We love providing day trip inspiration for summer activities in the Natural State, from water wonderlands to unique natural wonders to explore on all-day hikes. Short excursions are fun, especially for the youngest Arkansans, but there's one epic adventure that can easily take up a couple of weeks and will definitely make your summer complete: lazy river tubing in Arkansas. Whether you enjoy tubing the Buffalo River all in one go by tackling the whole river or just taking a couple of point-to-point floats over a few weekends to enjoy with the family, there's nothing like a Buffalo River tubing in Arkansas float trip. It's some of the best river tubing in Arkansas. Let's find out where to float the Buffalo River in Arkansas.

The Buffalo National River is perhaps the most iconic piece of Arkansas nature. It's more than just a pretty place to look at though: this river is a gateway to endless adventures, including some of the best tubing in Arkansas.

It's easy to see why the beloved Buffalo became the first designated national river in 1972. The Buffalo is also one of the few free-flowing rivers left in the country, which means it's a prime river for paddlers and floaters. A good place to begin our floating journey is at the far west side of the river, near the Buffalo Outdoor Center. Nothing compares to a Buffalo River, Arkansas float trip.

The river can be divided into three portions; the upper, middle, and lower Buffalo. Each has its own flair, but all have an unrivaled beauty.

The entire river is nearly 150 miles long, so there are plenty of options for multi-day float trips. The Ponca to Pruitt in the Upper Buffalo is one of the most popular. Just this one point-to-point float takes a weekend to complete, or longer if you want to explore the shoreside.

The Middle Buffalo flows from Pruitt to near Gilbert. This is where you'll find some of the most beautiful campsites and famous bluff formations.

Pictured is the Skull Bluff, part of the "Nars" in the Middle Buffalo. This section is about 50 miles long and has plenty of trip options. Float for two days from Pruitt to Mt. Hersey, take a swimming day at Woolum, or set up camp at the Tyler Bend Campground. The river in this section is pretty mild, with only class I and II rapids to keep up the flow.

The Lower Buffalo is the most calm of the sections, which makes it perfect for new paddlers.

The Lower portion is just under 50 miles and runs from Gilbert to Buffalo City, where it joins the White River. This slower-paced flow is great for swimming or a lazy float. You'll find the ghost town of Rush along this portion as well!

So no matter if you're taking a solo kayak to reconnect with nature...

...or a group float to reconnect with friends, the Buffalo National River has the adventure you need!

Check out this handy Buffalo River tubing map. You can learn more from the Buffalo Outdoor Center website.

Have you ever enjoyed lazy river tubing in Arkansas? Share your experiences in the comments! Of course, the mighty Buffalo River is home to more than just floating and tubing trips in Arkansas! Pitch a tent at the state's most beautiful campground and explore the rest of this national treasure:

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arkansas/ar-beautiful-campground-tyler-bend/