One of our favorite ways to spend an Austin day is out on Lady Bird Lake, soaking up the skyline views and getting a little fresh air on the water. Whether your crew is into kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, or just trying something new outdoors, there are plenty of great spots around town to rent gear and hit the lake.

Here’s where to rent kayaks, canoes, SUPs, and more around Austin.

Where to Rent Kayaks, Canoes, Stand-Up Paddles, & More in Austin:

— Capital Cruises
208 Barton Springs Road
Capital Cruises at the Hyatt on the south side of Lady Bird Lake offers a wide selection of rental boats, including paddleboards, canoes, one-person and two-person kayaks, as well as donut boats and swan boats. They’re open seven days a week from 10 am to dusk.  Get all of the details here. Reservations are strongly recommended.

— Austin Paddle Shack
600 E Riverside Drive
Every rental comes with paddles, life vests, instruction, and direct access to the water so that you don’t have to carry or haul the equipment. Austin Paddle Shack also offers tours seven days a week, ike their kayak and paddleboard bat tours. Check here for more info. 

— Adventure Crate by Greenbelt Outdoors
Kiosk locations here
You can rent these self-serve inflatable water rentals via their Shipping Container Kiosk.  You just book online to get your kayak, pack raft, or paddleboard.  There’s no waiting in line – you just pick up your gear when you’re ready at their automated kiosk station and drop it in the water wherever you want.   They also offer a membership program, and you can check that and other rental options here.

— EpicSUP
2200 S Lakeshore Blvd.
Rent standup paddleboards as well as single and double kayaks at this location in the South Shore District on S. Lakeshore Drive. Open Monday – Thursday from 10 am –  8 pm, and Friday – Sunday from 8 am – 8 pm. Check here for pricing info and rental details.

— Float On
5019 Capital of Texas Highway N
Float On Boat Rentals prides itself on having great rates, new boats, and a friendly staff. You can get a captained boat or drive yourself, and they have lots of rental options here. They also have a location on Lake Travis, and you can get more info here.

— Ladybird Lake Rentals
20 N Interstate Hwy 35
Ladybird Lake Rentals offers year-round rentals. Their walk-up hours are Thursday – Sunday, 10 am – 8 pm, and online booking is here. Rental pickup is at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Austin.

— Live Love Paddle
1610 E Riverside Dr.
At this family-owned business, you can rent everything from kayaks to SUPs, as well as book guided bat tours. Reservations are required for everything except hourly rentals, which are first come, first served. Check out their days and hours here.

— Rowing Dock ATX
2418 Stratford Dr.
Find all your water adventure needs here, including pedal kayaking, standup paddling, canoeing, lessons, and more!  They also offer yappy hours (there are still toxins in the lake – dogs cannot swim in or drink from the lake, and you have to fill out a waiver), college nights, lake clean-ups, and more. Located near the Zilker Nature Preserve and just up the road from the city’s beloved Barton Springs Pool, Rowing Dock is just off the beaten path. The Rowing Dock is open daily from 9 am to 8 pm (The last boat goes out one hour before closing, and they update their site regularly if the weather changes their hours). For pricing, check here.

— Texas Rowing Center
1541 W Cesar Chavez St.
Texas Rowing Center is located on the Hike and Bike Trail on Lady Bird Lake. At the rowing center, you can rent kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards with hourly or daily rates that vary from weekday to weekend. They also teach sculling and sweep rowing and offer youth classes and camps. Check here for pricing. 

— Waller Creek Boathouse
74 Trinity St.
Waller Creek Boathouse is located on Lady Bird Lake and is home to Austin Rowing Club,  Retro Boats, and Rō Fitness. You can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. and check here for more info and pricing.

— Zilker Park Boat Rentals
2101 Andrew Zilker Rd.
Zilker Park Boat Rentals can be found on the banks of Barton Creek, just downstream from Barton Springs swimming pool. They have more than 100 canoes and kayaks, and you can check their Facebook page for weather updates affecting their hours and their website here for more info.

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Beyond Lady Bird Lake:

•  Peace Paddling
  12300 River Bend Austin
  All of Peace Paddling’s surf and wakeboard boat rentals come with free lessons, and they’re able to teach both kids and adults. They also rent SUPs and single and tandem kayak rentals. Get more info here.
• Float On Boat Rentals
  5019 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin
  If you’re looking to turn a lake day into more of a party, Float On has pontoons, double deckers with slides, and captained options so you can just show up and enjoy. It’s a fun, easy pick for groups with older kids or teens who want a little more action than a paddle. Get more info here.
• Just For Fun Watercraft Rentals
  5971 Hiline Rd, Austin
  Located right on Lake Travis, this longtime favorite offers everything from kayaks and SUPs to jet skis and pontoons. It’s a great option if you want flexibility to mix a chill paddle with something a little faster. Get more info here.
• Lakeway Marina
  103 Lakeway Dr, Lakeway
  Over on the quieter side of Lake Travis, Lakeway Marina is an easy, family-friendly spot to rent kayaks, paddleboards, and boats. The calmer coves nearby make it especially nice if you’ve got younger kids or beginners. Get more info here.
• VIP Marina Lake Travis
  16107 FM 2769, Leander
  This full-service marina is a go-to for boat rentals, but they also offer paddleboards and kayaks if you want something more low-key. It’s a solid option for a full lake day with plenty of space to spread out. Get more info here.