One of the best aspects of living in Austin, Texas, is the natural surroundings that are right under its noses.
Aside from numerous natural springs and seemingly endless hiking trails in the greenbelts, there is one place that often takes center stage in the capital: Lady Bird Lake, or Town Lake if you’re a long-time Austin resident.
Although there is a mile-long trail that winds around this “lake” – which is just a dammed section of the Colorado River – there’s nothing better than a day on Lady Bird Lake during the warmer months using watercraft such as kayaks, paddleboards and pedal boats. If you’re one of the many who don’t have your own watercraft for a day on Lady Bird Lake, don’t worry! There are tons of places to rent one in the capital city.
Whether you decide to paddle out to one of the two areas of Town Lake, where people like to gather for “middle-of-the-lake parties” with DJs and at least one person selling Jell-O shots from a cooler, whether you choose to head to Barton Springs, or paddle east of Interstate 35, there is a place in Austin where you can rent numerous watercraft to get you to your destination.
Here are the seven best places to rent watercraft like kayaks, stand-up paddleboards (or SUP boards), and more near Lady Bird Lake in Austin.
Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas, known as Town Lake to longtime Austinites, is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding.Taylor Kamnetz | [email protected]
note: Children under 13 years of age are required by law Always wear a life jacket when on the water. People ages 13 and older must have at least one life jacket on board when renting a watercraft or face a fine. Every location on this list offers life jackets for rent.
Rowing pier
Rowing Dock is located on the south side of Lady Bird Lake and offers the option to park below Mopac near the south hiking and biking trail. Those who wish to rent a watercraft can head upstream and visit one of the premier “party destinations in the middle of the lake” (IYKYK).
address: 2418 Stratford Drive, Austin, Texas.
Rental options: SUP boards, single and double kayaks, pedal kayaks and canoes. Rowing Dock also has life jackets for those who want to bring their four-legged friends. If you plan to do so, a pet waiver must be signed.
Hours: daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Prices: Kayak rentals start at $20 per hour. SUP board rentals start at $25 per hour. Canoe rentals start at $30 per hour. Pedal kayaks start at $30 per hour. Rental rates are usually higher on weekends and holidays.
People on kayaks, canoes and paddle boards gather in the middle of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas, to soak up the sun and listen to a DJ.Taylor Kamnetz | [email protected]
Epic SUP
Located just east of Interstate 35, EpicSUP offers residents of Austin’s east side the opportunity to rent a watercraft near them.
address: 2200 S. Lakeshore Blvd., Austin, Texas.
Rental options: SUP board, single and double kayaks.
Hours: Monday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Friday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Prices: SUP boards can be rented for $23 per hour or $45 per day. Single kayaks are $15 per hour or $35 per day. Double kayaks are $15 per hour or $35 per day. You must bring a valid photo ID and credit/debit card to rent a kayak from EpicSUP.
Austin Rowing Club
The Austin Rowing Club rents kayaks and SUP boards, but also offers group outings, rowing lessons, and guided tours for anyone who wants to explore Austin on the water!
address: 74 Trinity St., Austin, Texas.
Rental options: Single, double and triple kayaks and SUP boards.
Hours: daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Prices: Single kayak rentals are $15 per hour or $40 per day. Double kayak rentals are $20 per hour and $50 per day. Triple kayak rentals are $25 per hour (there is no daily rate for triple kayak rentals). SUP board rentals are $25 per hour or $60 per day. A valid photo ID and credit/debit card (ApplePay and GooglePay accepted) are required for rentals at Austin Rowing Club.
Boat rentals in Zilker Park
Zilker Park Boat Rentals has been serving the people of Austin, Texas since 1969. Although there is currently uncertainty about the future of the lease, this boat rental is still open to the public, according to a petition on Change.org! And even better, it’s the closest place to Barton Springs to rent a kayak, canoe, or SUP board.
address: 2101 Andrew Zilker Road, Austin, Texas.
Rental options: Canoes, kayaks and SUP boards.
Hours: daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Prices: All watercraft are $21 per hour or $57 per day. Valid photo ID and credit/debit card are required to rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
Along the way, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards can be rented from Zilker Park Boat Rentals in Austin, Texas.Taylor Kamnetz | [email protected]
Texas Rowing Center
The Texas Rowing Center is one of the most popular places to rent watercraft on Lady Bird Lake due to its proximity to popular hangouts like Deep Eddy Cabaret, Pool Burger, and Juiceland, all of which are great places to stop before or after a day on the water.
address: 1541 W. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, Texas.
Rental options: SUP boards, single and double kayaks and canoes.
Hours: daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Prices: Single kayaks are $15 per hour or $35 per day. Double kayaks are $20 per hour or $45 per day. SUP boards are $25 per hour or $55 per day. Canoes are $25 per hour or $55 per day. Dogs under 50 pounds are welcome in canoes. You must have a valid photo ID to rent a watercraft from Texas Rowing Center.
Capital cruises
In addition to offering boat trips that depart from nearby Vic Mathias Shores, Capital Cruises also offers motorless watercraft for rent! However, since the dock is also used for boat trips, rented SUP boards must be returned prior to the departure of night cruises like the Bat Cruise, which departs just after 7 p.m.
address: 208 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas.
Rental options: SUP boards, kayaks, canoes and swan pedal boats.
Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Prices: SUP boards can be rented for $20 for one hour or $40 for two hours. One-person kayaks are $18 per hour and two-person kayaks are $20 per hour. Two-seater swan paddle boats are $20 per hour and four-seater swan paddle boats are $30 per hour. Canoe rentals are $20 per hour. After 5 p.m., kayak and canoe rentals have a two-hour minimum rental period.
Live love paddle
Live Love Paddle is another place to rent watercraft on the east side of Interstate 35. There is a retail store along Riverside Drive on the ground floor of the AMLI South Shore building and a storage unit near the water where they keep the rented paddle boards, canoes and kayaks. So don’t panic when you see how far the retail store is from Lady Bird Lake.
address: 1610 E. Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas.
Rental options: Single and double kayaks, canoes and SUP boards.
Hours: Monday from 11:00 to 18:30; Tuesday and Wednesday closed; Thursday and Friday from 11:00 to 18:30; Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00.
Prices: Single kayak rental is $15 per hour. Two-person kayak rental is $25 per hour. SUP boards are $22 per hour. Canoes are $30 per hour. Customers must bring a valid photo ID and credit/debit card to rent a watercraft.
Don’t forget to bring photo ID and a credit or debit card when renting a boat at any of the locations on this list. This sign from Zilker Park Boat Rentals serves as a reminder for customers.Taylor Kamnetz | [email protected]
