Experimental preparation of activated carbon from waste rubber with zinc chloride was carried out in two steps, carbonization and activation. The sample rubber of dimension 5x5x5 cubic millimeter was carbonized at 200 to 250 ํC from 30 to 90 minutes. From the experimental results, the optimum conditions are heated the sample at 400 ํC for 30 minutes. The characteristics of char in the research yielded 85.13% with composition of dry basis of 6.51% ash, volatile matter of 22.08% and 71.14% fixed carbon. The activated step was conducted in a stainless steel reactor of diameter 20 mm and length 350 mm. The dry mixture of char and zinc chloride were pack and heated in tubular furnace, nitrogen gas flowed pass the bed with the rate of 100 ml/s. The variables studied were zinc chloride concentration 30-70% by weight, temperature 200-700 ํC, activated time 1-5 hours and three sizes of particles, 1.00-4.75 mm. The optimum conditions for activation obtained were : zinc chloride solution concentration 70% by weight, temperature 500 ํC, activated time 2 hours, char size particle 2.00-2.38 mm. The properties of activated carbon were : bulb density 0.407 gm/cm3, % ash 8.95, methylene blue absorption number 54.9 mg/g, iodine absorption number 351.52 mg/g, and pore surface area 237.17 m2/g.