Float Fest
Take on the Texan tradition of tubing, combined with an eclectic mix of live bands and top performances. Enjoy a Float Fest adventure with RV camping along the Guadalupe River in Gonzales, Texas.
Event information
Located in Gonzales, Texas, Float Fest is not just any old music festival, and floating down the river is sure to add some tubular fun to the proceedings. Cool off as you glide down the Guadalupe River with fellow music lovers and spend the day having fun in the sun.
After your time on the river, head on over to the main stage for concert activities that may last into the wee hours. With a new location for this wet and wild event, this is a unique, multi-genre music festival, with just about everything, including pop, electro, hip-hop, and rock.
The Shade and Arcade Lounge provides the perfect place to chill, with games, a well-stocked bar, a DJ, and that all-important air conditioning. Plus, it is open 24 hours a day across the weekend, so you always have an ideal place to relax and unwind. Festival-goers will have a selection of restaurants, bars, and vendors to enjoy throughout the festival, with food and drinks from all around the world.
Float Fest’s highly curated eclectic mix of music combined with fab floating fun, makes it one of the most unique summer experiences in the Lone Star State. RVers have a range of options for staying on site during Float Fest making the activities easily navigable. Gather your crew and head to your spot near the Guadalupe River in Gonzales, Texas this summer.
Tickets
If you are looking to attend one of the best summer festivals around, check out tickets for Float Fest. A weekend pass tends to range from $100 to $170, whereas a day pass is generally between $60 and $100. Alternatively, upgrade to a VIP ticket, with improved tubing, camping, parking, and access to the Shade and Arcade Lounge all day long.
VIP tickets also include additional restrooms, free WiFi, and complimentary water. Due to the hot weather and food and drinks, VIP options may be a good bet. If you are looking to take your children, kids under 10 go free, and children and young people over 10 will require an adult ticket.
Explore Float Fest RV Rentals
Transportation
Driving
Float Fest welcomes guests to join them a few miles from Gonzales, Texas. The river and ranch is approximately one hour from Austin and San Antonio and around two hours from Houston. However, if you are planning to drive to Float Fest, it is still recommended that you set out early, as traffic before the event is likely to be busy.
Exit points are designed to ensure a smooth flow of traffic, so look to follow event directions at that time. I-10 and US-183 connect about 15 minutes north of the festival site.
Parking areas
Daytime parking at Float Fest is usually around $20 for the Saturday and the Sunday, but this is first-come, first served. It is definitely advised that you get there early to nab the best parking spot, and the organizers recommend carpooling when possible. Festival coordinators work to provide an efficient and safe parking environment, but they also request that guests remain ready to follow directions for a smooth experience of all attendees.
Public Transportation
If you would prefer to leave the car at home, there are several different public transportation options to get you to Float Fest, including regular shuttle buses from Austin, San Marcos, and San Antonio. The festival location is fairly close to Gonzales city center, which is easy to get to by bus or train. Alternately, if you are planning to fly to the event, the nearest airport is the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Where to stay
Onsite
Embrace the full Float Fest experience with onsite camping. Two different RV packages are typically offered, one with electric (up to 50 amps) and one without electric. The campground is usually open in the morning on the Friday before the event and it is advised that you get there early.
There are port-a-potties and handwashing stations located throughout the event, and they do have showers available with a fee. Tank pumping and water refills are around $40. Campground gates are locked around 1 hour after the last band plays, and no one will be able to leave or enter the campsite after that time.
Nearby
Need a place to camp on the way to Float Fest? The cities surrounding Gonzales offer a selection of campgrounds and RV sites available near Gonzales. The local area is beautiful, and there are several idyllic spots to lay your head in perfect peace and quiet. If you are staying in nearby Austin, San Antonio, or San Marcos, the shuttle buses usually run back and forth.
San Antonio / Alamo KOA is about an hour to the west and gives travelers a chance to add some history to an RV trip. McKinney Falls State Park, known for its trees and trails, rests about an hour away and just south of Austin along with Austin East KOA also nearby. Stephen F. Austin State Park is just west of Houston and about an hour and a half from the festival site.
Getting around
Everything is pretty close together at Float Fest, so you can more or less get around just by walking. Comfortable water shoes that will stay on your feet are a good choice so that you can walk in and out of the water as well as around the area. The start point for tubing is on festival grounds, so guests can show up and get on the river relatively efficiently.
What to pack
Clothing
Texas and summer mean shorts, tank tops, and sandals. Pack clothes suitable for high summer heat, including swimwear, a hat, and sunglasses. Pack light with natural fabrics, loose clothes, and light colors. Shoes that are suitable for being in the water are also likely to come in handy. Expect some mud in the event of rain.
Gear
Bring a cooler if you want to keep food and drinks chilled while away from your RV. Smaller coolers may be best if you plan to take one with you while tubing. Keep in mind that Float Fest retains size regulations for what can be taken into certain areas.
Pack something to give you a bit of shade, but note that large umbrellas are not allowed. In July, leave the bulky four-season sleeping bag at home. While tubes are provided with a Tubing Pass, you can also take your own tube and use the air compressors on site.
Health & Safety
As always, sun protection is essential, and it is important to ensure that you apply it regularly in order to protect your skin from the suns damaging UV rays. Make sure that you pack plenty of sunscreen, after-sun, and a water flask to ensure that you are able to beat the heat. Bug spray, mosquito bracelets, or similar should also be considered as necessary.
Where to eat
Cooking
There is nothing quite like eating outdoors, and if you plan on cooking your own meals during the Float Fest experience, you can take food and non-alcoholic beverages into the campsite. If you would like to barbecue, you can take your a grill or portable set up, but open fires are not allowed. If you do forget anything, there is a general store on site, which stocks beverages, snacks, supplies, and basic toiletries, or a trip to one of the local stores in Gonzales may also be helpful.
Restaurants
The Shade and Arcade Lounge is a great place to relax and unwind on site. Alternately, if you are looking to get away for food, there are also several restaurants in nearby Gonzales, less than five miles from the Float Fest. You will have to go through security again to re-enter the festival, so plan your times accordingly, so you don't miss any of the music.
Vendors
There will be a variety of different vendors at Float Fest, with food, beverages, souvenirs, and more. With a collection of unique food trucks, there is undoubtedly going to be something for everyone. Whether it is a traditional Texan BBQ or something from further afield, there will undoubtedly be an excellent array of delicious food to keep your energy levels up.
Safety
Security
Twenty-four-hour security is available at the campgrounds to help ensure safety. Security will also be present across the festival grounds, and it is advised that you check out the list of prohibited items and rules before you attend. If you have items that need to be secured, Float Fest offers lockers that are available to rent. Lockers also feature the ability to charge your phone.
Weather
The Lone Star State is particularly hot in July, and it can certainly be a scorcher during Float Fest. However, skies will follow their own agenda, and showers are always a possibility. Festival organizers express that whatever the weather, the show will go on unless conditions are severe. Chances are that you plan on getting wet while at this event, but you may want to plan ahead to keep your stuff dry at camp in case it does rain.
Medical
First-aid centers are located throughout the festival grounds. Check out the maps online to ensure that you always know where your nearest first-aid spot is located. Dehydration is one of the biggest risks, so it is essential that you drink plenty of water. It is also important to remember that risks increase when consuming alcohol in hot weather, so be careful of overdoing it and always drink plenty of water.
