Float Your Worries Away in Missouri

Float trips in Missouri are practically synonymous with summer and fun. And for good reason! They are a way to relax and unwind with friends and family. While they do require planning and preparation, float trips are an enjoyable way to spend time in nature. After all, it’s hard to be stressed when you’re relaxing in an inflatable tube (or raft, or canoe) with a cold drink in your hand, letting one of Missouri’s many gorgeous rivers carry you gently downstream.

Missouri is flush with rivers, and the best time to float them is in the warmer months.With swimming holes, bluffs and beautiful waterways, it’s no surprise that these trips are popular in summertime with Missourians and visitors from all over. Float the river for a few hours, for a day or even plan a weekend-long float… Whatever floats your boat (or tube)! 

Float trips from Eminence, Missouri

Rivers near Eminence

One popular spot for floating is Eminence, Missouri, where the Current River and Jacks Fork River flow. There are a number of springs that feed into these waterways, including Welch Spring and Round Spring. This area is covered in stunning natural scenery, including a few waterfalls. Rocky Falls, a breathtaking spot with fire grills, walking trails and picnic tables, is a favorite with tourists and locals. Visitors to the area can also explore the numerous caves that pepper the Ozarks area in this particular spot. 

What do you do on a float trip

A float trip is just what it sounds like- a trip down the river in a tube, raft, canoe or kayak. You simply relax and go with the (literal) flow. You can get out periodically to explore the wooded areas along the river or simply be carried downstream by the flow of the river. Some people bring portable speakers to play music as they go and others simply soak up the sights and sounds of nature. 

Ways to float the river

How you float the river is largely dependent upon how active you want to be while enjoying your day. Canoeing and kayaking are great options that enable you to choose the speed with which you complete your river journey. Tubing, on the other hand, makes it easier for you to relax and enjoy the surroundings but puts you at the mercy of the river’s flow. You won’t be able to speed up and slow down the way you might in a kayak or canoe. There is no right or wrong answer here- it simply comes down to personal preference. With several outfitters in the area, you’ll have no problem finding a vessel that is the right speed for you on your float trip.

What to bring on your float trip

Deciding whether you’ll be tent camping or staying in a nearby hotel, motel or cabin will change your needs somewhat. But typically, for the floating portion of your float trip, you don’t need much! Sunscreen, of course, as that Missouri sun can be relentless in the warmer months. A bathing suit or cool clothing to wear in the water as well as water shoes so you can walk along the river bottom without hurting your feet. You’ll want a cooler filled with your drinks and food for the day- make sure you pack enough water to stay hydrated! Hand sanitizer is another great item to keep in your cooler, as well as a backup battery for your phone, your phone and your wallet. Don’t forget to bring your sense of adventure!

Eminence lodging

Booking a float trip in the Ozarks area? You’ll want to book a stay at Eminence Cottages & Camps. This spot offers up multiple lodging options, including a hotel, a lodge and spaces to pull up an RV or pitch a tent. After your float trip you can relax on the grounds, playing tetherball, cornhole or volleyball with other visitors, or simply hanging out at your campsite or hotel room. You’ll love this relaxing vacation so much you’ll want to come back over and over again.