The “Stuck With You” Date: A River Float Trip Date Night

Looking for a summer date that’s cheap, a little adventurous, and completely unplugged? Grab a couple of tubes (or a raft), find a lazy river, and spend an afternoon floating side by side with nothing to do but talk, laugh, and be gloriously “stuck” with each other. Then cap it all off with a frosty root beer float. It’s the kind of simple, screen-free date night that reminds you exactly why you fell for your person in the first place.

Here’s everything you need to plan your own “Stuck With You” float trip date — rhyming invitation included.

Step 1: Send the invite

Half the fun is the surprise, so leave your sweetheart a little invitation a day or two ahead and let the anticipation build. Type up your own, or borrow ours — just copy and paste in a text message to your spouse.

Let’s leave our worries on the shore,
And float the river a little bit more!
Then end the day with something sweet—
A root beer float for a summer treat!

Or feel free to download & print this free printable invite for your Float Date.

Leave it on their pillow or tucked in a swimsuit drawer for a fun little clue about what’s coming.

Step 2: Gather what you’ll need

• Tubes, a raft, or inflatable kayaks — one per person
• Life jackets (non-negotiable, even for strong swimmers)
• A waterproof phone case or a dry bag
• Water shoes or old sneakers for rocky river bottoms
• Sunscreen, hats, and plenty of drinking water
• A towel and a dry change of clothes waiting in the car
• Root beer + vanilla ice cream for floats (or cash for a local root beer stand!)

Step 3: Plan your float date

1. Pick a calm, beginner-friendly stretch of river. Look for a slow “lazy river” section rather than anything with rapids. A quick search for local tubing outfitters will usually point you to the friendliest spots — and many will rent tubes and shuttle you back to your car.
2. Line up child care. Ship the kids to Grandma’s or swap a sitter night with friends so it’s just the two of you, distraction-free.
3. Check the water and the weather. Look up current water levels, flow, and temperature before you go — spring runoff can make even a mellow river move fast and cold. Pick a warm, calm day.
4. Sort out your put-in and take-out. Either park a second car at the end point or use an outfitter’s shuttle so you’re not hiking back upstream in wet shoes.
5. Unplug and float. This is the whole point — zip the phone into the dry bag and just be together. Two hours on the water with no notifications is where the real conversation happens.
6. End with a root beer float. Scout a drive-through or old-fashioned soda shop near your take-out, or make floats at home afterward. It’s the perfect frosty finish to an ice-cold adventure.

No river nearby? No problem.

You don’t need a river to be “stuck with you.” Drift around a calm lake, lazily paddle the pool on inflatables, or skip the water entirely and set up a build-your-own root beer float bar at home with a few flavors of ice cream and toppings. Either way, cue up Huey Lewis and the News’ classic “Stuck With You” and enjoy being happily stuck together.

How our “Stuck With You” date went (a real one!)

This idea comes straight from one of our divas, and her sweet husband planned the whole thing. She’d recently had a baby, and — after a little honest hinting (ladies, sometimes you have to spell it out!) — he surprised her with an afternoon on the water.

They geared up with life jackets and tubes (a must!) and floated down the river in Provo Canyon, Utah. With his phone left behind, she had her husband all to herself — no work, no distractions — for almost two full hours of talking and laughing. Somewhere in the middle of that cold, beautiful water, “stuck” together, they couldn’t help but sing that Huey Lewis line: “Yes it’s true… I am happy to be stuck with you!”

As they neared the end, he revealed the finale: root beer floats. Neither of them knew it was there, but they stumbled on the most adorable little root beer shop right by the car — the perfect frosty treat to cap off their ice-cold date.

A few safety reminders

• Wear a life jacket every time — even confident swimmers get tired or caught in currents.
• Never float alone, and skip fast or flooded water entirely.
• Check water conditions and the forecast the morning of your date.
• Save the drinks for your root beer floats — alcohol and moving water don’t mix.
• Know where you’re getting out so you don’t drift past your take-out.

More summer date ideas you’ll love

If floating away together is your kind of date, you’ll love our roundup of sizzling summer date ideas and our list of outdoor activities for adventurous couples. Rained out? Cozy up with one of our at-home date night ideas instead.

Frequently asked questions

What do you need for a river float date?

The essentials are tubes or a raft, a life jacket for each person, a waterproof phone case or dry bag, water shoes, sunscreen, and a towel and dry clothes for afterward. Don’t forget root beer and vanilla ice cream for floats at the finish!

Where can you go tubing as a couple?

Search for local tubing outfitters or “lazy river” floats near you — many rent tubes and offer a shuttle back to your car. Choose a calm, slow stretch without rapids, and always check current water levels before you go.

What’s a good cheap summer date for couples?

A river float is one of the best budget summer dates out there — often just the cost of a tube rental (or free if you own tubes), plus a couple of root beer floats. It’s inexpensive, unplugged, and endlessly memorable.

How do you make a root beer float?

Scoop vanilla ice cream into a tall glass and slowly pour cold root beer over the top, letting the foam rise. Add a straw and a spoon — and enjoy that classic frosty finish to your date.