I booked a Retro Boat ATX for my milestone birthday after riding one during a community event and knowing I wanted to share the experience with my family. It turned out to be one of the highlights of the celebration. Booking online was easy, the cancellation policy was clear, and the communication leading up to our reservation was excellent. We received reminders, waivers, and safety information ahead of time, so there were no surprises. The forecast called for a high chance of rain, but we decided to take the chance and hoped the weather would cooperate. It did! We arrived around 10:45 a.m., and our boat was ready to go after a quick orientation and safety briefing. We immediately connected our phone to the Bluetooth speaker, picked the perfect playlist, and spent the next 90 minutes cruising Town Lake. We made it all the way east to the dam and west to First Street, with plenty of stops for sightseeing, people watching, snacks, and soaking in the views. I even packed Bomb Pops in a Yeti, which were the perfect way to cool off on a hot July morning. The wildlife was incredible. We saw turtles, great blue herons, egrets, hawks, bats, and fish jumping all around us. As we headed back west, the skies grew dark and the clouds rolled in. We made it back to the dock and reached our car just as a torrential downpour started around 1:00 p.m. on July 11. Talk about perfect timing! The staff was friendly, welcoming, and patient from start to finish. They made the entire experience feel effortless and stress-free. Insider tip: Park at the Mexican American Cultural Center (600 River St.) for the closest access to the trailhead. Pay for parking using the ParkATX app. Whether you're visiting Austin or you're a local looking for something different, Retro Boat ATX is a fantastic experience. It's perfect for visitors, date nights, birthdays, proposals, anniversaries, family outings, or simply spending a relaxing day on the water. Core memories were definitely made, and this was one birthday celebration we'll never forget. I wouldn't hesitate to book again. read more

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What a very unique, relaxing experience cruising around Lady Bird Lake in an electric retro boat. Our grandson loved seeing the Austin skyline from a different perspective, fish jumping, and a few snakes swimming by. We had a blast, and during our 90-minute cruise, we were able to travel to both the Longhorn dam and the 1st street bridge. The electric boats are quiet and very easy to drive. Each boat also has Bluetooth connectivity and speakers if you want to play the theme from Gilligan's Island. Google it. The staff is great! We had a self-inflicted scheduling snafu, and they were able to, thankfully, accommodate us. Before we shoved off, we were provided with a safety and operating briefing. Needs to know: Parking is limited. There is a covered garage by the entrance on Trinity St, and it's $25 for two hours. Only bathrooms are located by the side of the Austin Rowing Club; you can go inside to get the access code. The retro speed boats have no shade, but they will provide umbrellas. Bring beverages and snacks. read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was a a lovely experience despite the heat. We chose a sunset experience. It was a smooth booking and they provided us with lots details. It was a 90 minute ride which was very relaxing and it would've been romantic but the heat did affect our ride. Tip: book this in the fall for a more romantic experience over all it was fun and owe plan to do it again in the fall , the views of downtown were incredible read more

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Had an amazing experience at Retro Boat Rentals ATX where you can pick from a variety of vintage fiberglass boats to rent and cruise around Lady Bird Lake. The boats have been restored to their original jet-age beauty (1958-1964), with mid-century retro cool colors, fins and chrome details. Retro also means the old motors have been retrofitted with the latest in eco-friendly technology. The zero emissions electric motors create an environmentally clean, quiet experience. Standard rental times are 90 minutes. They accept all major credit cards. The website is easy to use to book your boat by date. We chose the Solitaire's a 1973 Glastron GT-150 made in Austin, Texas! The 1973 film "Live and Let Die," James Bond pilots the same model boat and set a Guinness World Record by jumping a distance of 110 feet. These boats go no more than 4 mph to avoid creating wake. They provide a boundary map with some safety restrictions essentially you can take the boat between the South 1st bridge and close to Longhorn Dam. It was a fun and relaxing way to cruise the Lady Bird lake waterway. In 90 minutes, we made it from the dock to Longhorn Dam and back to the South 1st bridge with time to spare. It was easy to operate the boat and they give you detail instructions. Would love to have the experience again on another retro boat! Highly recommend! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I found Retro Boat Rentals ATX on Instagram, and their advert piqued my interest. They are located at the dock adjacent to the Austin Rowing Center. We booked the Batgirl which is a 1958 Beeline Sapphire for a 90-minute cruise of Town Lake. Retro Boat Rentals ATX has a small flotilla of vintage fiberglass boats that have been restored to their original beauty (circa1958-1964). The old motors have been retrofitted with zero emissions electric motors to create an eco-friendly and quiet experience. Now you won't be breaking any speed records as they top out at 5 mph. This is due to Town Lake be a no wake zone. Will, gave us a safety briefing and a map to outline which areas we needed to avoid and how far up (1st St. Bridge) we could go. In addition, he went over the controls of the boat and sent us on our way. It had been many moons since I had actually operated a boat so this was a treat for me. We had great weather for our trek. Headed to the Longhorn Dam, cruised close to Snake Island, and actually saw a water moccasin swimming along heading to shore haha. All in all, we had 90 minutes of serene time and wonderful views of the city from another angle. Highly recommend you bring a small cooler with some beverages to hydrate and for snacks whilst cruising. I highly recommend Retro Boat Rentals ATX for an enjoyable and relaxing experience. They do accept all major credit cards and it is wise too book in advances as they can get booked up really quick. Thank you Retro Boat Rentals ATX for out wonderful time on the lake. Also want to give a shout out to Will, Josh and Angel. They helped guide us in and their customer service was second to none. Much appreciated. Definitely want to do this again. read more

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Awesome experience. Definitely worth doing. Totally unique. I had several people ask me while we were on the water if the boat was my boat lol. Of course I said yes it is. Jk. The staff is great. Beautiful scenery while on the water. Highly recommend. read more

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5-star experience! Booking online was easy, and I loved being able to see the various boats to choose from. Great location and smooth check-in. Our boat didn't have a cover, and the staff proactively offered us an umbrella (color-matched to our boat--loved that detail). Be sure to bring water on a hot day. The boat was easy to maneuver, and the staff were incredibly helpful during departure and docking. A wonderful day excursion and date idea. Highly recommend! read more

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We were a group of 7 and we had the best time on a little boat using Retro Boat Rentals! We showed up almost 30 minutes before our reservation, and they were kind enough to let us on early! We had so much! We almost used up the whole 2 hours, and everyone got a chance to drive! The person who went over the safety guidelines and how to drive the boat at the beginning of our reservation was very nice!! She went over everything thoroughly and answered all our questions! We went on a Friday morning at 11:30am, and the river was very empty!! So, it was a great time! The person helping us at the end was also very nice and took a picture of our group! I really can't say enough good things! The two person boat looked so cute for a date! This is definitely worth the experience if your visiting Austin!! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - View - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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WOW - This is the ultimate of 5 star experiences!! My family and I had an exceptional time, and the only part we didn't like was that it only lasted 90 minutes. The electric motor moves the boat at 5 MPH and the lake is as smooth as glass. The views of the city are glamorous, and the ability to travel under the bat bridge and see / hear them is wild!! Additionally you will see wild life, and just enjoy the most peaceful / joyous time imaginable! The boat is called "Bat Girl" and is from 1958. read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - The Family riding in "Bat Girl" - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was such a fun experience--highly recommend it if you're looking for something unique and relaxing! You get 160 minutes to enjoy the ride, and the best part? You get to drive the boat yourself from one end to the other. We lucked out with a beautifully gloomy sky, which kept things cool and comfortable. But on sunnier days, definitely bring sunscreen and a hat--it's all outdoors. The water was a bit murky, but it didn't take away from the experience at all. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, which made everything even better. A perfect mix of adventure and chill! read more

We have lived in Austin either full or part time for 20 years and have been routine visitors for business or pleasure for over 45 years. We chose to retire in Austin because of its laid back atmosphere, friendly disposition and accommodating retailers, vendors and business owners. One of those would be Retro Boats, our neighbors in the Rainey Street Historic District. We rent a retro boat on average 2-4 times per year to entertain family, friends and those with whom we want to provide gratitude for kind gestures they've extended to us. Treating them to a retro boat tour on Town Lake is a perfect reflection of gratitude. The Retro Boat staff is over the top friendly and accomodating. I am overwhelmed with the professionalism and courtesy of the staff each time we rent a boat. We last rented a retro boat on 5-9-2026 and the manager, Elaina completely blew us away with her gestures of appreciation. We were overwhelmed. It reinforces why we love living in Austin, Texas! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Our experience at retro boat rentals was beyond amazing. My boyfriend and I went for our 1 anniversary. We booked the 5-6:30pm slot, and while I was super worried about how hot it would be, it wasn't too bad at all! I did go buy my own umbrella beforehand, since I didn't know that the boats include one just in case the sun is too intense. I do wish they had a parking lot, or even a few spaces for those renting that hour, but they don't so we found street parking nearby. We showed up right on time and boarded our boat with absolutely no problem. We brought some drinks (no glass of course) and took our time on the water. The boat is incredibly easy to drive, and we had an amazing time driving it. The views were also so incredibly stunning. Before you get on, they give you a map with information about where you can drive the boat to, about a half hour ride away. We decided to drive down and come back after a bit. Overall, such Ana amazing experience, would 100% do again! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boat - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Retro Boat Rentals was so much fun! Came here for date night and had a blast! It was a relaxing time on Ladybird Lake with a nice view of DTA. I would recommend! read more

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Spent last weekend in Austin and had the pleasure of enjoying a sunset boat rental with Retro Boat Rentals ATX. Just a great experience all around. We walked over along the path from our AirBNB at the bottom of Rainey in no time at all. Got there 15-20 minutes early and Mia walked us through the map and how to operate the boat very efficiently, so we were out on the water almost 10 minutes earlier than scheduled which was awesome. Boat was simple but really fun to just cruise the water in while we played music over the Bluetooth speaker and enjoyed some beverages. Towards the end of the reservation, we stayed on the water an extra 15 minutes to try and catch the bats coming out from the bridge. Unfortunately the bats took their time so we didn't see them come out until we were back on the docks. Overall it was a great experience and I would do it again for sure, maybe trying one of the daytime cruises when it's not too hot or a later sunset cruise one to try and see the bats again from right under the bridge. Check out Retro Boat Rentals ATX if you're looking for a relaxing hangout on the water! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Amazing time on the water with my friends. Staff was super friendly. Ethel (our boat) was super cute. Scheduling process online was smooth. I needed to change my reservation time, emailed staff & received a quick response. Would definitely recommend & visit again. Thanks team for a fun & relaxing time. read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Side pic of Ethel - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Kaylee was an amazing boat guide, she provided amazing customer service and was fun!!

All went great! Tate was great about explaining the route and need to knows!! Had a great time celebrating my mother in law's bday! Would definitely do it again! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Trixie - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had a blast. Henry and Jensen with getting set up. Highly recommend. We took the Ethel out from 4:30-6 for an afternoon ride. We are Austin residents and found it a great way to explore the city. read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Kayaks, canoes and SUPs are cool, but if you want a relaxing way to enjoy Lady Bird Lake without any manpower, then Retro Boat Rentals is the way to go! The dock is tucked away behind The Perch ATX Cafe (great spot to grab a drink/bite) and there's usually some street parking close by. They have a fleet to choose from which will take you west towards Red Bud Isle or you can head east past Rainey Street. We went during the summer first thing in the morning when the weather was cool and the lake wasn't too busy. Definitely would like to try a sunset boat ride and maybe try to check out the infamous bats. As Jake Owen says, "I Can't Wait to Get on the Boat again"! read more

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What a great evening we had, out on Lady Bird Lake and it all started with the warm welcome and professional instructions from Mia and Henry. The boat was perfect for our group and although the bats never came out, we had a blast just cruising' around. A definite "must do" again. Your team was awesome, Thank you. read more

We had a great time on the boat (Ethel - we were happy we had the little bit of covering). Angel was an angel - his instructions were clear and he was so friendly! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Ethel! - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Rented a boat her, didn't have a reservation and they were able to get us in. Worth every penny, awesome city views. Angel was so helpful and the other staff were friendly too. Would absolutely do again. read more

Really great experience and fantastic value. Check in was fast and efficient, the staff covered operation of the boats and a few rules quickly and off we went. Very user friendly! They even gave us an extra half hour as the boat wasn't fully booked for the day. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

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This was so much fun with the girlies! You get to be in a cute pink retro boat and you get an incredible view of the Austin skyline! We rented the Gidget Retro Boat. It was really spacious and easy to navigate! The guys there were also really nice and personable! Definitely recommend! read more

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We went on a cloudy cool day and it was a great way to spend time on the water! Trixie was a fantastic boat to tour around on! Seth was great and made the experience fun! I'd highly recommend this! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I had such a fun experience with this boat rental! My husband planned this surprise activity and it was way more fun than I thought it would be! I think being in a retro (dare i say kitchy?!) boat just added to the fun! The employees were friendly and quick to get us in our boat and out on the water. They even took pictures of us and texted them to us at the start of our time. We had the rental for 90 minutes and felt like the time went by really quickly. You can bring your own food and drinks, which I highly recommend! We luckily went on a cloudy day, but can imagine it getting super hot on a sunny day. The boat was easy to maneuver and they gave a map of the restricted areas on the lake. I would totally do this again and think it is a really fun activity for visitors to do when visiting. *it is worth mentioning that my husband reserved a different style boat than what we received when we showed up* but regardless, it was fun! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's our second time renting out one of these beautys on a sunny nice arc day and from reserving to safe speech they're great staffed and amazing people working here read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Ethel - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had a great time and so did our pup! Easy process from start to finish - booking, communication, boarding & returning. read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - He loved it! - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Really enjoyed our time!! Tate was super helpful, responsive and provided answers to all my questions! Would definitely do it again!

Me and my family were helped by Angel, who was very knowledgeable and talked us through the whole process. He provided us with umbrellas since it was very sunny and helped us set up the Bluetooth for the boat. The experience was so unique and we had a lovely time throughout, highly recommend! And especially shout out to Angel! read more

Tete was very pleasant and helpful , he gave us all the instruction, he gave us information of others boats to rent

We had a great afternoon renting a small boat from Retro Boat Rentals. Henry was super nice and helpful as we got set up with what we needed! read more

Took a sunset cruise as part of a girls trip. We had such a fun time on the lake, the sunset was beautiful & I loved seeing the skyline from the water at night. read more

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Kallie and Angel were the best! They were so nice gave us blankets for the hot seats gave us umbrellas and a speaker. It was such an enjoyable ride and experience. read more

A quirky option for a little Lady Bird Lake cruisin'! It's a classic vintage Cadillac but in electric boat form. It's $150 for an hour and a half and is definitely more cute than functional, ast here's no shade, so when the sun is beating down, you are getting ALL of it. They do provide umbrellas, however for some reason those couldn't withstand the 14 mph speed the boat gets up to, so they went wild in the wind pretty immediately (which was hilarious). Also, in just looking up the price, I realized I reserved the teal one (Gladys) but received the black and white one (Babs) instead so if you're wanting a particular color, be sure to have them confirm before you arrive. Very little interaction with staff but the little we had was lovely; they offer to take your photo for you as you cruise off. Bring water (or adult beverages, wink wink) with you! Note for any group larger than 2 or 3: I prefer a Duffy boat (for shade and so the group can face one another, as I think that makes it more enjoyable and the hour and half goes by much quicker). You can also plug into their bluetooth for music, which I don't believe is an option on the retro boats (but don't quote me on that). read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We went out yesterday for my birthday surprise! The check-in process is quick and easy. The boat is a simple drive because it's electric. We had just enough time to hit the island and back at a leisurely pace. The boat is adorable and was definitely the envy of the waters! The restroom is nice to have after drinking beers on the water for a bit. The staff is really nice and helpful in pulling you back in, helping disembark and taking a group photo! read more

Retro Boats Austin is the perfect date night or a great way to watch the sunset with your friends. We brought a bottle of wine and cruised around for an hour or so - was such a great way to see the city! read more

Chips Ahoy! These retro boats are legit! These boats are so much fun! Located right off of Rainey Street along Lady Bird Lake, the boathouse gets sailors outfitted to go out on the lake and tool around! These fiberglass hulled 4-6 seater boats don't go too fast. We topped out at just under 4 mph. We were given a map, pointed down past I-35 to Bird Island, around that, and back to the bridge after the Congress Street Bridge going the other way. Overall, it took ninety minutes for our voyage. We had a fantastic time! The boats were comfortable, and the ride was smooth. The engine is electric, so it's quiet. The boat is amazing- ours was a copy of a pink Cadillac with fins and everything. The staff was really great with making sure that we were comfortable, and that the boat was in capable hands, and we knew how to work it. The boat was so easy to operate, and the instructions were clear. Yacht Rock! read more

What a perfect date idea! Not to mention, it's the absolute best feeling when the business you're supporting is run by the NICEST HUMANS ON THE PLANET :) they were sooo kind and our experience was just a 10/10- must do in Austin!!! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Glad we decided to take a boat ride, nice and relaxing. The service was great . We had a wonderful Austin landscape view Also watched thousands of bats coming out from under the bridge. We had a great time!! read more

Retro Boat Rentals ATX - Austin city landscape - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas