Austin

Top Austin activities

Austin Boat Tour with Full Sun Shading Available

Badge of ExcellenceAustin, USA

2 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

This Lake Austin Small-Group Boat Tour from Austin is ideal for travelers looking to find a more affordable option than booking a private Lake Austin boat rental, while still providing a captain to help with the navigating and details of the day. Pass by top nearby attractions such as Austin Country Club, Emma Long Metropolitan Park, and Tom Miller Dam. Take in surrounding natural sights while cruising comfortably on board.

See main highlights along Lake Austin as you cruise, such as the 360 Bridge
A small group limited to just 10 provides an intimate experience
A foldable dual canopy is available upon request for full sun shading
No need to worry about life vests—this tour includes some you can use

What's Included

2-Hour Boat Tour
Boat Captain
Use of life vests
Fuel
Foldable dual canopy for optional full/partial sun shading

$5 park entry fee per person, payable by cash only ($3 for ages 62+). No fee for ages 12 and under.
Hotel pick up and drop off
Captain gratuity (highly encouraged)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

5019 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746, USA
Tour departs & returns at the Loop 360 Boat Ramp located under the south end of the Pennybacker Bridge. Parking underneath the bridge is free. $5 entry fee per person ($3 for ages 62+) collected by & paid to Travis County Parks. Cash only. No entry fee for ages 12 and under.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Lake Austin

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Pennybacker Bridge (Pass By)

The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria (Pass By)

Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife (Pass By)

Austin Country Club (Pass By)

Tom Miller Dam (Pass By)

Mount Bonnell (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Plan to arrive 30 minutes early for parking & entry
There is no restroom on the boat - please use facilities prior to boarding
Food and alcoholic beverages are permitted (glass containers are prohibited)

Waiver of Release and Liability will be required to sign prior to boarding
This is a public park and boat ramp operated by Travis County, from which we depart & return only
Smoking is not permitted
$5 park entry fee per person, payable by cash only ($3 for ages 62+). No fee for ages 12 and under.
The boat is equipped with a foldable overhead dual canopy for full/partial sun shading. As with any outdoor activity, we do recommend coming weather prepared with sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc).
Any changes made less than 24 hours* before the experience's start time will not be accepted. *Cut-off times are based on the experience's local time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours* before the experience's start time or no call/no show the day of the experience, the amount you paid will not be refunded. *Cut-off times are based on the experience's local time.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

112 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 112 reviews

Great boat tour!

Jody_C, Apr 2024

Our boat tour was super fun! Spencer was a great tour guide. He told us all kinds of details about the lake/river. We absolutely loved seeing all the beautiful homes on the lake!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Jody we're so glad you enjoyed our Sunday morning boat tour and had a great time with Captain Spencer. The beautiful residences that call Lake Austin home are certainly sights to behold!

Very enjoyable

Matt_W, Apr 2024

Very enjoyable trip. Our captain Spencer was excellent and entertaining. Great communication from entire organization.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Matt thank you for taking the time to let us know how much you enjoyed your Saturday afternoon boat tour. We're glad you found our communication to be attentive and Captain Spencer great to have at the helm!

Great time

Wayne_D, Apr 2024

The overall experience was excellent. Spencer was very knowledgeable and personable. We would recommend this to anyone.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Wayne thank you both for boating with us on a Saturday afternoon. We appreciate you letting us know how much you enjoyed the tour and Captain Spencer!

Highly Recommend!

Hannah_S, Mar 2024

Our experience was lovely! The houses on the lake were stunning and the fun facts were fascinating. Our captain was also very accommodating along the way.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Hanna we totally agree that the exclusive homes on Lake Austin are stunning and a true sight to see. We're glad your tour captain made the experience fun & engaging and we sincerely appreciate your recommendation to others considering a day on Lake Austin as well!

Amazing Trip!

SUMAN_S, Mar 2024

We had an amazing experience🙌 Captain Spencer was great. We had so much fun seeing cool things! Thanks Spencer for this amazing trip!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Suman we'll certainly let Captain Spencer know you had a great time on the tour. Thank you for choosing to spend your Wednesday afternoon with us!

Great way to end our team offsite in Austin!

Anndrea_M, Mar 2024

I took a few members of my team on this boat ride. It was a bit of a drive (~30 min) from Austin but for the views it was worth it! When you pull up to the park entrance, it can be a little confusing because it's under a bridge, but no worries. Captain Spencer started the cruise right on time and was very knowledgeable of the history of the area. The boat and ride was amazing and a highlight for me and my team

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Anndrea we're so glad that your Friday morning public boat tour with Captain Spencer at the helm was a highlight for you and your team while in Austin. Thank you again for choosing to boat with us and for taking the time to let us know how much everyone enjoyed it!

Good time on the water.

celticmcfadden, Mar 2024

Great time on the water. Captain was friendly and it was a good time. I am grateful that they still ran the outing even though it was not full. Music selection was wonderful. Our trip was calm and relaxing, which is exactly what we wanted. We did pass lots of party vibes. I am sure if that was what you wanted the Captain could turn it up! But our group was totally chill vibes.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. We're pleased to hear that you had a great time on the water with your Captain, enjoyed the music selection and that it met your expectations of being both calm and relaxing. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you on board again for another "lake vibes only" outing in the future!

It was a great experience...

Mahesh_M, Jan 2024

It was a great experience and Captain Spencer made it very enjoyable! He gave us a great guided tour. Would recommend it!

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Mahesh we're glad you had a great time on our last public tour of 2023. Thank you so much for the recommendation. We hope to see you again this year!

Great water tour. Thank you Spencer!

Douglas_R, Dec 2023

We loved exploring “Little Italy” homes along canals as well as the explanation of the creation of Austin Lake and the other lakes (I.e., Lady Bird). We learned so much and enjoyed the tour. Spencer Carpenter was a great tour guide! Thank you!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Douglas thank you for spending your Saturday with us. We love hearing that Captain Spencer made it an engaging experience and we'll be sure to share your sentiments with him!

Amazing boat ride

Bhavesh_G, Nov 2023

Boat ride was serene and the best part was little italy tour. Weather was overcast but captain ensured that we had best experience.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Bhavesh we're glad you had an amazing time on the sunset tour, despite the clouds. We love hearing that you found the canals to be your favorite part and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know how much you enjoyed the overall experience!

Beautiful viewing of the lake.

Linh_T, Oct 2023

It was a nice trip and Spencer was very helpful and friendly. Beautiful viewing of the lake in calming October weather.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Linh we enjoyed having you a part of our early afternoon weekday tour. Thank you for letting us know how much you enjoyed the experience with Captain Spencer and both the beauty of the lake and the weather!

Come with a big group

Gillian_S, Sep 2023

They cancelled our trip because there wasn’t enough people who bought tickets. Sucked because it was our only day in Austin.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Gillian, we appreciate you sharing your thoughts. While we are unable to locate a booking on file under your name, we are happy to address your sentiments as best we can without having any additional information to reference back to with regards to a specific tour date/time. Our public boat tour is ideal for individual travelers, couples and small groups/families, as it offers an affordable way to experience Lake Austin with other passengers without renting an entire boat. Unfortunately, we've been under multiple excessive heat advisories this Summer which have impacted the number of travelers booking this experience. As noted in the Cancellation Policy on the product listing online, this experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, travelers are offered a different date/experience or a full refund. We certainly understand it can be disappointing when plans change. We are mindful of our customers' time and we do our best to mitigate cancellations of any kind as customer safety and satisfaction are top priorities. We encourage you to give us a call should you wish to discuss further. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts!

A relaxing day on Lake Austin

Cheryl_R, Jul 2023

Captain Leo made the trip relaxing and informative . The boat was clean and new the reservation was informative and the young lady who took the reservation asked great questions and took the time to answer our questions

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Cheryl thank you for booking our Saturday afternoon boat tour. We're glad to hear that you found it to be both informative and relaxing. We appreciate the feedback about the booking process, Captain Leo and the boat as well!

I appreciate the...

Isaac_W, Jul 2023

I appreciate the engagement of the boat crew and how informative the tour was. i would recommend and would go again if im in the area

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Isaac we're so glad Captain Gabby and Captain Spencer made your experience touring Lake Austin a great one. Thank you for choosing to boat with us. We hope to see you again!

Great Tour with Spencer at Lake Austin!

Fady_Q, Jul 2023

Spencer was our captain and tour guide. He is very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. We enjoyed our tour with Spencer and highly recommend him.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Fady we're glad to hear that you had such a positive experience with Spencer as your boat captain and tour guide. We are glad he made your boat tour enjoyable and memorable. Having a knowledgeable, friendly and professional guide can greatly enhance the overall experience. Thank you for sharing your recommendation and we hope you have more wonderful adventures in the future with us!

Still able to enjoy the outdoors even with scorching heat!

Jacqueline_H, Jul 2023

Since the weather has been so hot, I was looking for options of where to take our out of town guests. The pontoon was beautifully kept, comfortable, and provided plenty of shade. The breeze from the lake was beautiful! Our captain, Spencer, was a lot of fun and very knowledgeable about the whole area. We were all fascinated by the beautiful homes, architecture, and plant and animal life. I would definitely recommend this boat tour and look forward to doing it again with other guests!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Boating is a fantastic way to beat the heat and show your out-of-town guests a great time! A pontoon boat tour on a hot day can be a refreshing and enjoyable experience, especially when the boat is well-maintained, comfortable and provides ample shade. It's wonderful to hear that Spencer, your boat captain, added to the fun with his knowledge and enthusiasm. Having a guide who can share interesting information about the area, including the beautiful homes, architecture and local plant and animal life, can truly enhance the experience. Thank you for recommending the boat tour. It's a top rated activity to explore the area while enjoying the natural beauty around the lake. I'm glad you had such a positive experience and we hope you have many more enjoyable outings with your future guests!

So worth it!!!

Naomi_S, Jul 2023

This boat tour of Lake Austin was the best thing we did in Austin. Our captain was Ronaldo and he did an awesome job of making sure we were comfortable and showing us interesting things. It was a very hot day so we needed the shade of the double canopies. He went to the trouble of lowering them so he could take us through a passage called “Little Italy” that was a gorgeous area of homes with little archways in the water that he took us through. Afterwards, he quickly put them back up for us. He also recommended Ski Shores Cafe and a trip up Mt. Bonnell to see the sun set. He was spot on with both recommendations!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

We are glad you had an amazing boat tour experience on Lake Austin with Captain Ronaldo! It's wonderful to hear that he went above and beyond to ensure your comfort and show you interesting sights along the way. Lowering the double canopies to take you through "Little Italy" and then promptly putting them back up demonstrates his attentiveness to your needs and making the most of the experience. Exploring the area with gorgeous homes and canals on the water is worth seeing. Additionally, it's great to hear that Ronaldo provided recommendations for Ski Shores Cafe and a trip up Mt. Bonnell to see the sunset. We are glad he helped enhance your overall visit to Austin, Texas. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback about Captain Ronaldo and the boat tour. He made your experience exceptional and we are glad his recommendations turned out to be spot on. We hope to serve you in the near future.

Great experience

Reuben_V, Jul 2023

Jason was our captain and he was very informative and very attentive. I would definitely recommend them.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Reuben thank you so much for the recommendation. We're glad that your Saturday evening with Captain Jason was a great experience learning about and touring beautiful Lake Austin!

Excellent tour!

Janet_G, Jun 2023

Excellent tour. Captain was perfect. Fabulous correspondence. The boat dock was a bit overwhelming with very large parties and parking a bit challenging.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Janet we're glad that your experience on our public boat tour with Captain Ronaldo was excellent and that our communication before, during and after the tour was as well. We certainly understand your sentiments about the boat ramp, given it is a very popular public access point to Lake Austin that the County oversees. We are one of many commercially permitted boat rental companies who operate from it, so we do our best to mitigate any confusion. To help ease parking challenges, we highly recommend utilizing rideshare on the weekends, especially during peak boating season, as the public parking areas available and managed by the City can be more difficult to secure closer to the entrance during this time. Thank you again for choosing to boat with us. We appreciate your feedback and we're so happy you had a fabulous time!

Great Sunday on the Lake

DAVID_C, Jun 2023

Ronaldo was an excellent captain. He was lively and great with sailing the boat. Overall a great time.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

David we appreciate you letting us know how much you enjoyed having Captain Ronaldo at the helm. We're glad he made the tour a great experience for you!

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