The Quick Guide to Boating in Austin, TX

I’ve partnered with my friends at DiscoverBoating.com to help everyone in Austin and beyond find accessible ways to enjoy boating! In most parts of the country, there is still plenty of time to go boating.  In fact, one of the benefits of living in Central Texas is that our boating season lasts well until the fall – if you can even call our September and October hot weather as fall! So whether it’s over 100 degrees in the summer or in the 80s and 90s in spring and fall, we’re lucky to be able to take out a boat, go for a swim, try watersports and more for the majority of the year.

As things are right now, boating is also one of the safest activities you can do beyond staying at home. It doesn’t get much more socially distant than being cruising the open waters! Getting outside in the fresh air also reduces stress and is good for your mental health, which we could all probably use right now.

Luckily, you don’t actually have to own a boat to go boating! If you’re not quite ready to buy your own boat yet, in Austin, there are several great options to get boat access. One is Freedom Boat Club, a membership program that gives you access to boats whenever you want here in Austin or in many other destinations as you travel. Just pay monthly and you can take out any boat in their arsenal as often as you wish, in over 230+ locations across the U.S., Canada, and France! If you’re looking for something one-off, one great day rental company is Float On Boat Rentals, who rents for both Lake Austin and Lake Travis. If you’re new to boating, check out this article that will help you #RecreateResponsibly.

Where to Go Boating in Austin

There are three main destinations for boaters in ATX: Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Lady Bird Lake.

Lake Travis, located in Northwest Austin, is the largest and deepest of the three. In fact, because its depths reach 210 feet, you can even SCUBA dive there! You’ll find loads of docks and marinas on Lake Travis and pretty much every type of boat and watercraft that one could find on a lake – party barges, sailboats, luxury boats, you name it. There are also plenty of supplies located on the lake where you can rent watersport equipment for activities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

There are lots of fun things to do while you’re in the area to really make a day of it as well. For example, you can pop over to the famous restaurant The Oasis overlooking the lake with some magnificent views. Or, park your boat at Hippie Hollow, one of Austin’s unique beaches. There’s even a zip line course on one section of the lake with lines running over the water. You’ll even find spots on Lake Travis where people go cliff jumping, like Pace Bend Park.

Next up is Lake Austin, which has several great restaurants with their own docks along the lake. Some famous spots include Mozart’s Coffee Roasters (they have an epic light show if you come during the holidays), Tex-Mex spot the Hula Hut, and Abel’s on the Lake, just to name a few. Emma Long is a popular spot for camping and picnics along the shores of Lake Austin. And of course, you can cruise under the iconic Pennybacker Bridge, which is a great photo op.

Last but not least, you have downtown’s Lady Bird Lake. Here you’ll find tons of kayaks and SUPs, especially on the weekend. The Austin skyline is your backdrop as you’re on the water, passing spots like Zilker Park and Auditorium Shores. And be sure to check out the 1.5 million bats that fly out from under the South Congress bridge every day at sunset from July to November!

Boating Activities to Try on Lake Travis 

When you go boating, there are so many different fun things you can do besides just cruising the lake! While that’s definitely fun to do too, here are some other things to do while you’re out on the waters of Lake Travis.

• Bass fishing in Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park
• Rent a PWC (personal watercraft aka jetskiing)
• Waterskiing
• Parasailing
• Wakeboarding
• SCUBA diving (you can dive Lake Travis, or take diving lessons!)
• Stand-up paddleboarding aka SUPs
• Kayaking or canoeing
• Swim in the lake (wear a life jacket and bring some floaties with you to enjoy it better!)
• Go cliff jumping at Pace Bend Park
• Try your hand at sailing with SailATX
• Hit the waterslides at Volente Beach Water Park
• Fly over the water at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
• Try a 45-minute on-the-water challenge course with Waterloo Adventures
• Catch the sunset with a drink in hand at The Oasis
• Pub crawl by boat all the bars and restaurants along the lake (but definitely designate a sober skipper before leaving the dock!)
• Hike along River Place Nature Trail
• Go glamping near the lake at Planet Rock

Hopefully, this helps you get started on where to go boating in Austin and what you can do on our lakes. Go to DiscoverBoating.com to find easy ways to get on the water near you. Got more activities to recommend? Let me know in the comments below!

Like it? Pin it!