Was very happy with our experience. Very friendly and helpful. Would recommend to anyone looking to rent a kayak in the area.

Well run business. Great people and great kayaks. The employees are very instructive, informed and always caring. They provided maps, suggested routes and things to be on the outlook. Beautiful area, beautiful bay. They had both single kayaks and tandem kayaks available. They also sell kayaks and all supplies. I will be back. Highly recommended. read more

My first kayak trip was eventful and enjoyable because of Indian River. I've rafted and canoed rapids so kayaking was naturally the next in line. I had the ambitions plan to fish and have a nice lunch on the water. That plan went under water literally. Not even 100 ft from the launch I capsized. The staff were extremely helpful especially Sara who helped me pinpoint my mistake got me another kayak and I was off with no further issues. Started off rocky ended with an awesome day on water. When I return to Connecticut I will definitely make Indian River one of my stops. read more

Wonderful selection of quality kayaks. Helped me understand better what kayak matched my skill. Also sold one of my used kayaks for me at a fair price. Awesome location to rent boats and go for a paddle. read more

We had a great experience here! We rented a few kayaks as a family and enjoyed going out to Cedar Island. It was a relaxing, easy paddle with beautiful views. The island was a nice place to stop, go for a swim and have a few snacks. The staff also give you a map and a debrief before you go out. They really make everything simple and worry free for you. I also ended up purchasing an inflatable SUP for myself at a great price! Really recommend this place . read more

Indian River Marina & Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

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My favorite place to kayak! Beautiful area w great service and quality kayak . The Sunset paddle is a must ! read more

We had a great time, the staff was very helpful and kind. The prices are the cheapest you can get, they don't rip you off like the places in mystic. They are very easy going and they are located in a fun spot to kayak lots of great sightseeing. read more

This place is the best. Everyone so helpful. At first it seems odd the way this place is tucked away but after you get out of your car they do everything possible to make your experience enjoyable. Expert or newcomer they will quickly get you in a boat and on your way. Renting or buying many types of kayaks to choose from and expert staff to guide your choice. The boats are clean and adjusted for you if needed. Helpful staff are there when you need them, when you set out or on your return. Happy faces everywhere staff and management and particularly customers. I'm going back. read more

Indian River is not only a spectacular location for water sports, but the owners are the most wonderful people. They were so helpful in getting me the best kayak for my budget and skill level, teaching me how to load and strap it to my car, and overall just so friendly and genuine. You feel like a neighbor or friend, not a customer. I will always shop and recommend IRMK. read more

Indian River Marina & Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

My boyfriend and I went kayaking here while we were in Connecticut. We ended up buying a Groupon for here where you get a tandem kayak for two hours. Although we called beforehand, there was only one tandem kayak at that time which was already in use. The gentleman at the service desk was accomodating and let us use two single kayaks instead. They give you a map which shows you where to kayak in the Indian River. The gentleman had also mentioned to us about high tide and low tide. It was low tide when we went so he said at certain parts, you may get stuck. We wanted to go around a small circle of land, but it ended up being low tide there so we got stuck. We had to use all our strength to get out of it. However, the other parts are great to kayak and it's absolutely beautiful here. Be aware of the other boats around here though. read more

Indian River Marina & Kayak - The location. Street parking. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

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After having perused the internet for a long time hunting for non-inflatable SUP's, I decided to check out what the local option might offer rather than buying something online. Indian River is conveniently located and the service I experienced was great and friendly. They will also let you try the different models out before buying and they even let my friend go out with me so that we could compare, this way we could pick the right board of the packages they offered. I have rented kayaks at this location as well and that experience was also great. Note that you are indeed going into a river (surprise!). When we were there the tide was super low and we got lost in the mudscape, so be sure to ask for guidance on where to go :D. If you are there to buy a SUP or a kayak, be sure to ask them about their local delivery options!!! read more

Long over due review. Wanted to go kayaking with a friend before we head back home. This place had the best price compared to the others around the area (not a local only used yelp to observe the prices). Loved the staff, super helpful and patient. As a city girl, I was not use to mud and nature in general (lol). The staff was nice enough to guide my friend and I, as well as saving my ass when I couldn't master paddle boarding back to the the coast. So thank you to the young lady (working the closing shift) who made this a great first time experience for me. You are a great teacher and a fun person to be with. Didn't expect you to go above an beyond for two lost and confused city kid but you did! Also, great recommendation for lobster rolls you gave us. Mind you this has been a long over due review. I came back on yelp trying to find this location again so I can come back since I trust the staff here and they keep everything clean and tidy. read more

This is a great little place. Very hospitable owners. Clean and well taken care of. The vibe is very "New England" and beachy. My mom and I had intended to go to a place in Branford but unfortunately they were sold out so we trekked to Clinton based on previous reviews. I am so glad we did! The Branford place was not as aesthetically nice, nor was the staff as helpful. The ambience, location and crew at Indian River were fantastic. I actually live south on the shoreline in CT, and none of the places in Fairfield county even compare to this. As a matter of fact - I had gone to a place in Norwalk the week before and the staff were a bunch of teenagers who a) only took cash (suspicious), making me drive 10 min out of the way to get cash b/c they didn't have an ATM and b) didn't help me in or out of the water and c) had dirty and gross (literally wet from the last person) lifejackets. This place was the total opposite. Very professional. They provided maps, clear directions and explanations on where to go. The lifejackets were clean. The guys helped us into and out of the water. There was a changing facility and also a little shop (and restrooms) right on premises. Norwalk on the other hand (can't help but compare) gave me wrong/confusing directions and had sent me out to islands that had nowhere to get out of the kayak. The water there was choppier and I was competing with boats who left us in their wake the whole time. This place had a very nice, calm, waterway to kayak in. There was one small area where you had to watch out for boats but it was a small area. Love this place and will be driving the hour and a half whenever I want to kayak - even though I life in a beach town in Fairfield county! read more

Despite living further south on the Connecticut shoreline, I willingly drive a half hour out of my way during the summer to kayak through this marina. Chris is a fantastic owner, affable, and warm. He remembers his customers by name, and is highly considerate. The rates offered are outstanding for the shoreline, in the river allows for both experienced and novice kayakers and paddle boarders to either brave Long Island Sound or enjoy the peaceful river alone. The special events offered such as sunset paddle in full moon paddle are well organized, comprehensive, and just plain fun. This is the first place I tried kayaking, and thanks to the staff and the location, I've been hooked for a few years now. read more

Outstanding service from a very knowledgeable staff and after some initial "refresher" tips I was in my way! Awesome location to explore the Clinton harbor from - what a great experience! read more

Indian River Marina & Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

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We have visited Indian River with our Teen Summer Camp for the past several years. They never disappoint!! The staff is very attentive and friendly. I highly recommend them for families or Summer Camp groups. The staff makes sure everyone is comfortable with their rowing ability and make sure they are wearing the correct life jackets. The staff also accompanied our group on the outing. Customer Service top notch!! read more

Chris and IRM were absolutely wonderful to our family!!! We tried various clean, well-maintained boats 4 different times (our 4 very first times kayaking) and we decided this was the only place we wanted to buy a kayak! Chris gives you the most sincere, professional care and outfitted us perfectly for any future kayaking adventures this summer! You can't beat the quality of the rentals and new boats, the low rental hourly prices and the laid back nature of the staff, who genuinely want you to have a relaxing time on the water! Go here, it's the best!!! read more

Indian River Marina & Kayak - Our new mango wilderness kayak from Indian River Marina Clinton! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

This place was amazing. The owners were super nice, very relaxed and extremely helpful. The spot is perfect for exploring by kayak or paddle board. We had a group of 10, a mixture of single and double kayaks, we paddled out to this cute little beach as they suggested and were able to hang there for a few hours and return just in time. It made for a really fun day, can't wait to go back! read more

If I could give this place ten stars I would! Really wonderful experience. Matt and Sarah were so friendly the minute we got there. Excellent customer service as well as making sure we understood the map and areas we could go to. It was a very relaxing and calm environment and the prices were very fair! No pressure or rushing us at all. The location is beautiful and cedar island was so fun to spend some time on. We left there thinking, "wow I've never met friendlier people!" We will be going back multiple times this summer, this place is a gem. I highly, highly recommend this place! read more

We had a great day kayaking! Everyone was super friendly, and generous with their time and knowledge! The rental prices were fair, and the kayaks were very nice. We'll definitely be back again!! read more

Indian River Marina & Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

Best kayak place on the face of the planet. Go here!! My piece of junk brand new Mustang GT exploded and the owner CHRIS single handedly got it back up and running again. Un-paralleled customer service that you wont get anywhere else. Also, the kayaks where pretty cool. read more

What a cool establishment! Under new ownership, Indian River promises to offer high-quality boats and excellent service to this beautiful part of Connecticut. Three friends and I were setting out to paddle the Thimble Islands the first weekend of June. I have 2 kayaks, but we needed a tandem as well. When I called a not-to-named purveyor of rental boats in Branford, CT (hint: they try to do it all when it comes to sporting goods!), they weirdly stated that they weren't renting yet because the "Water was too cold." Meanwhile, I had been prepared to fork over just under $100 for a tandem for the day. Luckily, Indian River Marina is only about a 20 minute drive from the Thimble Islands launch beach, and they were more than accommodating. The new owner Chris and his two female staff members that day helped load the boat onto my car roof, strap it in, etc! We were ready to go within 10 minutes. They were extremely hospitable, making conversation with us as they got us the boat, and telling us a little bit about the place and the paddling fervor in the region. The boat we were given (a Wilderness Systems tandem) looked near-new, and the paddles and lifevests were high quality. All their boats looked really new and nice, and I was almost tempted to rent a SUP for myself to try for a few hours :) It only came to $65 (with tax) for the tandem (4 hours) and all accessories, and they would have honored the 4-hour rate even if we had arrived a little later, since we were driving the boat in from off-site. The only other tip I have is to drive carefully once you get to Commerce St. The turn into Indian River is literally a residential driveway and it's really easy to miss!! Hope they continue to offer great service and top-quality boats for many years to come! read more

Needed something to do close to Wesleyan while my daughter was at summer camp and this was the perfect day for a beautiful paddle boarding excursion. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They provided informative instructions on navigating the waters near a marina so that I knew exactly what to expect. The board was well-maintained and the facilities were clean. They held my keys so I didn't have to bring them with me. Pricing was very reasonable. Highly recommended! read more

Indian River Marina & Kayak - Indian River - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

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Camped at Hammonasset State Beach Park, then went kayaking. The marina is only 10 mins away. Wide selection of kayaks - there was a single small enough that my 7 and 10 year old could handle. Equipment - PFDs, kayaks were clean and new. There's an outdoor shower to rinse off, a changing room and a bathroom to use - all clean. We paddled to a small strip of beach only accessible by water and spent an hour exploring. Easily the highlight of our vacation. A few minutes after we left, Cassie called to say the she found my son's eyeglasses in the PFD pocket while cleaning it. To me, that means - the equipment is well taken care of, and caring customer service is not dead. Could not recommend more highly! read more

Went last weekend with friends while visiting from NYC. Rented multiple kayaks. The people handling the rentals were insanely friendly and laid back. Had a great time and would go back in a second. Go support these amazing people! read more

Great place, great selection of boats, dog friendly, and a great product. I was able to chose from 3 boats I was interested in.

This place is amazing! High quality kayaks and great staff. Chris and his staff are fun and make the experience even better. I highly recommend this place to anyone in the area. read more

I took my friend out for her first kayak trip and it was great. I hadn't paddled here before, despite being a local. I would recommend this place to everyone of every ability. Sarah set us up with our life vests and gave us some good suggestions of where to go. The rest of the staff were great in giving my friend a quick lesson, then setting us off and later hauling us back in. A hidden gem for people who want to spend time on the water but don't want to go to the beaches. read more

We went for Father's Day and it was an easy lovely time. We met the owner by accident and he was so kind and he gave my husband some sunscreen for his head, because the sun came out! We had a lovely adventure, so relaxing and fun. We found out that we had lost our key to our car and they felt so bad they gave us the day for free. So so kind of them. We insisting on paying but she wouldn't let us. Such nice people. Go and support this local place. read more

this used to be our usual spot to launch but they went up in price from 10 dollars a car to launch to 10 dollars a kayak. Most people go kayaking with someone so I refuse to pay 20 dollars every time to launch here. You lost a customer because I will find somewhere else to go and make my new usual for less money. read more

Couldn't have asked for a better experience renting kayaks for a family day on the water. The staff was friendly, helpful, showed us the ins and outs and made the overall experience so easy. Highly recommend - we will absolutely be back!! Thank you!! read more

Went paddle boarding for the first time and loved it. Would definitely come back here! The facility was clean, equipment was in very good shape, and the staff was very friendly. Had a great experience! read more

Chris and his team are awesome. The paddle was 2 hours of being immersed in nature. We went to the Hammock River and meandered our way through quietly and watched osprey hunting, feeding their babies, and eating fish. The river is calm and surrounded by reeds and grass, some nice houses, boats etc... you can also choose to go into busier waters in Clinton harbor, but we decided to go mellow and relaxed this time. We rented 2 boats, got a quick lesson on the waters and were off within 15 minutes. We will be back really fun!! read more

What a beautiful clean place! No stinky life jackets or dirty boats. All the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable and they give you a map and plenty of instructions so anyone can navigate the beautiful area. Highly highly recommend! (Bonus just down the street from lobster landing!!) read more

This place is in a GREAT location for kayak rentals. The girlfriend and I took two kayaks out this morning, and had a sun-soaked couple of hours out on the sound. I will definitely be back, and would recommend this business for their friendly service, well maintained boats, perfect location and very reasonable prices. read more

I visited over the weekend with my dad to purchase some kayaks. First off, the fact that Indian River will let you try their kayaks out on their salt marsh before purchasing is amazing. It helped make our decision easy without second guessing if we'd just spent a lot of money on purchases we'd regret. But more than that, their customer service was spectacular. We worked with Sarah, who answered all of our questions (and we had a lot!) with patience and good humor. Chris, the owner, popped in and out to check on us with genuine friendliness that you'll never get at a big box store. The folks at Indian River were happy to share their knowledge with us, and we walked away very happy with everything we need to spend more time on the water. Though we weren't doing rentals that day, their prices for rentals are very reasonable and I will likely be back with friends who don't own kayaks themselves. read more

I went paddle boarding with a friend. The launch point was easy to maneuver through. Chris was great. He asked us what kind of experience we were looking for. He showed us a map and suggested where to go. The staff were all so helpful and friendly. Couldn't have asked for a better day. read more

I wish I could give them more than 5 stars. Wonderful family run business! We brought 22 kids here and they were amazing! Super accommodating and so friendly! The kids had a blast and we can't wait to come back next year. Thank you for a great day! read more

As we pulled up to the Indian river kayak and marina we were greeted with with a smile. We went into the cozy office where we signed the waivers and went over the route to take. Everyone was so friendly. I love how they may sure the life vests are clean when they give them to you. We walked over to the dock, and the gentleman went over how to use the stand up paddle boards. Even the paddle boards were rinsed off before we hopped on! Such a great experience! It's nice to go to a place where people care about their customers. Coming back soon! read more

Great staff, great equipment, really chill spot. I would suggest this place to all of my friends