tube to stash a few drinks.
If you don’t have gear of your own, you can book a trip or rent from one of the top-rated outfitters below.
Tubing With an Outfitter in Harpers Ferry
If you want to leave the planning to the pros, take a tubing trip with one of Harpers Ferry’s highly qualified outfitters. They’ll handle the logistics, like shuttles, gear, and more, so you can focus on having fun in the sun.
When you’re done tubing, you might just want to come back and book one of their other experiences, like a whitewater rafting trip or kayaking. Note, however, that some of these establishments only operate during peak tourism months.
Get to know our favorite Harpers Ferry tubing outfitters.
Harpers Ferry Adventure Center
- Address: 37410 Adventure Center Lane, Purcellville, VA
- Website: harpersferryadventurecenter.com
One of the largest outfitters near Harpers Ferry, Harpers Ferry Adventure Center offers ziplining, a ropes course, and some of the most popular tubing trips in town. Both tubing trips from Harpers Ferry Adventure Center — the flatwater and whitewater tubing experiences — will take about one-and-a-half to two hours.
Harpers Ferry Adventure Center also provides a shuttle-only service for DIY-ers who bring their own gear. At the end of your trip, you can return to the Adventure Center to check out all the wonderful amenities, including hot showers and cold beers from the on-site brewery.
River Riders
- Address: 408 Alstadts Hill Rd., Harpers Ferry, WV
- Website: riverriders.com/tubing-harpers-ferry
River Riders specializes in flatwater and whitewater tubing experiences right in Harpers Ferry. Their flatwater expedition on the Shenandoah ranks as one of the longest tubing trips in the area, at one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half hours in length. Transportation and all gear (including lifevests) are provided. Drink coolers are also allowed.
Their whitewater tubing experience, meanwhile, presents more of a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity for some once-in-a-lifetime excitement. As you soar down Class I and Class III rapids, you’ll travel through three different states — West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia.
River & Trail Outfitters
- Address: 99 Cary Lu Cir Suite 108, Harpers Ferry, WV
- Website: rivertrail.com
Last but not least, River & Trail Outfitters also has tubing trips along the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers — as well as an additional trip called the Potomac Peaceful. This combines the best of both options, as you’ll get to lay back and unwind in a more peaceful section of the Potomac without all the crowds on the Shenandoah.
River & Trail’s experienced guides will take care of all the details for you, including light snacks, though you may want to bring along a cooler or dry bag for some extra tidbits.
Stay and Tube in Harpers Ferry
Tubing in Harpers Ferry can be an exciting, rip-roaring adventure or a relaxing, calm ride. You can choose your own kind of trip and experience, but no matter what you pick, you’re sure to have a wonderful time out on the water.
Whether you decide to go with a guide or bootstrap your own trip, there’s a reason that the Shenandoah and Potomac are both among the top tubing rivers in the nation. Staying close to historic Harpers Ferry will only add to the fun, so be sure to book your trip dates at a Blue Maple vacation rental today.