FLOAT Trips

Caveman Floating Presents: Float down the beautiful, meandering Meramec River in a canoe, kayak or raft and see some great river and wildlife scenery. Bring the entire family or your group down for a day or weekend trip. All Floats end at Meramec Caverns.

RATES Mon-Thurs Fri, Sat, Sun
Kayak (1 person)$39$45
Tandem Kayak (2 person)$50$57
Canoe (2 person)$50$60
4-Man Raft$110$140
6-Man Raft$165$195
8-Man Raft$220$270
10-Man Raft$275$330
12-Man Raft$325$395

Prices and Float times are subject to change. In the event of high river levels or extreme weather, where CFC cancels a float, reservation deposit will not be refunded, but applied to a future floating date. There will be an additional charge of $35 for filling the raft to capacity.

6-Mile Canoe Float: This float takes you upriver to Meramec State Park. During these 6 miles, you will have many opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenery or maybe even settle down on one of the many sand bars and have a picnic. The area is known for great catfish and small mouth bass fishing.

6-Mile Raft Float: A 6-mile float is offered for rafts. These floats start at Meramec State Park and end at Meramec Caverns. We have 4-Man, 6-Man, 8-Man, 10-Man, and 12-Man rafts. Our rafts are large commercial sized rafts that can accommodate the maximum person load, plus several coolers comfortably. Rafts are great for large groups of people or families with children. NO PETS IN RAFTS.

Canoes can fit 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child. Minimum age for double-rider Canoe is 10. Canoe requires one adult age 18 or older.

Tandem Kayaks can fit 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child. Minimum age for double-rider Kayak is 10. Tandem Kayaks require one adult age 18 or older.

Single-rider kayaks are for one person only. You sit on top of the kayak. Minimum age for single-rider kayak is 13. Tandem (2 person) kayaks are available.

Minimum age for Rafts is 3. Raft requires one adult age 18 or older in each raft.

A shuttle bus will take you up river and you can float back to your car, here at the caverns. Canoes, kayaks, and rafts are only available when weather permits.

Reservations require payment in full.
Please call (573) 468-3166 for floating information.
Come Float with the CAVEMAN!

Click here for Floating FAQs
Departure Times April, May, September
Monday-FridaySaturday & Sunday
9am9am
10am10am
11am11am
12pm12pm
Departure Times Memorial Day through Labor Day
Monday-FridaySaturday & Sunday
9am9am
10am10am
11am11am
12pm12pm
1pm1pm

Rafts are priced at one under capacity. To fill raft capacity: Extra fee of $35. Arrive 30 minutes prior to your float. Busses leave promptly & do not wait. Shuttle services provided & FREE to all guests renting a watercraft from Meramec Caverns. All floaters and watercraft must return before 7pm to avoid Late Fee of $35 per person.

Book Your Float Trip!

RIVERBOAT RIDES

Enjoy a relaxing, history filled, half hour long excursion on the Meramec River aboard a canopy-topped riverboat. Cavern Queen I and Cavern Queen II can each hold 25 passengers.

Open June, July and August every day, dependent upon weather and river conditions. Group rates are available.

Rates
Adults$12.00
Children, age 5-11$7.00

FLOATING FAQ's

How long is your float and how long does it take?

It is a six mile float, and takes on average between 3-5 hours to complete. Time may vary due to the amount of stops taken, watercraft rented, as well as amount of paddling.

What is the minimum age for floating?

You must be at least 3 years old to be in a raft. Our two person canoes and tandem kayaks minimum age is 10 years old, while accompanied by an adult. Single kayaks minimum age is 13 years old.

What are your floating prices?

Please check both our website pricing, as well as our FareHarbor reservation system, to see our most up to date pricing. All rafts are priced at a discounted rate when raft capacity is 1 person under capacity or more. Once a raft is filled to capacity (exe. 6 people in a 6 person raft), there is an additional $35 charge.

Can we bring our own canoe, kayak, or tube?

No. We do not shuttle personal watercraft. Meramec Caverns and Caveman Floating is private property, and does NOT allow any type of personal watercraft on the property for putting in, or taking out. If you choose to bring your own watercraft, you will need to shuttle it to a public access put in and you would need to take out at another public access (not the Caveman Floating take out, or Meramec Caverns property).

What is the float trip cancellation policy?

In order to receive a full refund, you must call at least 7 days in advance in order to receive a refund for your reservation.

What happens if it is raining during the time of our float?

If there is no lighting or heavy rain, we will still be floating. In the event of severe weather conditions where we do not feel it is safe to float, we will push back floats until the severe weather passes.

What time do we have to be off the river?

We ask all floaters to be back to our take out by 7pm in order to avoid late fees of $35 per person, per hour. Our late time is liable to change due to time of the year, river conditions, etc., and this time will be made known several times by our bus drivers.

What happens if our float gets canceled by CFC due to bad weather or high water levels?

If CFC does cancel floats for the day of your reservation, we do not offer refunds, but offer rainchecks. This allows you to come back anytime within a year of your reservation date, to use your reserved watercraft.

 

Can we bring our pets?

Pets are welcomed in canoes and kayaks. Pets are NOT allowed in rafts.

Do I need a reservation to float?

No. Reservations are not required, but highly recommended to guarantee the watercraft and departure time you desire.

Do you offer vehicle shuttles?

No. We do not offer vehicle shuttles.

Do you do overnight float trips?

No. We do not offer overnight float trips.

When do we need to arrive for our float?

We ask everyone to be here at least 30 minutes early at our Campstore, the brown building with a porch on the front, located in our campground in order to check in, fill out waivers if not done so already, and to prepare for your afternoon on the river. Our buses leave promptly for each float trip, so in order to avoid missing your float trip time, please arrive 30 minutes early.

Will I get cell service while I am on the river?

Depending on your cell phone provider, cell service is available in some areas. If taking cell phones, we ask that you have your cell phone in a water-proof/water-tight container.

Do you have a longer or shorter float trip?

No. At this time we only offer our 6 mile float trip.

What size of cooler will fit in our watercraft?

We recommend coolers no larger than 50qt in rafts. Coolers any larger could potentially cause your watercraft to drag if you have several people in your boat. For canoes, we recommend no larger than 30qtz, and for kayaks no larger than 20qtz. There are no styrofoam coolers allowed.

Is glass allowed on the river?

No. You cannot bring glass containers on the river.