Canoe, Kayak, Raft, or Tube: Which Should You Choose?

Canoe, kayak, raft, or tube — the right choice depends on your group, your experience, and the kind of day you're trying to have. They all put you on the same beautiful stretch of the Delaware River, but the experience is genuinely different. Here's an honest breakdown of each.

What's the Difference Between a Canoe and a Kayak?

A canoe is an open boat you paddle with a single-blade paddle, sitting or kneeling. A kayak has an enclosed cockpit, and you paddle with a double-blade paddle (one blade on each end of the shaft). Those differences ripple into everything else.

Canoes are wider, more stable when loaded, and can fit significantly more people and gear. A standard tandem canoe holds two adults plus a child in the middle — or a full cooler, a dry bag, and room to spare. They sit higher in the water, which gives you a better view but catches more wind.

Kayaks are narrower and lower to the water. You get more direct feedback from the current and more maneuverability with the double-blade paddle. Most people find kayaking slightly more athletic than canoeing, but not by much on flatwater. Kayaks work best for solo paddlers or pairs who want to move a little faster and cover more distance.

Neither requires experience to enjoy on the Delaware. Canoes have a short learning curve if you're paddling tandem — you'll need to coordinate with your partner, and the stern paddler does most of the steering. Most people work it out within the first twenty minutes.

What Is Rafting Like on the Delaware?

Inflatable rafts hold groups of 4 to 8 people and are the most stable option on the river. You all paddle together (or mostly just float), and the larger surface area means you're less likely to tip or take on water from a wake.

Rafting is a great option for larger groups who want to stay together on the water rather than splitting into separate canoes or kayaks. You can talk, share food, and generally have a social time in a way that's harder when you're spread across five individual watercraft.

Raft routes are also shorter than the longer canoe day trips — ranging from a 1.5-hour run to a 4.5-hour trip — which makes them a good fit if you want time on the river without committing to a full day. See the raft trips page for route details and current availability.

What Is River Tubing?

Tubing is the most relaxed option by a significant margin. You sit in an inflatable inner tube and the current carries you downstream. No paddling required, no technique to learn — you steer with your hands if you need to avoid a shallow spot, but mostly you just float.

There's one tubing route: Kittatinny Point to Portland, 4 miles, and it takes roughly 3 to 5 hours depending on water levels and how much you stop to swim. It's a full afternoon on the water with minimal physical effort, which is either the appeal or the limitation depending on what you're looking for.

One important note: pets are not allowed on tubes. If you're bringing a dog, you'll need to book a canoe or kayak instead.

Which Is Best for Beginners?

Tubes require zero skill and zero experience. If someone in your group is nervous about the river, tubing is the safest starting point. Rafts are nearly as easy — you're in a big, stable boat with other people, and if one person is off-rhythm with the paddle, it doesn't matter much.

Canoes and kayaks are still accessible to beginners — the Delaware through this section is calm flatwater, not a whitewater river — but there's a little more to learn. Staff will help you get started at the put-in, and the river is forgiving. If you're a true first-timer and want to try a paddle boat rather than tubes, start with the shortest canoe route (Smithfield to Kittatinny, 6 miles, about 2 hours).

Which Is Best for Families with Kids?

For families with young children, canoes and rafts are the better choice. Canoes fit multiple people in one boat, so a parent can stay close to kids at all times. Rafts offer the most stability of anything on the water. Both give you room for gear, snacks, and the inevitable extra stuff you bring when traveling with kids.

Dogs are allowed on canoes and kayaks — which matters for families who want to bring the family pet along. If your dog is coming, canoe is the answer. Check the canoe page for route lengths and what to expect.

Which Is Best for a Group of Friends?

All four options work well for groups, but they create different vibes.

Tubes and rafts are more social — you can drift together, float next to each other, and hang out as a group. The pace is slow enough that conversation flows easily. These are the go-to for groups who want the party atmosphere, a bachelor/bachelorette outing, or just a low-effort day with people.

Canoes and kayaks are better for groups who want a little more adventure or want to cover some actual distance. You'll be in separate boats, which creates some natural independence. Racing each other, finding the best lines through the current, stopping to explore a sandbar — it's a different energy. Check the kayak page or canoe page to compare route options.

Can You Bring Dogs?

Yes — on canoes and kayaks. No — on tubes and rafts. The rules exist for safety: inflatable tubes and rafts can be punctured by claws, and keeping a dog safely contained in an open tube is essentially impossible. On a canoe or kayak, a dog can sit in the boat with you, and many do.

If the dog is coming, book a canoe. They tend to enjoy it more than you'd expect.

Still Not Sure Which to Pick?

Read the trip guide for a full breakdown of what each trip includes, or browse individual trip pages for tubing, rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. When in doubt, call us at (570) 421-0180 — we've been matching groups to the right trip since 1968 and are happy to help.