California's Largest Self-Guided Rafting Company
Serving Sacramento Since 1974
Family-friendly rafting trips near Sacramento with two float options: The classis 3-4 hour Sunrise float featuring San Juan Rapid, or the shorter, less crowded Sailor Bar float perfect for quick trips and younger families.
Since 1974, American River Rentals has been the largest and most experienced rafting company to offer self-guided, clear water floats on beginner stretches of river in North America.
• 6 miles
• 3–4 hours
• Includes San Juan Rapid
• Most popular experience
• Best for groups & full river day
• Shuttle available
• 2 miles
• 1–2 hours
• Less crowded
• Great for younger kids & quick trips
• Shuttle included
• NEW section est. 2025
• We normally stop renting rafts at 1:00 pm, depending on river flows
• Receive 10% off when you book 5 or more rafts for the same day
• Become a Frequent Floater! Rent for 3 days this Summer and your 4th rental is FREE!
• Family-Friendly River Fun
• Ages 5+
• Beginner-Friendly River
• Great for Families
• Beginner-Friendly Class II River
• Life Jackets Included
• Shuttle Service Available
Click HERE to rent additional watercraft — KAYAKS, PADDLEBOARDS, TUBES
1. Rent
Reserve online or walk in.
Choose your float, equipment, and shuttle options.
2. Raft
Float the beautiful Lower American River with family and friends.
Relaxing self-guided trips for beginners and experienced floaters alike.
3. Return
Finish at River Bend Park and hop on our shuttle back to your vehicle.
Easy as 1–2–3.
Check out the River Mart at our Sunrise location. Your last stop shop for food, drinks, souvenirs, and other merchandise for your summertime enjoyment!
We have everything you need for a fun day on the river INCLUDING water shoes, water cannons, dry bags, ice and ice chests, sunblock, hats & sunglasses.
We have plenty of on-site parking in our beautiful tree-studded park.
Parking is free for raft rental customers on weekdays.
American River Raft Rentals is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to vehicles.
DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE.
Our large fleet of shuttle buses are available to bring rental guests back to their vehicles. Tickets are $10 per person. If you do not purchase a ticket you must schedule a ride back from the end of your trip.
Please check shuttle times before you go rafting!
SACRAMENTOS’ GROUP FLOAT HEADQUARTERS
American River Raft Rentals specializes in large group river trips for:
• Corporate Events
• Team Building
• Birthday Parties
• Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties
• Schools & Camps
• Fraternity & Sorority Events
• Family Reunions
With over 50 years of experience and one of the largest raft fleets in California, we can accommodate groups of nearly any size.
Large group perks may include:
• Reserved group areas
• Shuttle coordination
• Multi-raft reservations
• Flexible check-in
• Catering recommendations
• Easy online reservations
For over 50 years, American River Raft Rentals has helped generations of families and friends safely enjoy the Lower American River.
Our mission is built around our SPECS principles:
SAFETY
Professional staff, quality equipment, river safety orientation, and one of the safest beginner-friendly rafting sections in California.
PRESERVATION
Helping protect and preserve the American River Parkway for future generations.
EXPERIENCE
Creating unforgettable summer memories on the river since 1974.
COMMUNITY
Proudly serving Sacramento families, schools, businesses, and visitors for over five decades.
STEWARDSHIP
Committed to responsible recreation and respect for the river environment.
These are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions.
IS RAFTING SAFE?
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE?
We require children to be at least 40 lbs. and 5 years old. You must be at least 12 years old for Kayak, Tube and Paddlebaord rentals.
HOW LONG IS THE TRIP?
Many factors contribute to float time such as water flows, your ability to stay in the current and the amount of paddling you do. Some guests have accomplished our 6-mile float in 2 hours and some of our guests choose to be on the water for a full 9 hours. On average, float time is 3-4 hours.
DO I NEED RESERVATIONS?
Reservations are strongly recommended for weekends and holidays. We pride ourselves on never running out of rafts, but options for certain sizes of equipment can often become limited.
IS THERE A SHUTTLE SERVICE AVAILABLE?
Yes, our shuttle bus is $10 per person and some people choose to set up their own shuttle.
Shuttle times vary and are subject to change without notice. On weekdays we may only send buses once per hour starting at 1pm. Please verify shuttle times before you go rafting.
CAN LARGE GROUPS RESERVE TOGETHER?
Yes. With one of the largest raft fleets in California, we can accommodate groups of nearly any size. We never run out of rafts!
SACRAMENTO’S TOP ATTRACTION
Located just 15 miles east of Downtown Sacramento on the beautiful American River Parkway. You will immediately become immersed in nature on our wild and scenic Lower American River.
Our high-quality, clear water comes from the Sierra Nevada mountains outside of lovely Lake Tahoe which is just an hour and a half to the East. Our river passes on our fresh water an hour to the West into the San Francisco Bay.
Our American River Parkway attracts over 5 million visitors annually with its many recreational opportunities. Bird watching is amongst the most popular. From our rafts you can easily spot over 100 species of bird including egrets, owls, hawks, osprey, peregrine falcons and even bald eagles!
The American River is also home to the gold rush! With so many attractions and history surrounding us we hope that you can make rafting the highlight of your California vacation!
