Spend a day tubing down the San Luis Rey River that runs right through the middle of the La Jolla Indian Campground in Pauma Valley. A well-worn path alongside the river lets you access the river above and below camp. View wildflowers, wild turkey, deer and other wildlife as you float down the secluded river. The campground has water and electric hookups with sites accommodating both RVs and tents. Enjoy fire rings, grills and picnic tables at your site, and take advantage of amenities at the campground that include an arcade, bike rentals, a sports bar and a walking trail. If you don't have your own tube, rent one from the campground store.
Looking like a western movie set, the town of Kernville is the ending point for tubers after a whitewater ride down the Kern River. The wild and scenic river flows through the tall sequoias in the central-most part of Southern California less than an hour from Bakersfield. Camp at Frandy Campground, and you'll find all your tubing needs just steps from your tent or RV site. Rent a tube from Kern River Tubing complete with life jacket, helmet and paddle to wind your way down the Kern River, and they'll shuttle you from camp 3 miles upstream to the river access point. Three river-rafting outfitters are also found on the site. Frandy Campground has sites suitable for tents and RVs with pull-through sites, dump station, bathrooms and showers.
Smooth but swift, the Colorado River flows about 3 to 5 miles per hour along the eastern side of Southern California. In Blythe, camp out at Riviera Blythe Marina Park where you can rent an inner tube or canoe to float the length of the 14-acre park. Enjoy full hookups, grass tent camping area, pool, spa and laundry. The campground has its own boat ramp with gas station and a dog-friendly beach. You can also camp and tube at Mayflower County Park 3 miles upstream. Mayflower has restrooms, showers, boat ramp and swimming lagoon.
If you're looking to camp and tube late in autumn and early spring, you'll find the weather pleasant for tubing most of the year along the southernmost stretches of the Colorado River near Winterhaven. Multiple recreation sites where you can camp and tube include Picacho State Recreation Area and Squaw Lake Recreation Site. The campgrounds provide restrooms and showers. Tube rentals are provided through Tubing Yuma and Yuma River Tubing, both of which offer shuttles and trips of varying lengths.
