Planning hub
Plan a rafting trip with nights on the river
Six steps from picking your nights to your first night at camp, with a guide for each one.
Quick answer
To plan an overnight rafting trip, pick your nights and month, choose a river that fits your group's whitewater and ages, then compare that river's outfitters side by side and book directly. On lottery rivers a guided trip needs no permit. Budget for fees, flights and tips on top of the listed price.
Step by step
How to plan an overnight rafting trip
- Step 1: Nights and month
Decide how many nights you want and when you can go. Spring rivers run only a few weeks; others run into October. See the season chart for 19 rivers, and compare 2 day, 3 day and week long trips.
- Step 2: The river
Match the river to your group: whitewater class, minimum age and region. Start with Idaho, Oregon or Utah, or see family rafting trips.
- Step 3: The permit question
Many of the most wanted rivers ration private trips by lottery. A guided trip runs on the outfitter's own permit, so you book it like any trip. The lottery calendar has every window.
- Step 4: The outfitter
Open the river page and compare every outfitter there: trip length in days and nights, boats, season, minimum age and a dated price. Or browse all outfitters A to Z.
- Step 5: The budget
Add fees, flights, travel and tips to the listed price. See what trips cost and how much to tip.
- Step 6: Camp
Know what a night on the river looks like and what to bring. See river camping, what to pack and your first overnight trip.
Planning guides
Every planning guide
- Your first overnight tripWhat to expect, day and night
- What to packFrom six outfitters' packing lists
- Whitewater classesClass 1 to 5, and 19 rivers rated
- Best time to go raftingSeasons on 19 rivers, by month
- Rafting trip costListed prices on 19 rivers, and the extras
- Rafting guide tippingWhat nine outfitters suggest
- River campingSleeping, the groover, fires and food
- Family rafting tripsRivers that take kids from 3 to 6
- River permit lotteriesEvery lottery window in one calendar
- Outfitter directoryEvery outfitter on our river pages
- 2 day rafting tripsOne night on 5 rivers
- 3 day rafting tripsTwo nights on 11 rivers
- Week long rafting tripsSix days or more
- Whitewater camping tripsClass IV and V rivers
- Fishing float tripsTrips for anglers, and license rules
Coming next: Oar, paddle or dory: raft types.
Before you go
What outfitters supply, and what you bring
On the trips we compare, outfitters list guides, boats, life jackets, meals on the river and camp gear as included. Sleeping bags, travel to the meeting town, flights on some rivers, fees and tips vary, and each river page lists what to check.
Ask the outfitter for its packing list. Nights can be cold in spring and fall; see when to go.
Questions
Trip planning questions
How do I plan an overnight rafting trip?
Pick your nights and month, choose a river that suits your group, then compare that river's outfitters and book directly. On lottery rivers, a guided trip runs on the outfitter's permit, so you do not need to win a lottery.
How far ahead should I book?
Early. Grand Canyon National Park says commercial trips are often reserved a year or two in advance. Spring rivers have short seasons, so their dates go quickly.
Do I need a permit for a guided rafting trip?
No. The outfitter holds the permit. Private trips on rivers like the Grand Canyon, the Middle Fork and the Rogue need a lottery permit; see the lottery calendar.
How long should my first overnight trip be?
Many rivers have 2 day, 1 night or 3 day, 2 night trips, such as the Deschutes, the Klamath, Westwater Canyon and the Rogue. Week long trips run on the Middle Fork, the Main Salmon and the Grand Canyon.
How much does it cost?
From about $400 per person for 2 days and 1 night to more than $4,000 for a Selway or long Grand Canyon trip, on outfitters' own sites checked September 2026. See rafting trip cost.
Do I need rafting experience?
Guides run the boats: on oar trips a guide rows, and on paddle trips you paddle with a guide steering. Ask the outfitter what it expects. On Class IV and V rivers the bar is higher; on the Illinois, minimum ages run 14 to 16.
Free download
Get the Overnight River Trip Planner
A packing list for river and camp, plus the lottery dates for the season in one calendar.
Ready to book
Start with a river
Compare every outfitter on a river, then check dates with the one you choose.