Both trips put you on the French Broad, but they don’t end in the same place, and they don’t cost the same or ask the same effort from you. One costs half as much and asks nothing of you physically. The other hands you a paddle and a bit more independence, at a higher price.
Tubing is the right call for most first-time visitors. It’s cheaper, it’s easier, and kids as young as four can ride along. Kayaking makes sense if you want to steer your own boat and don’t mind paying more for the privilege. Neither trip touches a rapid. Neither one requires experience.
The Numbers
| Tubing | Kayaking | |
| Price | From $30/person | $61/person |
| Trip length | 3 to 4 hours | 3 to 4 hours |
| Group size | Up to 50 | Up to 15 |
| Minimum age | 4 | 12 |
| Season | May through Labor Day | May through September |
| Effort | None. You float. | Paddling the whole way, on flat water |
A family with a six-year-old only has one real option here. So does a bachelorette party of twenty. The numbers make the decision for you before you even weigh the experience.
Getting There and Back
Tubing launches from our Outpost on Amboy Road, drifts past Carrier Park, and takes out at our private spot in the River Arts District. A two-minute shuttle brings you back to the Outpost from there.
Kayaking runs the opposite direction. It launches further south, floats past the Biltmore Estate, and finishes right back at the AAC Outpost. No extra shuttle needed at the end. You paddle in and you’re done.
Cooler on a tubing trip? Bring it. Rent a cooler carrier for $10 and it fits up to 50 quarts. No glass, no liquor, no pets, on either trip. Kayaking asks you to travel lighter: a towel, sunscreen, water, and a snack if you want one
Common Questions
Is tubing or kayaking better for beginners in Asheville? Both suit beginners. Tubing takes less effort since you never touch a paddle. Kayaking still counts as beginner-friendly. The water is flat and calm, but you do paddle for the full three to four hours.
Which is cheaper, tubing or kayaking? Tubing. It starts at $30 per person against $61 for kayaking. That gap holds for groups of any size.
Can kids do the Asheville kayaking trip? Not until age 12. Younger kids belong on the tubing trip, where the minimum age drops to four.
Do I need kayaking experience for the French Broad River? No. The float is self-guided but calm, with no rapids and no technical paddling. You get safety instruction before you launch.
Which trip works better for a large group? Tubing. It caps at 50 people against 15 for kayaking, and costs less per person on top of that.
Do both trips end in the same place? No, and that’s easy to mix up. Tubing launches from the Outpost, floats north, and takes out at a private spot in the River Arts District, a couple of minutes shuttle ride back to the Outpost. Kayaking launches south of town, floats past the Biltmore Estate, and finishes right at the Outpost itself. No shuttle needed at the end of that one.
Book Your Float
First trip down the French Broad? Book tubing. It costs less, asks less of you, and fits nearly any age or group size. Want to paddle your own boat and take the Biltmore in at your own pace? Book kayaking instead.
Check availability and book your Asheville tubing or kayaking trip online today.