Day Trip: Rainbow River Tubing at KP Hole
Ready to escape from normal life, if only for the day? You don’t have to travel far. Central Florida is a natural playground for water activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, and my personal favorite: tubing.
From Orlando, tubing at Kelly Park is a natural choice. But the tube run, while beautiful, is short (3/4 mile) and can be overcrowded at times. Once you’ve ticked that quintessential Orlando activity off your date day bucket list, make the 1.5-hour road trip to Dunnellon for tubing at KP Hole for a roughly 4-hour float!
Updated July 2026 by Hailea Boykin.
What to Expect at Rainbow River Springs
Because the Rainbow River is spring-fed, the water is a refreshing 72-degrees year round. The park is ideal for aquatic adventures during tubing season, which runs from April 1 through September 30.
After renting a tube for $30 (including park entry, rental, and return shuttle service), you’ll hop in the water at the tube entry point and begin your ultra-leisurely float. Staying in the center of the river gives the best views and avoids a decent amount of the tall river grass.
Pro Tip: If you're visiting in the busy summer months, know that many popular tubing destinations and swimming holes reach capacity early. So arrive as close to opening as possible or check out the VIP parking option to ensure you don't miss out!
Once on the river, you’ll be rewarded with views like this:
And this:
The float takes 4-4.5 hours, and that’s no exaggeration. The gentle current will slowly carry you past picturesque riverfront homes and lush greenery, so be sure you bring your patience. We would recommend floating with a larger group so that there's plenty of chatting to be had during the four hours!
Pro-tip: Prefer a shorter float? Rainbow Springs State Park offers tubing for $24/person. Tubing is offered daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
We spotted colorful dragonflies, many of which landed on us to float too, playful otters, there was a group of them that was munching right within arm's length of us, turtles sunning themselves on logs, fish, and birds serve as companions on your journey.
When you’re not busy looking up and around you, fix your gaze downwards as the clear water illuminates the grassy riverbed below.
Be sure to check the weather before you head out, just in case you get caught in some rain! We got caught in a couple of short spouts of rain, but it was honestly a nice way to cool our bodies down.
What to Pack for Tubing: Our Suggestions
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- A hat
- A sun shawl or wrap
- Waterproof phone lanyard
- Water shoes
- A small dry bag (purchaseable on amazon)
- Reusable water bottle (full of ice)
- Small snacks
Pro-Tip: KP Hole Park has a refillable water bottle station near the restrooms.
Exiting The River
The exit point is at Blue Run of Dunnellon Park, where a shuttle will arrive to take you back to the park. If you have just missed the shuttle, expect to wait about 15-20 minutes for its return, as they have to unload all of the tubes from the trailers.
The park has bathrooms, so after freshening up, refuel at Swampy’s, an inviting no-frills riverside eatery with outdoor picnic tables, Adirondack chairs lining the shore, and all the delicious fried foods you can eat. The Bayou wings are a must.
TUBING RENTAL COSTS
Tubing at KP hole costs $30/person for the full tubing package. This includes park entry, tube rental, and shuttle service from the exit point back to KP Hole Park. Tube rentals are available: 8 a.m.-12:45 p.m., or until park reaches capacity.
Personal flotation devices are not allowed. You must rent a tube from the park.
Pro-Tip: VIP parking is a separate $20 fee and can be purchased in advance online. This guarantees you a spot in the parking lot during the crazy busy summer months.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
- You’re allowed to bring along snacks and (non-alcoholic) drinks in reusable containers.
- There is absolutely no trash allowed at KP Hole Park.
- You are not allowed to tie your tubes together for safety reasons, so be ready to hold on to each other.
- The river does not have a tree canopy like Kelly Park.
- KP Hole has locker rentals for $5 (not including fees) where you can store your keys, valuables, shoes, etc.
- Those who live along the river use motorized watercraft to travel up and down, so do be aware of your surroundings.
WHAT ABOUT ALLIGATORS?
Naturally, we’re all taking a risk when we swim in any body of water in Florida. During our tubing journey, we didn’t spot any alligators, but it’d be silly to assume there are none.
Our best tip is to stay alert. The river is wide and the water is clear with a grassy bottom. Stay in the center of the river rather than the riverbank.
Be vigilant, and if alligators are a major concern for you, try an activity you’re more comfortable with, like kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding. You can do all three from KP Hole.
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