5,000 lbs of Towing: The 2026 Chevy Traverse for Cape Fear River Weekends in Lillington
Cape Fear River Adventures sits 28 miles up US-401 in Lillington, and every trip starts with hauling boats, coolers, and gear behind you. The 2026 Chevy Traverse comes with a 5,000 lb Trailering Package standard on all four trims, so towing your own kayaks or canoes never means upgrading trim levels first.
What's in This Guide
- 5,000 Lbs of Towing Comes Standard, Not as an Upsell
- Cape Fear River Adventures Is 28 Miles Up US-401 From the Showroom
- 97.6 Cubic Feet Swallows the Whole Cooler Run
- Seating for 7 or 8 Means Nobody Follows in a Second Car
- The Z71 Is the Trim Built for a Wet Boat Ramp
- 2026 Traverse Trim Lineup and Pricing
- Cape Fear River Weekend FAQ
5,000 Lbs of Towing Comes Standard, Not as an Upsell
A lot of three-row SUVs make you climb to a top trim before you get a real tow rating. The 2026 Chevy Traverse does not work that way. The Trailering Package (RPO V92) is standard equipment on all four trims, LT, Z71, RS, and High Country. Every Traverse tows up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped, whether it is FWD or AWD.
That number matters the moment you hitch up a double-kayak trailer, a jon boat, or a small utility trailer loaded with paddleboards for a trip to Lillington. The 2.5L turbocharged I4 puts down 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed automatic, so the Traverse is not straining to pull a loaded trailer up US-401.
Buyers cross-shopping a base-trim competitor should ask one question first: is the tow package standard, or is it a $500 add-on locked to the top two trims? On the Traverse, the answer is standard, starting with the $42,795 LT.
Where the Trailer Ends Up
- Put-in: Wildlife Access Road boat ramp, downstream of NC-210 in Lillington
- Take-out: NC-217 bridge near Erwin, NC
- Cape Fear River Adventures runs a shuttle for private boats anywhere between Buckhorn Dam and Erwin
- 25 miles of the upper Cape Fear River are covered, with trips from 1 hour to 2 days
Best Fit For This Trip
Any of the four trims covers the 5,000 lb rating. The Z71 is the one built for the ramp itself. See the trim breakdown below.
Cape Fear River Adventures Is 28 Miles Up US-401 From the Showroom
Cape Fear River Adventures has run canoe, kayak, paddleboard, and tubing trips out of Lillington since 2012. The outfitter sits at 100 S Main St, Lillington, NC 27546, about 28 miles north of Powers Swain Chevrolet on Bragg Blvd. The drive runs north on US-401 through Spring Lake and takes roughly 35 to 40 minutes, trailer in tow.
They cover 25 miles of the upper Cape Fear River between Buckhorn Dam and Erwin, with trips ranging from a 1-hour paddle to a 2-day run, flat water up to Class III rapids. The tubing route is a shorter, easier stretch, about 2 lazy miles from their river shack. If you bring your own kayak or canoe, their shuttle service covers you anywhere in that same stretch, life jackets included, no separate ramp fee.
Hours run Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Call ahead at (919) 495-5555 to confirm river conditions before a summer weekend trip.
Route From Fayetteville
- US-401 north from Fayetteville, through Spring Lake, direct into downtown Lillington
- About 28 miles, 35 to 40 minutes each way
- Cape Fear River Adventures: 100 S Main St, Lillington, NC 27546, (919) 495-5555
For rental hours, current river conditions, and trip pricing, see Cape Fear River Adventures directly.
97.6 Cubic Feet Swallows the Whole Cooler Run
The trailer carries the boats. The Traverse carries everything else. Fold the second and third rows and the cargo hold opens up to 97.6 cubic feet, enough for a full cooler, dry bags, life jackets, folding chairs, and a change of clothes for everyone in the group. Behind the third row alone, there is still 22.9 cubic feet, enough for the gear that needs to stay upright on the ride home.
Smart Slide second-row seats make it easy to load the third row without unloading the second, useful when the group includes a couple of kids and a cooler that will not fit anywhere else. If you would rather rent gear than own it, Cape Fear River Adventures rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards on-site, so the Traverse only needs to carry towels and snacks that day.
Seating for 7 or 8 Means Nobody Follows in a Second Car
The 2026 Traverse seats 7 standard, with an 8-passenger bench seat available on LT. That covers a full paddling group in one vehicle, trailer hitched behind, instead of splitting into two cars for a 28-mile drive to Lillington.
Every trim gets a 17.7-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital gauge cluster, both running Google built-in, so the driver keeps directions up on US-401 without reaching for a phone. Chevy Safety Assist comes standard across the lineup too, including Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Lane Keep Assist, worth having on a two-lane stretch through Spring Lake on a Saturday morning with a boat trailer behind you.
Standard on Every Trim
- 7-passenger seating (8-passenger bench available on LT)
- 17.7-inch touchscreen and 11-inch digital gauge cluster with Google built-in
- Chevy Safety Assist safety suite
The Z71 Is the Trim Built for a Wet Boat Ramp
All four Traverse trims tow 5,000 lbs, but the Z71 is the one built for the ramp itself. It is the only trim with standard twin-clutch AWD and an auto-locking rear differential, a different system from the AWD offered on LT, RS, and High Country. That setup sends more power to the wheel with grip, which matters when you are backing a loaded trailer down a wet or gravel boat ramp at Wildlife Access Road.
The Traverse is a family SUV, not a rock-crawling off-roader, so treat the Z71 as ramp-ready rather than trail-rated. Starting MSRP is $50,895, which puts it $8,100 above the LT for AWD that is standard rather than a $2,000 option, plus trail-oriented styling and tow-friendly grip.
Recommended Trim
Z71, because its standard twin-clutch AWD and auto-locking rear differential handle a wet Cape Fear River boat ramp with more confidence than an FWD trim.
2026 Chevy Traverse Trim Lineup and Pricing
All four 2026 trims share the same 5,000 lb Trailering Package. Drivetrain, styling, and price are what change between them.
| Trim | Drive | Starting MSRP | Buyer Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT | FWD standard, AWD +$2,000 | $42,795 | The budget-minded group that wants the standard 5,000 lb Trailering Package without paying for a higher trim first. |
| Z71Recommended | AWD standard (twin-clutch, auto-locking rear diff) | $50,895 | The paddler who backs a trailer down a wet boat ramp near Lillington most weekends. |
| RS | FWD standard, AWD +$2,000 | $57,395 | The driver who wants blacked-out styling and available Super Cruise for the highway miles between river trips. |
| High Country | FWD standard, AWD +$2,000 | $57,095 | The family who wants leather seats and 22-inch wheels once the kayaks come off the trailer. |
Starting MSRP figures exclude the $1,995 destination and handling charge and are subject to change. Confirm current pricing at chevrolet.com Build & Price or with Powers Swain Chevrolet before purchase. See new Traverse inventory for current in-stock units and real-time pricing.
Cape Fear River Weekend FAQ
Does the 2026 Chevy Traverse come standard with a towing package?
Yes. The Trailering Package (RPO V92) is standard on all four 2026 Traverse trims, LT, Z71, RS, and High Country. Every Traverse tows up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped, no trim upgrade required.
How far is Cape Fear River Adventures in Lillington from Powers Swain Chevrolet?
About 28 miles. The drive runs north on US-401 through Spring Lake and takes roughly 35 to 40 minutes from the dealership on Bragg Blvd.
Which 2026 Traverse trim is best for hauling a kayak or canoe trailer to Lillington?
The Z71. It is the only trim with standard twin-clutch AWD and an auto-locking rear differential, which puts more power to the wheels that need it on a wet or gravel boat ramp than the FWD-based trims.
Does the 2026 Traverse have room for a full paddling group?
Yes. The Traverse seats 7 standard, with an 8-passenger bench seat option on LT. Cargo space runs up to 97.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded, enough for coolers, dry bags, and life jackets on top of the gear on the trailer.
Can the Traverse handle the boat ramp put-in near Lillington?
The Z71's twin-clutch AWD and standard Trailering Package give it more confidence on a wet or gravel ramp than a front-wheel-drive trim. The Traverse is a family SUV, not an off-road rock crawler, so treat Z71 as ramp-ready, not trail-rated.
What does the Cape Fear River Adventures shuttle service include?
Cape Fear River Adventures runs a shuttle service for private kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards anywhere between Buckhorn Dam and Erwin, NC. The shuttle includes life jackets and does not require a separate ramp fee.
Where do Cape Fear River trips put in and take out near Lillington?
The typical put-in is the Wildlife Access Road boat ramp downstream of NC-210 in Lillington. The take-out is the NC-217 bridge near Erwin. Cape Fear River Adventures' tubing route runs about 2 miles from their river shack in Lillington.
Ready to Hitch Up and Head to Lillington?
Shop the 2026 Chevy Traverse at Powers Swain Chevrolet on Bragg Blvd in Fayetteville, standard 5,000 lb Trailering Package on every trim.