If you are looking for a great summertime activity in the New Jersey or New York area, why not head to Central New Jersey for some Delaware River fun? On the Delaware River, you can spend the entire day tubing, kayaking, rafting, and even swimming. Tubing is a relaxing way to spend a summer day with the family; you can soak in the summer sun while staying cool in the river water.
For the best water-fun weather, we recommend that you plan your NJ Delaware River trip between the months of June and September. Plus, the Delaware River is more likely to have warmed a bit in these summer months than if you tubed during the months of May or October. Most tubing, kayaking, and rafting companies are open seven days a week from June through September.
Before you leave for your day trip, you will want to research where you want to tube or raft along the Delaware. You can find many companies at various drop-off stops, but many people head to the Frenchtown, NJ area. George Washington once crossed the Delaware River right near this point, and this area makes for some great floating. Plus, a trip to the Delaware River near Frenchtown, NJ makes a great day trip from the Newark, New Jersey area. The drive in a 12 passenger van rental is only about an hour long, which makes a simple trip for families or vacationers in the Newark area.
Costs for tubing vary, depending on how long you want to ride the river and how many people are in your group. New Jersey rates also depend on your river activity of choice (tubing, rafter, kayaking, and so on). With many NJ companies, if you call in advance, you can often get early-bird or pre-registration rates that can save you a lot of money. But either way, be sure to book your tubing or rafting trip in advance as trips do fill up quickly; upon calling, be sure to inquire about their bad-weather cancellation policies.
To give you a ballpark figure on the dollar amount you can expect to spend, the following are approximate individual rates for a weekday river ride (weekend rates are slightly higher):
- Tubing: $20-25 per person
- Rafting: $25 + per person
- Canoeing: Around $35 per person
- Kayaking: $40 or more per person
If you or your group have already booked passenger van rentals for your vacation, why not put it to good use and travel to the Delaware River for the day? In addition to tubing or rafting, you may also want to check out some of the location attractions (in the Frenchtown, New Jersey area), which includes the Frenchtown Roller Rink, Delaware River fishing, Bagel Junction, Sand Castle Winery, and more. Make your entire day an adventure, and explore the Delaware River area after enjoying a lazy day on the river.