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    Rowing Dock

    4.6 (419 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    Megan Y.

    I've been to Rowing Dock twice now: once experiencing a spring rainstorm & once with perfect weather. I found this while researching places to go paddleboarding/kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, and chose to go with them over competitors because their website was cute & I'm a sucker for colorful things - which their boats are! I was lucky both times and didn't have to contend with a super long line, but my tip is to please remember to sign the waiver at the table by their banner. My friend and I forgot to the first time, and it cost us some time. When it rained, we rushed back from just past the second overpass going towards downtown and staff was helpful & patient. I told the person at the counter that day I'd be back. Two weeks later, my dad agreed to join me. We lucked out in the parking lot & snagged the BEST spot! I also got treated to the PRETTIEST purple kayak! One star off because they are probably further from downtown than competitors so if you have limited time, it's not ideal for a quick skyline view.

    Outside check in
    Steffie S.

    These guys are amazing! While I did not partake in this event, I watched the staff efficiently and professionally execute a "team building" event. They did a great job. I'd highly recommend them for your next excursion out on Lady Bird Lake!

    Sapna S.

    This was my second time renting from the rowing dock and it's always a super smooth process. It was about $48 for one single kayak ($20) and a paddle board ($25) for one hour use. I haven't tried any of the other rental places here, but I assume it's around the same price. The staff is super friendly and helpful when getting in the water. It was an exceptionally hot day, so perfect weather to be in the lake.

    This is my first time and they were everyone was amazing especially Alex and Luke!!! and I love that you play Johnny Cash

    Check in/out
    Lanie L.

    I took my partner to ATX for the first time so we wanted to explore Ladybird Lake! We opted for the canoe, which comfortably fits 2 people. It's $25/hr and we did 2 hours, which was more than enough time. We paddled our way towards downtown to see the skyline and enjoyed spotting many wildlife, including turtles, fishes, birds, and more. They also have options for stand-up paddle & kayaks. This is a fun and easy thing to do for a few hours to soak up the outdoors!

    Courtney B.

    Who doesn't love kayaking??? It's an iconic image of outdoor exploration: a kayak glides across a glassy stretch of water, its bow knifing through the mist, and its wake shimmering in reflected light. If that sort of thing calls to you, this may be your place! I came here last month with the Things for a fun day on the water. Fun Fact: The kayak has been around for centuries. It was first used by the Inuits in the Arctic regions for navigating waterways. It was a pragmatic way to hunt, fish, and transport passengers across the water. The Things and I personally enjoy this activity as it's great for enthusiasts of all levels. It can be a wonderful way to quietly discover the shallow waters at the edge of a lake or an exciting high-energy sport to race along rushing waters. Kayaking is open to everyone, requiring no previous experience for its basic form other than a passion for exploring open waters. The rental process here is easy and affordable. While no instruction is given here unless requested, it's an easy body of water to navigate. If seeking parking, I'd recommend parking in the general structure under the bridge as peaking here is extremely limited to non-existent. #bewellcentraltx

    Umbrella and puppy life jacket was brought by us
    Natalia R.

    Parking - yes but very small lot so you need to be there at opening hours or get lucky Staff - knowledgeable and friendly. They helped us choose the right boat (kayak vs canoe) for our first trip on the lake with our puppy Supply - plenty of options and good rates Other - also have sunscreen, water, gatorade

    Yoga paddle board
    Michelle V.

    I signed up for a yoga on paddle board class Thursday night around 6:30 and it was amazing! The water is so relaxing and beautiful and it's fun to be hooked up next to the other people in class so you don't float away lol Our instructor Mj was so nice and informative! It was a great class and time out on the water.

    Elite University Summer Camps - Camp Steiner Kayaking field trip!
    Jere C.

    Elite University Summer Camps has been working with Rowing Dock for 5+ years and we love this place as a field trip destination! Kamaryn the Manager has been so welcoming and helpful. She streamlined our check in process and the staff made our trip safe and fun for the children. Highly recommend for summer camp field trips!!!

    Prices
    Hailee L.

    Morgan and Riley we're amazing guides for our company outing. Will definitely come back again!

    Art M.

    We had a great tour on Journey to the Springs with Alex! He was a very knowledgeable guide who handled our group of mixed skill kayakers well. The 2 hour tour was a leisurely paddle through some beautiful natureal areas with lots of wildlife and a stop to get out and enjoy the springs. I would definitely recommend this tour and Alex as a guide!

    Jeff W.

    Captain Luke is a gem. Had an amazing time with our group on the lake-river. Fantastic guide, saw some wildlife, took a dip in Brighton Springs, and learned a little something too ;) Highly recommend a paddle with Luke anytime you're out in Austin. Cheers!

    Sonya D.

    My friends and I decided to rent kayaks to watch the bats take flight from the famous bridge. FYI: it is 2 miles away from the kayaking location (but worth it). Just be ready for a long trip. This is a good place to rent kayaks from because it's open until 9pm. The bats don't come out until til ~8:15pm anyway so you need a kayak place that's open late. The bats took flight a little later than expected last night, so we had to kayak so fast to try to make it back in time before their 9pm closing time (or pay a late fee). One of our friends sprinted ahead and arrived at 9:02pm, and they told us that we wouldn't have to lay a late fee- even for the rest of us who were several minutes behind her! It was SO kind of them. The workers were so chill when we were apologizing for being late and told us we hoped we had the best time ever. We did! Definitely recommend this place. It's rare you find a place with good customer service where the workers are relaxed & want to give the customers a good experience.

    View of the river from under the bridge.

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    2 years ago

    Alex was great! We had a fun time Kayaking. He shared a lot of information about Austin.

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    2 years ago

    Luke was our guide and he was amazing! All around great guide and guy. He taught us some interesting history and kept us in line

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    2 years ago

    Luke was a fantastic guide! He made the time on the river fun and taught us some great history of the city too.

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    6 years ago

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    Lindsay R.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    We had a great time on our group tour to Barton Creek! Morgan was a great guide, and the entire experience was enjoyable and well-run

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    2 years ago

    Awesome time! Highly recommend! Morgan was a great guide! Very knowledgeable and made it a fun trip for my buddy's birthday!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Alex was a fun and informative tour guide. Will definitely tour again next time we come to Austin! Thank you!

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    2 years ago

    Alex was an amazing tour guide. lots of great tx facts. Went to see springs and met tons of turtles.

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Lindsay R.

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    2 years ago

    Morgan is the best! We had so much fun paddling to Barton Springs and jumping in the water.

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    7 years ago

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    Lindsay R.

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    2 years ago

    We loved Morgan. She was wonderful! Full of information. The tour was the perfect amount of time.

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    3 years ago

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    Lindsay R.

    Thank you so much for this recommendation, JM!

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Thank you @Riley and @Kate for a fun tour to Barton Springs. Enjoyed the history lesson and cool water.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Morgan was amazing - thank you! We had such a fun time at Barton Sorings and she made sure we stayed cool and had a great time!

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    5 years ago

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    Lindsay R.

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    5 years ago

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    Lindsay R.

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    3 years ago

    easy location. good selection. This has been my goto Kayak rental spot.

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    2 years ago

    Peyton and Riley were very knowledgeable! We enjoyed all the history and fun facts along the way. Great guides and overall experience.

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Riley was a great guide for Kayaking. Would recommend to anyone based on his service. Thankyou from Australia

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Nice location to rent kayaks with no hassles. We enjoyed the view and beautiful nature

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Page 3 of 11

    Ask the Community - Rowing Dock

    How far in advance do you need to rent a kayak?

    Hi, Tori. Rowing Dock offers walk-up rentals on a first-come-first-served basis. You can head down any time we are open and we will get you out on the water. We do tend to be busiest on weekend afternoons so if you want to avoid the crowds we… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Rowing Dock

    Each time I've been they're friendly and good about explaining the rules and how to's of paddle boarding.

    Mentioned in 23 reviews

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    Austin Rowing Club

    Austin Rowing Club

    4.5(276 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Buyer beware. Booked this because it said "good weather…read morerequired." It was raining steadily and they still ran the tour. When I asked about it, they said they only cancel for lightning... which is not what the listing says. That's misleading, plain and simple. Even worse, they wouldn't work with us at all after the fact. No flexibility, no effort to make it right. Plenty of other kayak options in Austin... I'd go with one that's actually upfront about their policies.

    Idk what the fuck the deal with Austin Rowing Club is, but are all Austin people assholes?…read more I arrived with my dog, knowing their sign literally says they are dog friendly. My friend even did her due diligence by calling ahead. When we arrived, the desk people were so nice. In fact Lauren, who we had a lovely conversation with, assisted us. Since I had my dog with me and his life vest on, we weren't sure if we needed a single or a double. I paid $25 for a double per the suggestion of the desk people. Get to the dock, one girl helps my friend out in the single. Now me? You best believe I was sober enough to not let someone speak to me the way it went down. Scene or no scene, people around or not. As soon one of the staff members assists a customer with a double, I walk over and get asked if I need a paddle board. I said "no, I'm getting a double". All of a sudden, what I thought was going be a smooth assistance on the kayak, I get confusion from the staff member, which leads to an argument on the dock. Apparently a double kayak for a single person and a dog would be soooo difficult. (It's manageable. I better be fucking JACKED for the amount of paddling I had to do) If I'm put in a single, then I'm tight squeezing it with my dog and paddling. At the time, it was just me on the dock with my dog and the girl. She starts giving me an attitude and has a tantrum. That's when I realize something ain't right. I told her to turn around, asked for her name. I had to call out her problem with me because ain't nobody, young or old should be this rude. She starts getting heated and yells at me. So I said, "you know what, what's your name? I need to speak to someone." Lo and behold her name is Rachel. "If you're looking for the manager, you're talking to her" - Rachel And I said "ok, then who's you're manager" If Rachel is the so-called the manager, all she had to do was give me her expertise. Don't get promoted to manager if you can't even be kind enough to tell me that I need an alternative. I asked if it would be better to be in a single than a double and get the difference. She said, "WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH."' A $5 difference doesn't even cover a fucking latte, so please be kind and just suggest what best suits me and my dog. She keeps calling me "ma'am", and so I just politely tell her, "you can call me Nancy. I'm not that much older than you." And she starts yelling about how she was born and raise in Austin and was taught to say "ma'am or sir". Well Rachel, your parents taught you to say "ma'am or sir", but they didn't teach you kindness. I talked to my friend about it and we weren't sure if that was some type of racist comment, but hold up. Girl, I'm born and raised in Texas too. But I can also read the room and know that how to address people. I'm guessing she don't know Houston. From the corner of my eye, I see Lauren walking on the dock and I yell "HEY. PLSSSSS Help me" And thank god Lauren was there to witness Rachel being an ASSHOLE. So you know what? I got all day and I'll wait for a supervisor to talk about Rachel any day. Cause how is Rachel a manager and yelling at me with a tantrum. She's lucky other patrons didn't take out their phone to record, because in this day and age, she would've gotten cancelled. I met Aubrea, the manager and gave her the whole spiel. Yes, I can buy my own equipment, but I'm not going to use it all the time since I don't live here. Supporting local clubs helps significantly. While everything did get settled (full refund of $25), everyone BUT Rachel was kind to me, Austin continues to disappoint me with snobby people that I've encountered.

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    Austin Rowing Club
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    Waller Creek Boathouse

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    4.2(19 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    This is a great place to rent kayaks. Unlike other rental locations, you start off right next to…read moreCongress Bridge, home to the biggest urban bat colony in the US. Especially during the summer, you can see ribbons of bats emerge from under the bridge around sunset. You can head east to Bird Island or west to Red Bud Island if you want a work out. If you are interested in rowing, there is a great 1-month intro course (unlike kayaking or SUP, one cannot attempt rowing on one's own). The Austin Rowing Club is a non-profit so you become part of a community.

    Perfect spot, great access to the river but has racks of filthy life jackets and a staff that needs…read moreto lighten up. We came here to rent SUPs for an hour before heading to the airport keeping our luggage at the hotel. We filled out the waivers and gave them our credit card but the front desk REFUSED to rent us SUPs without both of our ID's. They claimed "it's the law." I'm still unable to find this law. We tried giving them our phones or credit cards as collateral but they couldn't risk "breaking the law." I'd advise your staff to lighten up a little bit, people are trying to enjoy this beautiful spot. Also their life jackets are filthy, they don't even hose them down throughout the day after multiple people use them.

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    Waller Creek Boathouse
    Waller Creek Boathouse - The new Waller Creek Boathouse, home of Austin Rowing Club, Congress Ave Kayaks,  In Motion Bike Rentals, Power to Perform

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    Waller Creek Boathouse - View of the front of Waller Creek Boathouse

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    View of the front of Waller Creek Boathouse

    Rowing Dock - boating - Updated May 2026

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