New Braunfels tubing rules are strict on the Comal River and the Guadalupe River inside city limits. The most important rule is simple: disposable containers do not belong on the river.
That includes cans, plastic bottles, glass, Styrofoam, chip bags, and food wrappers. Bring reusable containers, know your put-in and exit, and check the city’s river pages after rain or before a busy weekend.
Quick answer
The City of New Braunfels prohibits disposable containers on the Comal and the in-town Guadalupe River. Coolers have a size and lid requirement, personal tubes have size limits, and bridge jumping is prohibited.
River conditions can change fast after storms, and the city may adjust access, wristband details, life-jacket requirements, or enforcement notices. Check the city pages on the day you float, especially when the weather has been unsettled.
Where do New Braunfels tubing rules apply?
The city’s river rules apply on the Comal River and on the section of the Guadalupe River within New Braunfels city limits. A Guadalupe float can move through multiple access areas, so do not assume a rule or parking arrangement applies everywhere along River Road.
Start with the official Comal River or Guadalupe River page, then confirm the instructions from your outfitter. Their shuttle plan, private property rules, and return timing are separate from city river rules.
What containers and coolers are allowed?
Disposable containers are prohibited. The city specifically identifies cans, plastic bottles, glass, Styrofoam, food wrappers, chip bags, and similar throwaway packaging as prohibited river items. A reusable bottle is the easiest choice for water or other drinks.
The current city guidance limits coolers to 30 quarts or smaller, one per person, with a locking or latch lid. Pack food into reusable containers before you arrive, and keep the lid closed when moving between parking, shuttles, and access points.
Do not treat an empty bag or wrapper as harmless because it was never opened on the river. The rule is about keeping disposable packaging out of the water and river parks. The city can issue fines of up to $500 for violations, according to its container-ban notice.
How big can your tube and gear be?
Personal inflatable tubes on the Comal cannot exceed five feet in diameter or width. The city also limits the number of tubes per person, which matters when a group brings spare tubes, coolers, or oversized float gear from home.
Keep gear simple: one approved personal tube, a manageable cooler, footwear that stays on in the water, sunscreen, and a dry bag for essentials. Large floating setups are hard to handle in crowded sections and can create problems at access points.
The City of New Braunfels tubing page is the right final check for current gear rules, City Tube Chute information, parking, and any seasonal updates. Avoid relying on old social posts or an outfitter blog for city rules.
What safety rules matter most on the river?
Life jackets are a good choice for weak swimmers and young children. The city publishes life-jacket guidance for both rivers and can require life jackets on the Guadalupe River during certain higher-flow conditions.
Use designated access and exit points. Do not jump from bridges, dams, trees, or overpasses, even when someone else is doing it. Those areas can have shallow water, hidden obstacles, moving traffic above, or poor access for first responders.
Leave speakers and other noise devices behind when they can be heard beyond 50 feet. The quieter approach is also easier for a group to manage because people can hear safety instructions, shuttle calls, and warnings from nearby staff.
What should you know about wristbands, fines, and exits?
New Braunfels publishes a River Activity Wristband requirement for certain weekends and holidays during the summer season. The city currently lists the fee, dates, and coverage on its tubing page, but those details are time-sensitive and should be checked before you go.
City enforcement can include fines for disposable-container violations. The city also has exit and access limits that affect specific craft and areas, including restrictions around the Last Tubers Exit, so confirm your planned route rather than following a friend’s old map.
Paid city parking can fill early on hot weekends. Arrive with a backup lot in mind and do not leave valuables in a visible vehicle. A prepared route keeps the first hour of a float from turning into a parking search.
When should you skip tubing?
Skip the river when the city reports a high-water closure, public-safety closure, unsafe weather, or conditions your group cannot handle. A sunny forecast does not erase overnight rain upstream, and water conditions can be different from the weather at your hotel.
Check the official city river status on the morning of your float and again before driving to the put-in. The New Braunfels weather page and the city river pages give you a better starting point than a general forecast app alone.
If younger children, nervous swimmers, or first-time visitors are in the group, choose a shorter and calmer plan. What to bring tubing in New Braunfels covers practical gear, but it cannot replace a current condition check.
What should you pack and leave at home?
Pack a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, water-friendly shoes, a dry bag, and simple reusable food containers. A lanyard or waterproof pouch for a phone and car key keeps essentials together when you change shuttles or walk to an exit.
Leave disposable drink containers, loose snack packaging, glass, oversized floating gear, and speakers that can carry across the river. A small group with light gear moves through entry gates, parking lots, and exit areas more easily than a group trying to manage a packed party raft.
Bring a trash bag for the drive home, even when all food containers are reusable. The goal is to keep parking areas, shuttles, river parks, and the water free from loose trash, not simply to avoid an enforcement issue at the access point.
What needs a day-of check before your float?
Check official river status, the forecast, parking instructions, wristband details, and any restrictions from the outfitter you chose. These are the details that can change with heat, rain, crowd levels, or a public-safety response.
Call or open the outfitter’s official page if you need a shuttle, rental, or group reservation. The city supplies river rules, but individual companies set their own check-in time, pickup location, rental inventory, and late-return process.
Agree on one exit point and one driver plan before your group starts drinking or entering the water. Cell service, crowds, and shifting plans make it much harder to solve transportation after people have already spread out along a float.
Group leaders should share the container rule and the planned exit before everyone arrives. It is easier to move one person’s prohibited packaging back to a car than to separate a group at the access point after parking has already been paid.
Do not assume a rental company will store extra coolers, shoes, valuables, or food for you. Ask before arrival, label shared gear, and use a simple headcount at the start and end of the float so nobody is left waiting at an unfamiliar exit.
The river is public recreation space shared with other visitors, nearby homes, park staff, and emergency responders. Following the container, noise, and access rules keeps the float moving for everyone and reduces the chance that a small mistake ends the group’s day early.
Rules are not a substitute for judgment. Turn back, shorten the plan, or choose an indoor afternoon when the conditions, the group’s swimming ability, or the weather forecast no longer match the float you intended to take.
More New Braunfels tubing questions
Are cans or plastic bottles allowed on the Comal or Guadalupe River in town?
No. The city bans disposable containers, including cans, plastic bottles, glass, Styrofoam, snack bags, and food wrappers. Pack drinks and snacks in reusable containers before arriving at the access point.
How big can my cooler be for tubing?
The city currently lists a 30-quart maximum, one cooler per person, with a locking or latch lid. Check the official city tubing page before your trip because seasonal enforcement details can change.
Can I jump from a bridge into the river?
No. Jumping from bridges, dams, trees, and overpasses is prohibited. Use designated river access and exits instead, even when the water looks deep from the bank.
Do I need a life jacket on the Guadalupe River?
Life jackets are recommended for weak swimmers and young children. The city can require them on the Guadalupe River during higher-flow conditions, so check the official river page before getting in.
Is there a fee or wristband for tubing?
The city publishes River Activity Wristband requirements for some summer weekends and holidays. Check the official tubing page for the current dates, price, coverage, and purchase details before leaving home.
Sources
Checked 2026-07-19. Confirm current hours, prices, events, parking rules, weather, and river conditions before going.