Tanking: A Leisurely Float Down the North Platte River

As we planned a road trip through the Midwest this summer, we were looking for fun things to see and do. Most activities involved museums or historical sites. But we found a hidden gem in the plains of Nebraska. Tanking involves climbing into a large, round metal tub and floating down a river. So we booked a trip with Dusty Trails in North Platte to float down a section of the North Platte River in Nebraska.

We had a wonderful and relaxing time. The river was nice and slow. It was pretty shallow in many areas as well, so you could step overboard and walk or swim in the river. If you’re looking for something to do in Nebraska, tanking is something you’ve gotta try.

Book Your Tanking Experience in North Platte, Nebraska

If you’re looking for a great place to try something new, plan a visit to North Platte. Then, book your experience and go tanking down the river. Dusty Trails, LLC, was great to work with. When you’re ready to book, call (308) 530-0048 to make your appointment. They can be made in as little as 24 hours in advance.

Tanking trips can be booked for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at either 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. If you’re wanting to go tanking on other days of the week, you’ll need to call for the available times. You’ll need to plan on about 2.5 hours for the whole experience, from start to finish.

The cost for tanking is $25 per person (for ages 16+) and $15 for those under 16. There is a minimum cost of $100 per tank, so if you only have two adults, it’s $50 per person. So I recommend going with at least four adults.

Packing List for Your Ride Down the River

It’s important to know what you need to bring down the river with you, so you don’t find yourself committed to a 90-minute ride and are missing something. I do want to point out that if you don’t want to get wet, you probably won’t. There are no rapids on this stretch of river, so it’s easy going. If you end up getting wet, it’s because you chose to get wet or someone splashed you.

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You may notice in the photo that I wore a swimsuit and my wife wore typical jeans and a t-shirt. The reason being… there wasn’t an easy place to change clothes. We didn’t have a hotel yet, and at the pick-up spot, there was a bathroom nearby, but my wife didn’t feel like going over there to change. She was worried about getting wet, but as mentioned earlier, she didn’t.

Here’s a list of the things you’ll want to bring on the river with you:

• Water bottle (because it can get toasty in the summer sun)
• Sunscreen (because there is NO SHADE on the river)
• Camera (because it’s fun to capture photos of your adventure)
• Water shoes (because I prefer to wear them for when I walk in the water)
• Drawstring bag (because it’s nice to keep everything together)

If you have your kids with you, you may want to bring a few snacks. I would recommend a swimsuit if you or your kids want to float down the river outside of the tank. You aren’t required to stay in the tank during your trip – because the North Platte River isn’t very deep, so you can either walk or float on your back next to the tank.

Directions to Begin Your Tanking Journey

The great part about the journey is that you park at the finish line and a bus takes you to the starting line. That way, when you complete your tanking experience, simply pull your tank up on the shore and walk to your vehicle. That way everyone can float the river on their own timeframe.

To start, drive to Cody Park in North Platte (1601 N Jeffers St, North Platte, NE 69101). Navigate your way to the northern most part of the park. The starting point is a little gravel parking area next to the main road and along the riverbank. Park in the designated portion of the parking area so you don’t interrupt the area dedicated for the bus to flip around.

I recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before your scheduled time. When the bus arrives, check with the driver for your name on the list for your appointment. The bus will leave the parking area at the tour start time and you don’t want to be late.

The bus ride lasts about 10 minutes, taking you to the river drop in point in in Buffalo Bill State Park Campground. When you arrive, grab a life jacket for each occupant and up to four paddles as well. Then head over to the river where the Dusty Trails staff will help you put the tank in the water and send you off with a smile. 😉

What to Expect Along the North Platte River

When you first step into your vessel and begin your tanking experience, you’ll notice how leisurely of a ride it’s going to be. The depth of the river varies, depending on where the main current is running. At some points, the depth is as deep as your paddle. In other parts, the bottom of your tank may rub along the sand bars.

You’re welcome to hop out of the tank along the river and go for a swim. You can cool off by doing the back float down the river next to your tank. You can also walk alongside the tank if you want, because some areas are about calf-deep. That allowed me to hop out, stand in the river and capture photos of my beautiful wife tanking.

The main purpose of the paddles are to keep your tank pointed in the right direction. We preferred to keep looking down river, and without the paddle, we would’ve been facing all directions. After all, it’s a round tank. That said, there are some areas where the river splits. Don’t fret… all paths of the river lead to the end point. So pick whichever direction you want to venture.

And just for fun, try to get your group paddling to see how far up-river you can travel against the current. It’s quite the workout.

You’ll know you’re at the end of the journey when you see the river heading under the highway. As you approach the bridge, stick to the right as you pass under it. As soon as you clear the bridge, you’ll see the exit point of the river. Paddle to shore and then pull your tank up and away from the river. Don’t leave it right along the shore, because that will block others from exiting the river, or risk the tank finding its way back into the river and being lost downstream.

After you pull the tank out of the river, leave the life jackets and paddles inside the tank and you’re ready to leave. Don’t forget to grab all of your personal belongings so you don’t lose a camera or water bottle.

The Details

Address: 2617 N Buffalo Bill Avenue, North Platte, NE, 69101

How long to spend: Roughly 2-2.5 hours, depending on how fast you want to float down the river.

Cost: $25 ages 16 and older / $15 ages 15 and under. NOTE: $100 minimum on a tank, $50 minimum for a canoe all trips.

Hours: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Times vary for the other days of the week, so call them for available times.

Website: http://www.dustytrails.biz/

Phone: (308) 530-0048

DISCLOSURE: I received one complimentary tanking experience for two along the North Platte River from Dusty Trails for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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