Son's Rio Cibolo · 1 Hour South of Austin
Kayaking Near Austin — Calm Hill Country Paddling 1 Hour South on Cibolo Creek
Skip the San Marcos rental lines and Town Lake crowds. Unlimited kayak & paddleboard runs all day for $19.99 on a private spring-fed creek.
Why Wait in Line at San Marcos?
Austin paddlers know the drill: Town Lake is busy, San Marcos rentals run on the clock, and shuttle systems eat half your day. Cibolo Creek is one hour south via I-35 → 130 — unlimited paddling, no shuttle, no schedule, on a private 100-acre creek that almost nobody from Austin has discovered yet.
Hill Country Kayaking Austin Families Don't Have to Share With Tubers
Son's Rio Cibolo sits about 1 hour south of downtown Austin — easy I-35 → 130 toll route, no Fredericksburg or Wimberley weekend traffic. The creek is calm, spring-fed (72°F year-round), and shaded by towering pecan and oak trees. The whole property is 100 acres and privately owned, so you're not sharing the water with public-access tubers or shuttle launches.
$19.99 buys an all-day wristband: unlimited kayak runs, unlimited paddleboard runs, swap whenever you want. No 2-hour rental clock. No shuttle pickup window. Walk to the creek, paddle, walk back, repeat. Make it a weekend with a waterfront cabin or glamping cabin.
72°F Water
Spring-fed year-round
2-Mile Paddle
Through oak & pecan trees
Unlimited Runs
All day, no limits
No Shuttle
Grab-and-go from the bank
Kayaking & Paddleboarding in Photos
Kayak, paddleboard, float, repeat — surrounded by towering trees and crystal-clear spring water
How Kayak Rentals Work at Son's Rio Cibolo
Get Your Wristband
Purchase your Ultimate River Fun Wristband online or on-site. $19.99/person or $99 for a 6-pack.
Grab a Kayak or Paddleboard
Walk down to the creek and pick up any available kayak or stand-up paddleboard. No signup sheets or time slots.
Paddle All Day
Paddle as many times as you want from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Switch between kayaks and paddleboards anytime.
Kayak & Paddleboard Rental Pricing
Unlimited kayaking & paddleboarding all day — one wristband, endless fun
💡 Overnight guests receive 25% off wristbands automatically
Add a Cabana or Picnic Table & Save 25% on Wristbands
Make your day even better — rent a private riverside cabana or picnic table as your home base. Kick back in the shade between paddle runs, keep your cooler close, and enjoy your own spot on the creek all day.
🎉 Cabana or picnic table renters get 25% off kayaking & paddleboarding wristbands!
Discount applied automatically when you book a cabana and wristbands together.
Kayaking & Paddleboarding — FAQs
Kayak Rentals ~1 Hour South of Austin
Son's Rio Cibolo is located in Marion, TX — about an hour south of downtown Austin via I-35 → 130 toll. Easy access from South Austin, Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, and Round Rock. Less crowded than the San Marcos River, calmer than the Guadalupe, and you can paddle as many times as you want on one wristband.
20 min
from San Antonio
1 hr
from Austin
2.5 hr
from Houston
25 min
from New Braunfels
Son's Rio Cibolo · Marion, TX 78124
The Quieter Hill Country Kayak Day From Austin
Austin has plenty of paddling — Town Lake, Lady Bird Lake, McKinney Falls, and a short drive to the San Marcos. The catch: Town Lake gets crowded by 9 AM, the San Marcos rents on the clock, and Wimberley/Fredericksburg weekend traffic burns half the day. Son's Rio Cibolo is ~60 minutes south of downtown Austin on a private 100-acre property, with a calm spring-fed creek running through pecan and oak forest.
Pricing keeps it simple: $19.99 per person for an all-day wristband (unlimited kayak + paddleboard runs, 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM). Six people? $99 for the group. Add a cabana or picnic table as your home base and wristbands drop another 25%. Staying overnight automatically gets you the same discount.
Visiting from elsewhere? See the San Antonio kayak page, Houston kayak page, New Braunfels kayak page, or the broader Texas Hill Country kayaking guide. Make it a weekend with our family cabins or glamping cabins, browse current specials, or get in touch.
Ready to Paddle?
Grab your wristband and hit the creek — unlimited kayaking and paddleboarding all day long. Check our current promotions, or making a weekend of it? See our family cabins and glamping cabins for overnight stays.
From the Blog — Kayaking & Creek Guides
Kayaking Near San Antonio: Spring-Fed Creek, Free Kayaks, Zero Crowds
2 miles of private spring-fed Cibolo Creek, beginner-friendly water, free kayaks for overnight guests. The best kayaking near San Antonio without the long drive.
Cibolo Creek: A Complete Guide to the Spring-Fed Texas Creek
Where it flows, why spring-fed matters, and where to swim, kayak, and fish on Cibolo Creek 20 min east of San Antonio.
Fun Things To Do Near San Antonio: 20+ Ways to Spend a Day
Tubing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, sand volleyball, game room, firepits and more — the most fun things to do near San Antonio at Son's Rio Cibolo.
