No glass, ever
Glass is banned on state-owned riverbeds across Texas, and on the popular tubing rivers by local rule too. Broken glass in a riverbed waits for the next bare foot - just don't bring it.
Rivers / Tubing
Tubing - know the rules.
Floating the river is a Texas institution, and the tubing towns have local rules you need to know before you go. They vary by river and change, so check the current rules - but here's the lay of the land.
San Marcos: San Marcos has its own, comparably strict version on the San Marcos River - a single-use beverage container ban (since 2024) with the same $500 fine, plus a 'Go Zone / No Zone' map of where containers are allowed. Stretches outside city limits (like parts of the upper Guadalupe near Canyon Lake) may not have the ban - but the rules below still apply.
Rules on the popular floats
Alcohol - while floating only
Alcohol is allowed while you're actually floating, in a reusable container of 5 ounces or more (the 5-ounce rule targets Jell-O shots). But it's banned on land in the city-owned parks, public intoxication law always applies, and many outfitters bar hard liquor.
Coolers: 30 quarts, locking lid
Both New Braunfels and San Marcos cap coolers at about 30 quarts, one per person, with a lid that latches or zips shut so it can't spill.
Right-sized tubes
Tubes and floats can't be oversized (New Braunfels caps them at under 5 feet across). The exact limits differ a little between the Comal and Guadalupe, so check the city's page for your river.
No bongs, no boom boxes
No 'volume drinking devices' (beer bongs or funnels), and no music audible more than 50 feet away.
No jumping, and expect fees
No jumping from bridges or overpasses. Expect a small river fee (about $2 in New Braunfels) plus summer parking fees - most tubers rent from an outfitter who spells out the rules.
The simplest rule of thumb: The simplest way to stay legal everywhere: bring reusable containers, no glass, a right-sized cooler with a latching lid, and pack out every bit of trash.
Keep going
Official sources
Tubing rules are local ordinances set by the cities of New Braunfels and San Marcos. They change and differ by river, so the city pages (and your outfitter) are the final word.
- Data vintage:
- Tubing ordinances as reviewed June 2026
- Last reviewed:
- June 15, 2026
- City of New Braunfels - River Operations - The can ban and float rules
- City of San Marcos - River FAQs
Caution: Cooler sizes, container rules, and fees change and vary by river. Always confirm the current rules with the specific city or outfitter before you go.
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