float trips on the illinois river

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1-918-708-6800

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RIVER FLOATS IN TAHLEQUAH, OK

Enjoy a day on the scenic illinois river.

We bus you up river to our private launch site and bus you back to Riverbend upon completion of your float.

Short Trip & Long Trip

From: $80.00

Riverbend Rafting

Reserve one of our clean, high-quality rafts for your Illinois river rafting trip from Tahlequah! Book online today.

Weekdays and weekends

From: $15.00

Tubes: Short

Try our NEW floating trip on Inner-Tubes. Be happy and enjoy the ride! Book online today!

From: $20.00

Riverbend Kayaks

Spend a half-day kayaking the beautiful Illinois River. Ride solo or tandem and enjoy the views as you float the river.

Cabin Rentals & Lodging on the Illinois River in Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Cabin rentals on scenic Highway 10. We have three different cabin options to fit many different group sizes.

 Listed prices are for two nights minimum.

COME RELAX AND UNWIND AT OUR FAMILY-FRIENDLY LOCATION!

Riverbend Floats, located in Oklahoma’s beautiful Illinois River corridor in the heart of the finest float and recreation area of the Oklahoma Ozarks. We are the number one rated outfitter on the Illinois River, known for our outstanding customer service. Our equipment, our grounds and our restrooms are super clean and a source of pride.

#1 RIVER OUTFITTER AND LODGING IN OKLAHOMA

Nice clean inn and boats.

“Awesome trip! Family of 5 three boys ages 16, 13 and 11. Booked on the internet, great communication from the organization since the booking. Awesome rooms, new and fresh, no bugs which is great for a place like this. The floats were well organized and Jesse and Bear are super easy to communicate with and their goal is customer service. Highly recommend!!!"

via Google Reviews

Don't hesitate to book - amazing in every way!

"Great experience at every step. Very friendly and easy check-in. Bathrooms clean. Shade to wait in w/ tables/chairs. You can buy drinks, water shoes and lunchables before you go out. The rafts were in great condition. Shuttle driver was great! When we decided to shorten our day a little (river was a little slow so took us longer than usual) they did not hesitate to offer to pick us up at a different spot. I would not hesitate to book with them! We'll definitely be back."

Sallisaw KOA

via TripAdvisor

Great variety of trip lengths and times

"Easy to book, friendly staff, beeeeautiful section of the River. I was afraid the kids would get bored, so I booked the shortest rafting trip—4-miles. We stopped several times and turned it into 4 hours of fun.The 13-year-old took charge of navigation, and the other kids chased fish, swam and occasionally helped row. They’ve already decided we need to do a longer trip next time and try the kayaks!"

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Quick Links

17252 ok-10 tahlequah ok 74464, business hours.

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 Routes 

All American 9 Mile Route:  

Easily our customer's FAVORITE route and best value!  We drop in at our private access, nine miles up the river and you float back to All American.  This is an all-day float that typically lasts between 4-6 hours and floats through some amazing scenery including the iconic Elephant Rock!  I t is a ll nature, with numerous swimming holes and beaches . Last departure for this route is 1pm daily.  

Price: $27 per person, weekends and holidays 

            $22 per person, Monday through Friday!

Many competitors charge more per person for fewer miles, so both prices should be the best value on the river.  

All American 4 Mile Route:

We drop you in 4 miles up river and you float back to us.  Last call for this trip is 4pm daily  (which is the latest departure anywhere on the river) .   This is a perfect trip for those tubing, wanting a shorter trip, or got to the river late in the day. 

Price: $22 per person.

All American 14 Mile Route:

All aboard our bus as we drive you 14 miles up the Illinois River for a LONG float trip. This route is an all-day float that lasts between 6 -9  hours and is not for beginners.  We drop in at No Head Hollow and you float back to All American.   Please b e prepared with plenty of food, drinks, and sunscreen.  Check-in is from 8:30am-9:00am with the only departure of the day for the 14 mile is at 9am daily. 

Only kayaks and canoes are allowed on this route.  

Price: $29 per person.

Additional All American Floats Information:

​​ ​ On all trips, we take you up river and you float back to us and your car, no waiting on a bus to come pick you up.  You can stay out as long as you want (as long as you're back by 7pm) while enjoying the beautiful scenery, amazing swimming holes, and pull-off beaches.

Reservations are required for weekends, but not needed for weekdays.   Please note that we usually sell out on Saturday and Sunday, so plan ahead. 

STEP 1:  Park at All American Floats  (17170 OK-10, Tahlequah, OK).

STEP 2:   Check into the office, sign waiver, pay.  

STEP 3:  Get on the bus and we do the rest.  We load everything, take you up river, get you on the water and you float back to us and your car.

 Pricing 

Please see directly below for our weekend rates.  All pricing includes equipment rental, transportation up the river and OSRC user fee.  All American Floats continues to be one of the more affordable and popular ways to spend a day on the beautiful Illinois River!

 2024 Hours of Operation / Days 

Hours of Operation: 8:30am to 4:00pm .

Wednesday, May 1, 2024 through  Monday, September 2, 2024

SEPTEMBER 2024

O pen Saturdays and Sundays only (Weather and river conditions permitting). 

 Ages / Restrictions 

At All American, our number one concern is for the safety of you and your family.  That being said, children 3 years old and younger are not able to float with us.  It is simply not worth risking the safety of a small child to float the Illinois River. We appreciate your understanding and value your safety over everything.  For additional restrictions, please view our waiver .

 Tubing 

We ARE the premier tubing location on the Illinois River!  

We have the best tubes on the river along with a  perfect 4-mile route.   This route is scenic, fun, and floats you right back to your car.   No group is too big, we have tons of tubes. And it's only $22 per person!

 Camping 

Camp All American!

We offer scenic and spacious riverfront  primitive camping spots for only $25 per spot, per night.  Two-car, six-person max, per spot.  Additional cars or people are $5 each per night.  Next-day checkout at 12pm.    

Make All American YOUR overnight camping getaway!

For RV camping, we highly suggest either Echota Village RV Park  or  River Roost RV Park (both are adjacent to our Falcon Floats operation).

 Discounts 

Groups of 15 or more receive 10% off per person.  

And we are proud to say "thank you" to our police, fire and military (active duty and veterans) who also receive a 10% discount  (must show valid ID). Offer may not be combined with any other discount or special pricing.

We still have more rafts and Kayaks for this weekend!!!

Eagle Bluff Resort

$25 raft special - half day trip.

• $50 pp, 2 Nights Camp & Half day Float Trip
• $60 pp, 2 Nights Camp at the Electric Site & Half Day Float Trip
• $32 - Half Day Float, $37 - Full Day Float Trip

Welcome to Eagle Bluff Resort!

First-rate rafting & campgrounds in tahlequah, everything for you, our expertise.

• Bubbles Bathhouse
• TreeTops Grill
• River Store

Satisfied Customers

We stayed Sunday - Wednesday! The staff was fun and helpful! We stayed next to the shower house on late night camp and they were cleaned every day and Wissy the bus driver gave us tips for our rafting trip! Will definitely go back!

Just got back from floating with Eagle Bluff, in my honest opinion they are the best to float with, I had reserved for two others to float with us that didn’t make the trip so Eagle Bluff gave me credit and I can’t wait to go back. You will not be disappointed floating with Eagle Bluff if it’s not right they will make it right.

The customer service is great, the website is easy to navigate, the bathrooms are nice, and transportation to and from landing and departure is easy. Highly recommend Eagle Bluff!

Availability

8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

8:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Areas Covered

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Tahlequah River Float Trips

Relax and discover the beautiful scenery of Tahlequah, Oklahoma with an unforgettable experience floating down the scenic Illinois River.

Grab your life jacket and we’ll guide you to the most sought-after water activities you can try on the river, the must-visit destinations, camping areas and other important reminders to keep your leisure trip fun, safe and hassle-free.

Welcome To The Beautiful Illinois River

Be amazed by the scenic Illinois River with your family, or hop on a thrilling water adventure with a large group of friends. The crystal clear, pristine waters can bring you the most enjoyable float trip in Northeast Oklahoma.

Stretching 98 miles from the northwest Arkansas Ozarks to the Arkansas River in Gore, Oklahoma, the Illinois river is a perfect place to celebrate special holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Explore hidden fishing spots and cool swimming holes as you paddle your way to the clearest part of the Illinois river by floating with a kayak.

Kayaks are available in either single or tandem varieties. The kayaks sit on top with molded backrests.

Don’t miss the chance to take some pictures of bald eagles that may appear on the inhabited riverway. Look from left to right as there are snapping turtles, vultures, cardinals, deer, alligator gar, and pickerel that you might encounter on your floats.

Whether you’re inexperienced or not, it’s safe to float the Illinois river as it is rated as Class II which means the current is moderate and you can chill and enjoy a relaxing ride.

If you’re down for some thrill, rafting Northeastern Oklahoma rivers is a must-do. Many Illinois river outfitters offer a raft that can carry six persons maximum. A limited amount of 2-4 person and a few 7-10 person rafts are available.

Equipment Rental Rates

You can rent kayaks, canoes, and rafts. Check out the rates, the duration, and the distance you can paddle on the river.

Raft, kayak, canoe rates per person

Rafting In Tahlequah

Join us on the river for a fun and adventurous Illinois river rafting trip from Tahlequah! Book online today!

Kayaking In Tahlequah

Spend a half-day kayaking and explore the Illinois River, a beautiful piece of water in an area rich with natural beauty and interesting wildlife.

Tubing In Tahlequah

Experience the scenic Illinois River on a fun float trip! Our river tubes are clean and comfortable for a great float in Tahlequah, OK. Book online now!

Cooler Tube

Rent a cooler tube for your Illinois River float trip so you can bring your favorite cold beverages along! Stay refreshed during your float trip.

Get the lowest price when you book your next Illinois River float trip with us!

Rowing your canoe can also be a fun activity here in Tahlequah. You can float the Illinois River in a 2-man or 3-man canoe.

For as low as $5 per person, you can paddle a 12-mile float trip with your family and spend 2-5 hours on the water.

Before taking a longer trip, we advise you to check river conditions to ensure your utmost safety.

Most outfitters have campgrounds for you to set up camp along the Illinois river. It’s a fun moment to unwind, reconnect with nature, and forget the heavyweights brought work.

Fill your Saturday night with good memories on the campgrounds located on the banks of the river. Spending quality time in picnic areas is also a relaxing way for your Sunday getaway. Just make sure to do it within a few hundred feet of your tent.

Book a reservation with the resort that can accommodate your stay in Tahlequah. There are affordable cabins nearby with complete amenities to hang out and relax.

We highly recommend Tahlequah floats if you want to experience a hassle-free lodging experience.

Public Access

The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) advises visitors who bring their kayak, canoe, raft, inner tube, or other flotation devices to secure a private float permit before floating to public access areas.

Day use permits (wristband dated for the day of your trip) is $1 per device per day and can be bought in advance.

You can purchase at the following outlets:

• GRDA Scenic Rivers Operations Office
• Peyton’s Place Resort
• Hanging Rock Camp
• GRDA Scenic Rivers Operations Police or

Annual permits cost $10 per device and are valid from January to December. They are decals that should be applied to the front right side of your vessel. Annual permits are available from the GRDA Scenic Rivers Operations Office.

Embark On a 12-Mile Illinois River Float Trip

Planning on a 12-mile float trip is possible here in Illinois river. In general, the excursion can be done in a day, but some folks take two to three days. Children under the age of 12 pay half the ticket price. The total time takes approximately 3-5 hours, so you may need to plan ahead for this float.

Bring Your Own Float To The Illinois River

For $25, the boat will carry floating passengers and supply floats. If someone wants to float, he or she must send a buddy to help them travel to their destination and downstream back to their car.

You must reserve separate trips for the day you want to take Illinois river float trips. Float trips are only valid on a reserved day. Please make reservations for the day of the float and ignore the checkout date.

Important Reminders

The GRDA reminds floaters of the following rules they should follow when they visit the river:

• Respect private property rights and observe the no trespassing signs all the time
• Do not litter, and keep trash bags wherever you go.
• Children aged 12 years old and below must wear life jackets when they float the river.
• All visitors must secure an accessible life preserver, which should not be tied to the vessel.
• Coordinate with your chosen outfitters when planning an overnight float trip
• Observe proper decorum as obscene behavior can lead to a night in the county jail

Prohibited Activities

• Hard liquors on the river are not allowed ( Wine and light beer are allowed as long as it’s brought in the original non-glass package)
• Bringing glass, jello shot containers, or styrofoam is not allowed on the river.
• Never tie your rafts, canoes, and kayaks together on your boats.
• No person shall carry ice chests that are not secured to prevent spilling their contents or larger than a 48-quart capacity on a scenic river.
• No firearms or weapons
• Playing on rope swings is prohibited.
• No Jumping from bridges

GRDA officers and the outfitters’ personnel will conduct an ocular inspection of the river and its surrounding areas. Please cooperate with the authorities if they inspect your belonging, such as ice chests, purses, bags, and other items, for them to keep the river free from banned or illegal things.

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