About this Experience
What you'll do:
Kayak through the heart of Nashville for the best views in the city!
Choose from three unforgettable downtown kayak experiences on the Cumberland River — with single or tandem kayaks available for every adventure:
The Skyline is our most popular route, offering a peaceful paddle that ends with iconic skyline photo ops.
The Scavenger Hunt adds fun clues, river trivia, and a prize-worthy challenge to your paddle.
The Out & Back gives you the freedom to float at your own pace right in downtown.
Whether you're chasing chill vibes, a little friendly competition, or the perfect Instagram shot, we’ve got the perfect Nashville kayak adventure for you!
Why we love it for your party:
Paddle with a view (Epic skyline photo ops you won’t get anywhere else in Nashville)
Add a challenge (Turn up the fun with a kayak scavenger hunt and river trivia)
Go solo or team up (Choose single or tandem kayaks for the perfect party pairing)
Wildlife photo-ops (Spot turtles, herons & more as you float through the city)
Easy + unforgettable (Self-guided, beginner-friendly, and totally unique for group fun!)
About this experience partner:
River Queen Voyages: A Nashville Original
Nashville’s award-winning first downtown kayak outfitter, only Pedal Pontoon, only Pedal Kayak, and only River Scavenger Hunt.
River Queen Voyages is Nashville’s longest-running downtown kayak outfitter and is consistently recognized as the go-to destination for water activities in the city. Our dedication to safety, education, and accessibility has set us apart and helped solidify our reputation as Nashville’s “River Fun Authority”.
Additional information:
Same-day reservations welcome
Tipping the crew is highly encouraged
Guided kayak rentals and group accommodations available on a case-by-case basis - reach out here
While these are beginner-level paddles, they are still active kayaking excursions, not "floats"- be prepared to paddle
Children under 7 not recommended
Children 7-10 must be with an adult in a tandem kayak; one adult per 4 children required
Book This Experience
Visit the experience booking site to check availability and book your experience.
Reviews
See All4.9 (30 Ratings)
BP
Bev P.
July 2025 • Other Party
Just completed our 3 mile float on the Cumberland River and it was awesome! Great experience, saw an eagle, turtles, a crane, and a baby raccoon. It was very laid back and relaxing! I would highly recommend this activity! Had a great time!
NC
Nicole C.
July 2025 • Other Party
Perfect Nashville activity for locals or tourists! The team at River Queen Voyages were amazing and the views were stunning. As a local , it’ll give you a new perspective of the cumberland river. Would definitely go again!
AV
Anna V.
June 2025 • Other Party
My 90 minute out and back kayak adventure on the Cumberland River was a great way to get away from the noise of downtown. One of the workers squeezed me in as a walk up. This was just what I needed!
CJ
Cerys J.
June 2025 • Other Party
Absolutely beautiful. Everyone is so lovely and friendly. The water is beautiful and we saw lots of turtles! Will recommend to everyone!
LM
Lucas M.
June 2025 • Other Party
We had a great experience with River Queen Voyages. We decided to go with the tandem kayak scavenger hunt and it was worth it. I highly recommend it for those that have gone kayaking before and enjoy a challenge because you start upstream and once you solve the first two clues you can turn and head downstream. Totally a great time!
LJ
Lauren J.
May 2025 • Other Party
This was an excellent experience. All equipment needed was available and in good shape. They even provided a water-proof phone cover. The experience itself was a joy. Thank you!
KF
Karsyn F.
May 2025 • Bachelorette Party
We did this for a bachelorette party, and it was SO incredibly fun! The guides were so much fun and accommodating, and we HIGHLY recommend this if you're looking for something fun and different to do as a group. Thank you so much again!
DJ
Destiny J.
April 2025 • Other Party
Great experience! Very easy trail , nice for beginners. Easy coasting for experienced kayakers!
JE
Jillian E.
April 2025 • Other Party
Amazing! We were running late and they were so accommodating. The current was too strong to do an out and back, so they called us back and switched us to just paddling down the river and drove us. Great hospitality and amazing experience!!
A
Amanda
October 2024 • Other Party
Awesome time! Great equipment and employees!
AK
Akbar K.
September 2024 • Other Party
Emily, our guide, was great! Very friendly, very knowledgeable, and took a bunch of pictures of us. Everyone else on the team was also lovely, the trip was very organized, and the kayaks were great—moved through the water very easily even when half full of water from the pouring rainstorm we got caught in (which was very fun! Made it more of any adventure!). Highly recommend the scavenger hunt option for anyone who wants to check out the Cumberland at greater length. —Paige
GB
Gina B.
September 2024 • Birthday Party
I drove to Nashville from Canada and wanted to do something fun with my local friend for my birthday on September 6... kayaking on the Cumberland River was awesome! Thanks to Billy and Emily for their professionalism and great service, we loved it!
AC
Aron C.
September 2024 • Other Party
A great place to go start your Nashville holiday. Lovely views and a great experience all round. Billy and Xeia were awesome, having great recommendations for the rest of our trip
E
Evan
September 2024 • Other Party
Emily was great guide! Got to see some cool blue herons and some turtles, and despite the rain we had an incredible time. Thanks so much, will definitely be back!
MB
Megan B.
August 2024 • Other Party
We live in Nashville and finally decided to take a trip on the Cumberland. We LOVED our kayaking journey with River Queen Voyages! It was easy to book through their website and they had openings the night before we went. They texted us day of to coordinate, and were very flexible with the event at Nissan Stadium that day. All the staff were so kind, informative, and helpful! We will definitely be doing this again.
RP
Russell P.
August 2024 • Other Party
Really enjoyed a relaxing trip up and down the Cumberland on the 4 person Fiesta. Well organised, friendly and efficient staff and the Pedal Kayak was easy to use. Highly recommended!
HO
Hannah O.
August 2024 • Other Party
The package was well organized and easy to follow. The guides were friendly and informative. They made the drop-off go smoothly. We knew where to arrive and the guides were ready for us to take the gear back. Great group!
JK
John K.
July 2024 • Other Party
The staff was very friendly and helpful. The kayaks were well maintained and in great shape. The 1.5 hr out and end trip was a great start to a fun filled day in Nashville. Only down side is the parking is a bit confusing, park in lot r at the Nissan stadium and look for their tent and vans. look forward to next trip
ML
Mandy L.
July 2024 • Other Party
This was such a fun experience and I cannot wait to do it again! My friend and I did the RQV Kayaking scavenger hunt and it was the perfect way to spend our Sunday afternoon. The guides are great and provide everything you'll need for the excursion. My friend and I are both Nashville locals and we still loved kayaking down the Cumberland - so this is a perfect activity regardless of if you live in Nashville or are visiting from out of town. We are both beginner kayakers, but the distance and the time of the activity was just right, and it made everything enjoyable and a good experience. Can't wait to kayak from Shelby park to downtown Nashville again!
MM
Mary M.
July 2024 • Girls-Trip Party
We did this as the last group activity, Nashville girls weekend. We were shuttled to the location with our kayaks, dropped off in the water and floated back downstream to the start. We could have made it more challenging by kayaking and getting out in the river, but we chose to relax and soak in every last minute of talking laughter, and girl time. The crew was wonderful and I highly recommend this company if you’re down in Nashville and wanna kayak. Very pretty very serene wonderful experience.
CM
Carol M.
July 2024 • Other Party
My husband and I had the most enjoyable experience with River Queen Voyages on our Saturday morning kayaking adventure. The staff was so friendly. A big walking event downtown had the roads closed for the time that we were scheduled to return, so they suggested that we could spend some extra time exploring some historic landmarks a little further up river. It didn't hurt that we had the most beautiful weather. We will be back, and recommend this to locals and out-of-town visitors.
SM
Stephanie M.
July 2024 • Other Party
What an awesome experience! Karen, Xela, and Megan were very knowledgeable about the trip and the ins and outs of the river. It was a great relaxed trip down the river on a HOT summer Nashville day!!
RK
Rachel K.
July 2024 • Other Party
Friendly group of people! The ride was great and calming! I would definitely recommend doing this if you are in town for a visit!
LS
Lucy S.
July 2024 • Other Party
everyone was so kind and even waited on us when we were a couple minutes late. the trip was super easy and the river carried us so we didn’t have to paddle too much! (because the water was high). when we got back they even carried our kayaks back for us! 10/10 experience. also- AWESOME views!! and turtles:)
AB
April B.
July 2024 • Other Party
Super easy and fun way to enjoy Nashville’s downtown riverfront. The staff is so helpful and makes it so easy that I often don’t even get my feet wet. Kayaks are very comfortable and stable.
JS
Jay S.
July 2024 • Other Party
Such a fun time! As a Nashville local it was fun to see the city from this point of view. Staff was great and helpful, the kayaks were awesome and comfy. Check this out whether you live here or you are visiting!
JM
Jenna M.
July 2024 • Other Party
The staff was helpful and didn’t mind my multiple phone calls. They’re flexible and filled with the flow to accommodate me on my solo journey down the river. I appreciate Mac! Water was cold and refreshing. The trip took me about 75 minutes and I actively paddled most of the way.
SN
Savas N.
July 2024 • Other Party
It was such a fun experience. I had kayaking first time in my life. I really enjoyed it. Also Staff are very friendly and helpful.
JS
Jessie S.
July 2024 • Other Party
Great experience! Karen did an excellent job explaining the instructions and the route! Definitely would go again!
AL
Angela L.
July 2024 • Other Party
Our trip was absolutely amazing! The views were beautiful and the staff was incredibly kind/helpful. Karen went above and beyond to make sure the first timers were comfortable kayaking while also ensuring our experience was awesome. Would absolutely recommend!
Frequently Asked Questions
Our hours vary depending on seasonality, city events, and booking volume. A good rule of thumb is to look at our booking calendar for your desired date/time. Times we will be open will appear as bookable (so long as we aren’t sold out.) If you book it, we will be there! Generally, our hours are as follows: High Season (Memorial Day - Labor Day) Daily from 9:30am - 4:30pm Mid-Season (May & September) Daily from 10am - 2pm Low Season (mid-March, April, and October) Friday - Monday 10am - 2pm In some instances, we are able to open days/times for groups of 8 or more. If you have a large group and do not see your desired time available, please email us to inquire.
Please see our helpful guide on how to find us. https://riverqueenvoyages.com/how-to-find-us If your meeting spot needs to change, this will be communicated to you profusely via text message.
If you are doing the Skyline or the Full Nash, we HIGHLY recommend walking, biking, scootering, or taking a ride share to the Bridge Building / Ghost Ballet as downtown parking is limited and unpredictable. If you are driving, you can try to find street parking near the stadium -OR- you can meet us at the put-in point at Shelby Park for any route (free parking) and we can shuttle you on the back end of your paddling excursion after we have the kayaks loaded back onto the trailers. **Please let us know if you are meeting us somewhere other than the location on your confirmation email so the crew knows where to find you** *We are not responsible for any parking fees that may occur — please be aware of any no parking signs and allow plenty of time to park!*
You must arrive at the route’s take-out location **15 minutes before your scheduled departure time**. Shuttles leave on schedule and cannot wait for late arrivals. If you miss the shuttle, you can still meet us at the put-in location, just text us at 615-933-9778 to let us know.
* Shuttle Upriver * Kayak * Paddle * Life jacket (to be worn AT ALL TIMES) * Safety Demonstration * Kayaking 101 * Fun times * Gorgeous views of Nashville *FREE souvenir sticker
**We paddle rain or shine.** The safety of our guests and our crew is our #1 priority. Thus, we may cancel in the case of severe weather (lightning, temperatures above 110℉, etc.). Severe weather cancellations may not be made until the start of the tour – we will notify you if made in advance of the trip and offer you commensurate accommodation. Continue reading for our cancellation policy.
We get it, plans change. That's why we now offer FlexTicket! Upgrade your ticket(s) to FlexTicket at checkout to make them fully adjustable/refundable (less the FlexTicket fee) for any reason up to 24hrs in advance of the event. Without FlexTicket, all sales are FINAL. (That means absolutely no refunds, reschedules, or store credits unless your trip is canceled on our end due to unforeseen events/severe weather.) Please be sure to select the number of tickets you would like to upgrade to FlexTickets. DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE IS BUSY! We try our best to make sure all our activities run on time but in the event that we need to cancel your journey due to road closures, inclement weather, or any other unforeseen circumstances, we will do our best to reschedule your trip or find a commensurate accommodation. *Routes and start times subject to change due to road closures, special events, construction etc. We will notify you as soon as the information becomes available.*
Our gorgeous blue and green single (1 person / 300lb max capacity) and tandem (2 person / 450lb max capacity) kayaks are sit-on-top kayaks. They are made right here in Sparta, Tennessee at Jackson Kayak. Sit-on-top kayaks are designed to not sink or easily flip. It is normal for a bit of water to splash inside the kayak but need not worry, you wont be going down with the ship in these bad boys! Our Jackson Riviera kayaks are the perfect boat for your river adventure.
You can bring items (including your phone for pictures) along with you, but we strongly recommend purchasing a DRY BAG for protection from the water at checkout. We have smartphone-sized dry bags branded with the RQV logo available for purchase. Comfortable clothing and sun protection are HIGHLY recommended. Small coolers will fit on the back of the kayaks with the bungee cords provided. Be aware that you may get a little wet on your kayak trip so proper storage is encouraged but you are welcome to leave any items you don’t want to bring along in our shuttle vans. Please know that if you leave items in our van, we are not responsible for anything lost or stolen.
Yes! Especially from the waist down. Please wear comfortable clothing, shoes that can get wet, and sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.). We have dry bags for your phone available as an add-on at checkout or in the vans at check-in. There is a public restroom at the Bridge Building and Shelby Park Nature Center if you need to change clothes after your paddle. If you are going out after the paddle, you may want to bring a change of clothes, especially for your bottom half.
It can be if you book the River Queen Quest kayak scavenger hunt! Typically, our kayakers want to paddle the Cumberland River with their own group. However, should you wish to have a guided experience (either for fun facts about the river or for an experienced set of eyes and ears) we do offer guided tours as part of our Scavenger Hunt product. *Note: there is a **MINIMUM OF 6 PEOPLE** to confirm and run any route, so even if you’ve reserved only for yourself you’ll still have other paddlers out on the water with you.*
Yes- pets paddle for free! We’ve had dogs and cats paddle with us! We love pets and want to keep them safe, so you must bring a leash and a pet PFD for the trip. Please let us know upon booking if you plan on bringing your furry friend so we can make sure to accommodate them.
Because this is an activity where you will be paddling on a river shared with larger commercial and recreational boats, we do not recommend children under 7, though we leave it up to parents’ discretion. Children 11 and under must be in a tandem kayak with parent/guardian, unless the child is superhuman/ an expert paddler/ grew up in Florida.
The total length of your experience depends on how strongly and which direction the wind is blowing, how fast the river current moves, and the amount of recent rainfall. Please add an extra hour onto your trip time for shuttling and loading/unloading of kayaks. We reserve the right to charge customers who exceed their rental time.
Our crew definitely appreciates tips! It shows them they did a great job taking care of you by getting you on the river safely and lets them know you enjoyed your experience. 18% is customary and for your convenience this amount is automatically added for groups of 6 or more. We’ve made it easy to add gratuity online when booking your reservation, or we are happy to accept cash or venmo tips at the end of your paddle.
Yes! Please give us a call at 615-933-9RQV (9778) for more information. Groups of 15+ qualify for a discount.
The Cumberland River is wide and paddles more like a lake, so this is an ACTIVE PADDLE—meaning you will be using your arms most of the time. The current is not very fast but there are undercurrents so please be attentive while on the water. When the river is low and/or the wind is coming from the S/SE/SW, the paddle can be a bit more strenuous than normal. There is little to no shade on this portion of the river, so bring adequate SUN PROTECTION. For a full list items to bring, read our Before You Go page. The river is a Class 1 flat water commercial waterway, so there are no rapids. You will likely share the river with barges, riverboats, fishing boats, and other motorized pleasure craft that can create some small wake. Metro Parks and the Army Corps of Engineers require that you **wear a life jacket at all times** on the Cumberland River.
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