The Legendary Ocoee River – Ultimate in Whitewater
Ocoee River rafting has become recognized as the ultimate whitewater trip not only in Tennessee, but in America, since it was chosen as the venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Boasting the most continuous class III and IV rapids of any river in the United States, the Ocoee will give you a romping, rafting, rollicking ride through the scenic Ocoee River Gorge.
Rolling Thunder River Company has become the preferred Ocoee rafting company with over 40 years of experience providing top-of-the-line white water adventures. Since 1977, over a million guests have trusted Rolling Thunder to provide them with a memorable Ocoee river trip. With over 700 5-star reviews on Google and 2500 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor, you don’t have only take our word for it either! We want you to leave us feeling your time and money were well spent. But more importantly, we’d love for you to leave with a newly discovered passion for whitewater rafting!
In addition, whitewater rafting the Ocoee is actually a low cost, high value experience. It’s sure to enhance your visit to these majestic mountains. Offering two separate sections of surging whitewater, the Ocoee River is THE rafting destination in the Southeast. You can spend a half day rafting one section or all day and raft both sections in the same trip. It’s your choice.
Ocoee River Trip Options
Guided
Ocoee River Rafting: Middle Ocoee Trip
From $55.99
April through September - Book Now!
The Middle section of the Ocoee River is often referred to the Lower or the Traditional. Most visitors who come to Tennessee for white water action choose the Middle Ocoee. With continuous rapids throughout, it’s sure to not only get you wet but leave you with a lifetime of rafting stories.
For many years, the tempestuous rapids of the Ocoee were one of the best kept secrets in the Southeast. Until the 1996 Summer Olympics. Enter, the Upper Ocoee River! Forever, the landscape of Tennessee adventure and river rafting was changed.
Ocoee River Rafting: Full Day Trip (Double Trouble)
From $103.99
April through September - Book Now!
When you just can’t decide which section to experience on the Ocoee River, our suggestion is to simply choose both! The Full-Day experience, we affectionately have named “Double Trouble”, will be exactly the thrilling whitewater adventure you’ve been searching!
With two separate “hang onto your helmet” sections of surging whitewater, the Ocoee River produces the most continuous stretch of class III and IV rapids of any river in the country. The river is dam-controlled and has two separate sections for rafters to tackle – the Upper and the Middle. Many refer to the “Upper” as the “Olympic” section. You will also hear some people refer to the “Middle” section as the Lower or the Traditional section.
Half Day Trips & Full Day! This trip is available as half day (Upper or Middle section) or full day (doing both sections on selected days!). Either is an exciting way to spend part of your vacation in the Blue Ridge mountains. Our river rafting center is just 15 minutes from Blue Ridge, GA. You’ll will find an abundance of restaurants and lodging nearby. Our trip schedule will show you which days each section is available.
Seasonality coupled with your desired trip type will determine pricing on the Ocoee. Speaking generally, double trouble trips start at $103.99. Middle Ocoee and Upper Ocoee trips are bit more affordable and begin at around $55.99.
There is a lot you could digest before rafting the Ocoee. The Ocoee attracts hundreds of thousands of rafters each season. It has become a popular destination for people seeking fun and adventure. Rolling Thunder River Company has earned its reputation with every trip as a safety-conscious provider of high-quality river adventures. We hope you join us for the ultimate in Ocoee River rafting.
We’ve done our best to compile 40+ years of experience into a detailed section of our website that both answers questions and give visitors more information about the region.
CAUTION! GPS devices are very unreliable once you are in the mountains. Please do not depend on them to get you to our Centers. Our driving directions will be your best bet!
From Knoxville
(Approx. 3 Hrs.) Heading south on 1-75 take exit 25 in Cleveland Tenn. You will loop around Cleveland on highway 40 east, following signs for Rt. 64 towards Ocoee Tenn. Rt. 64/74 east will bring you through the Cherokee National Forest, Ocoee lake and the Ocoee River. Once you have passed the river you will come to Ducktown, TN and see an BP gas station on your left and a BP and Hardees on your right. Directly after the Hardees, veer to your right onto Rt. 68 south to Copperhill Tennessee. You will go five miles into Copperhill. In Copperhill, go through two lights and come to a three way stop sign. At the stop sign, go straight. You will be on 60 S heading towards Mineral Bluff and will have crossed over into Georgia. Rolling Thunder will be 1/2 mile on your left and parking is on the right next to the river.
From Asheville
(Approx. 3 Hrs.) Head West on I-40 & go to exit 27. You’re now on highway 19/74 West, approximately 50 miles from our Nantahala outpost. Follow signs through Waynesville, Sylva, and Cherokee. Continue on 19/74 and go10 miles past Bryson City. 4-lanes go to 2, stay left and you will see sign entering Nantahala. You will pass Rolling Thunder’s Nantahala Outpost on your right. Stay on 19/74 West. You will pass through the Nantahala Gorge. Continue on 74 west into Andrews. In Andrews, 2 lanes go back to 4. Continue to Murphy. In Murphy, Hwy 19/74W changes names into Hwy 74/64W, but keep going straight to the Tennessee State line. Cross over into TN and 3 miles later you will see an overpass. Go under it, then make your first left on 68 South. You will go about 5 miles into Copper Hill, Tenn. Go through two red lights to a three way stop sign. At the stop sign, go straight. You will be on 60 S heading towards Mineral Bluff and will have crossed over into Georgia. Rolling Thunder will be 1/2 mile on your left and parking is on the right next to the river.
From Atlanta
(Approx. 1 1/2 Hrs.) from the north side of Atlanta. Take I-75 North to exit 268 (Canton exit) to pick up I-575 North. I-575 becomes Zell Miller Parkway and is also called GA 515. Continue on 515 through Blue Ridge, GA. Turn left on Hwy. 60 (runs beside a Valero station) towards Mineral Bluff. Go approximately 10 miles and Rolling Thunder will be on the right.
From Chattanooga
(Approx. 1 ½ Hrs.) Heading south on 1-75 take exit 25 in Cleveland Tenn. You will loop around Cleveland on highway 40 east, following signs for Rt. 64 towards Ocoee Tenn. Rt. 64/74 east will bring you through the Cherokee National Forest, Ocoee lake and the Ocoee River. Once you have passed the river you will come to Ducktown, TN and see an BP gas station on your left and a BP and Hardees on your right. Directly after the Hardees, veer to your right onto Rt. 68 south to Copperhill Tennessee. You will go five miles into Copperhill. In Copperhill, go through two lights and come to a three way stop sign. At the stop sign, go straight. You will be on 60 S heading towards Mineral Bluff and will have crossed over into Georgia. Rolling Thunder will be 1/2 mile on your left and parking is on the right next to the river.
WHAT TO BRING
Protective Footwear
For your safety, all rafters must wear securely fitted shoes. Tennis shoes, water shoes or sandals with heel straps are fine. Flip flops or bare feet are not acceptable.
Clothing
In warmer weather wear quick drying shorts and a tee shirt. You don’t want to wear heavy clothes such as sweat pants or blue jeans. Quick-drying materials such as nylon are a good choice.
If the weather is chilly, try to wear polypropylene or synthetic fleece fabrics. Cotton is not a good choice during cooler weather.
In the event of rain, we will provide rain jackets free of charge
Wetsuit Rentals
The Nantahala Rafting Center rents wetsuits and neoprene “booties” which are good for chilly weather trips or for small children who generally get colder than adults. We strongly recommend a wetsuit rental for people going in the “funyaks”(they will be sitting in water for the duration of the trip).
Eyewear Warning
If you feel you must wear glasses of some kind, at least secure them with a string or head strap. We sell head straps at our rafting centers as well as inexpensive sunglasses.
