Of course many of us appreciate an adult beverage or two while on vacation. We don’t expect this trip will be any different. You should know, Arizona River Runners (ARR) does not provide, nor do we sell any alcohol on the trip. So here are a few tips on how to stock up on alcohol before your river trip.
What Arizona River Runners provides:
- Drinking water
- A variety of soda and sparkling water
- Lemonade mix
- Electrolyte replenishment drinks i.e. Gatorade powder, Sqwincher packets
- A block of ice and an ice pick to use for cocktails
- Coffee and various tea packets
- Our ARR mugs, provided at the beginning of the trip, work great for your evening beverage and your morning coffee
General tips to consider:
- Beer should be in cans, not glass. Do not bring aluminum cans with screw top. Sand gets under the lid and makes them very difficult to open.
- Wine should be boxed.
- Liquor in glass bottles can be accommodated, but plastic is preferred.
- You can also pour your wine or liquor into a stainless steel bottle like a Hydroflask or Yeti.
- ARR doesn’t limit what you can bring, but some transportation options have weight restrictions. Find your trip type below for details.
- We do not provide tonic water or other specialty mixers, but you are welcome to use the sodas or lemonade to make a mixed drink.
- If you prefer to drink a certain kind of soda, you’ll probably want to bring your own and label it. We never know which beverages will be popular on a given trip.
- We keep the beer cool by dragging it in the water, so labels won’t stick. This means that beer is on your honor. Meaning, you should only drink what you bring.
Convenient Vendors:
Terrible’s Convenience Store – part of Texaco
10530 S Eastern Ave, Henderson, NV 89052
702-914-0386
Within walking distance of Homewood Suites, Henderson. There is also a CVS Pharmacy right next to it. Both stores carry a variety of alcohol options.
Smith’s Food and Drug
10616 S Eastern Ave., Henderson, NV 89052
702-614-8670
Within walking distance of Homewood Suites, Henderson, but you have to cross Horizon Ridge Pkwy. Regional grocery chain with a large selection of beer, wine, and spirits.
Khoury’s Fine Wine and Spirits
9915 S Eastern Ave #110, Henderson, NV 89103
702-435-9463
Located 1 mile north of Homewood Suites, Henderson. Specialty liquor store with craft beer, and small-batch spirits. Delivery is available.
Marble Canyon Chevron
928-355-2225
Hwy 89A
Located just west of the Marble Canyon Lodge complex
They have beer, wine, and non-alcoholic mixers (e.g. tonic water). They do not sell liquor.
Trip Types:
Because the best way to transport beverages varies depending on your trip type and transportation option, please read carefully or give us a call and we’ll help you out.
3 Day Escape Trips
Las Vegas Trips: You’ll need to purchase alcohol in Las Vegas before we pick you up for your trip.
Grand Canyon South Rim Trips: We recommend purchasing alcohol before arriving. The Canyon Village Market and Tusayan General Store do sell alcohol, but canned beer and boxed wine options are limited.
Please note: The Bar 10 Ranch does not have alcohol. They do provide a cooler where you can chill it when you arrive. There is a 25-pound luggage limit (including beverages) on the charter flight, but there are no specific liquid restrictions. For groups, it sometimes works to split your beers among your bags so no one has more than 25 pounds. If you go over the weight limit, the airline may charge an excess baggage fee.
6 and 7 Day Motor Trips
Marble Canyon transportation option: Plan ahead if you want liquor since it isn’t sold in Marble Canyon. Since you’ll be meeting us in Marble Canyon, please bring your river duffel, including your beverages, to the orientation meeting so you can load it in our vehicles when we transport you to our rafts.
Las Vegas transportation option: If you prefer liquor, you’ll need to purchase it in Las Vegas the day before we pick you up. There is a 25-pound luggage limit (including beverages) on the charter flight, but there are no specific liquid restrictions. We recommend purchasing beer, wine, and mixers (i.e. tonic water) in Marble Canyon after the orientation meeting on the first day of your trip so you don’t have the extra weight on the flight.
8 Day Motor Trips, Oar Trips, and Hikers’ Special Trips
Since you’ll be taking a bus to Marble Canyon, there are no luggage weight restrictions. It speeds things up on the first day if you purchase your alcohol in Las Vegas the day before we pick you up.
Trips with a Hike Into the Canyon
We will provide a link to an alcohol order form in your information packet. Once you submit your order, an alcohol distributor will deliver your goods to our warehouse and they will be waiting for you once you reach the rafts. Do not attempt to carry alcohol in your backpack.