Guides › Things to Do
Things to Do

Tubing in Palm Beach: All-Ages Fun on the Lakes

No skill required and fun for every age — here's your complete guide to tubing on the lakes in Palm Beach County, with the captain and gear handled for you.

Of everything you can do on a wake boat, tubing is the great equalizer. There's no learning curve, no board to balance on, and no fear of looking silly — you just hold on and laugh. That's why it's the first thing we reach for with mixed-age groups, nervous first-timers, and anyone who wants pure fun without a lesson. Here's everything you need to know about tubing in Palm Beach County.

Why tubing works for everyone

The magic of tubing is that the captain controls the entire experience from the helm. Want a mellow, glassy glide for a six-year-old or a grandparent? Easy. Want to get bounced across the wake and spun through the turns? We can build up to that too. Because the difficulty is entirely in the driving — not the rider's skill — one tube can carry a whole family across a huge range of comfort levels in a single afternoon. Nobody's left out.

The best lakes for tubing

We run tubing on Palm Beach County's calm inland lakes, which are ideal because they stay flatter than the open Intracoastal. Lake Osborne, inside John Prince Park in Lantana, gives us plenty of protected room and an easy shoreline for a swim break. Lake Ida over in Delray is another favorite — open, scenic, and rarely crowded on a weekday morning. We pick the water based on the day's wind and your group, so you always get the smoothest ride available.

What to expect on the boat

When you climb aboard, we start with a quick safety briefing and get everyone into a properly-sized life jacket. Then it's rider's choice: we'll ask how fast you want to go and adjust from there. We carry the tubes, the tow ropes and the jackets, so there's nothing for you to buy or haul. Our captain drives while a spotter watches the rider at all times — so you can focus entirely on hanging on and enjoying it. Between runs, we'll idle down for swimming, photos and snacks.

Safety, done right

Tubing is a blast precisely because it's run responsibly. Florida requires a spotter in addition to the driver whenever someone's being towed, plus proper life jackets — and we follow all of it. If you like knowing the rules yourself, the Florida FWC boating and tow-sports page spells out the state requirements. We keep speeds sensible for each rider, watch conditions, and never push anyone past their comfort level. Fun and safe aren't opposites out here — they go together.

Tips for a great tubing trip

Build it into a bigger day

Tubing rarely fills a whole charter on its own, and that's a good thing — it pairs beautifully with wakeboarding, wakesurfing and a sandbar swim stop. Our Half-Day charter ($899 per boat) gives you room to tube, let anyone who's curious try a board, and still have time to anchor up and cool off. You can see the full menu on the charter experiences page. Planning around other family activities that week? Macaroni KID West Palm Beach is a handy list of local family events to slot in on the days you're not on the water.

Great for birthdays and big groups

Tubing is a natural centerpiece for a kid's birthday, a family reunion, or a group of friends who want a low-key day out. Because it needs no skill, everyone participates — and the photos are always fantastic. We can rotate a big group through tube runs and swim breaks so nobody's sitting on the sidelines for long.

Ready to hit the water?

Tubing is the easiest yes on the lake: no experience, no equipment to buy, just show up and have fun. Pick a session on our charter experiences page, or text us your group size and dates at (561) 475-8615 and we'll get you out on the calmest water we can find. And if you already own a wake boat and want to know what it's worth — or you're thinking about upgrading — we handle valuations, service and trades over at Palm Beach Wake Boats.

DB
Danny Bivins — Owner & Captain

I own and captain a MasterCraft X30 out of Lantana and ride Lake Osborne, Lake Ida and the Intracoastal just about every week. This guide comes from actually owning, riding and chartering these boats here — not a content mill. Questions, or want to come ride? Text me at (561) 475-8615 or book a charter.

Ready to get on the water?
Private wakesurf, sunset & group charters on Lake Osborne, Lake Ida & the Intracoastal — split the cost with your crew.
Book a charter →

Frequently asked

Is tubing safe for young kids and older adults?+

Yes — because the captain controls the speed entirely, tubing works for a huge range of ages and comfort levels. We keep it gentle for young children and grandparents and only add speed and turns when a rider asks for more.

Do I need to bring my own tube?+

No. We provide the tubes, tow ropes and correctly-sized life jackets. Just bring a swimsuit, sunscreen, water and snacks — we handle all the gear and the driving.

Which lakes do you go tubing on?+

Mostly Lake Osborne in John Prince Park (Lantana) and Lake Ida in Delray, because they stay calmer than the open Intracoastal. We choose the smoothest water based on the day's wind and your group.