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    Texas Rowing Center

    4.2 (211 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    Kalia A.

    I appreciated that the parking was accessible but not that we had to pay for it. Also the restrooms are porta-potties only :/ Besides that the customer service was good and they had a lot of equipment available. The area can be seaweed heavy but once you get further out it kinda clears out. There's a good little spot that allows you to get out of your equipment and stand up where the water is knee deep. The views of the city are also nice!

    Joyce K.

    Visiting Austin I always spend the day eating going from one restaurant to the other. I decided for a change to try an activity. It was not disappointing at all! That was so much fun! Also you have a good amount of time and distance to change sceneries. The Texas heat is unbearable and it is still tolerable you get some breeze here and there. Make sure you wear sunscreen and take water with you to stay hydrated

    Bret B.

    Nice day on the the lake paddling and pulling back a couple cool pops with my son and his friends on the birthday. TRC is zero hassles. Just sign the waiver, pay em, cash or credit, and slide into the lake. Decent equipment 11'4" NSR foam SUP, kayaks, & canoes (I think). Location is right behind Austin high school. If you have your own equipment, a public ramp is about 100 meters from TRC.

    Jamie P.

    My fiancé and I always head to Texas Rowing Center when we want to rent kayaks on Town Lake (aka Lady Bird). If there's a line to rent, or to retrieve your items, it always goes quickly. The employees there are so kind and they work very hard to get everyone in and out of the water safely. They also provide life jackets to all renters at no additional cost. Today, we rented a tandem kayak. I believe single kayaks start at $15 an hour and tandem $20 per hour. They also have paddle boards for rent and of course, are known for rowing. You can usually find a space to park on the street, or in the parking lot across the street. I'd definitely recommend them if you're looking to get out on the water and see Austin from a different perspective!

    Alyssa Z.

    Most of the time when people look at me, they definitely don't think "kayaking;" however, this was surprisingly one of the best things I did during our trip to Austin. We ended up going with this company because they opened earlier than some of the alternatives (with start times of 10am), and we were hoping to beat the heat of 105 degrees that day. This location was central to the Lady Bird Lake is very straight forward in providing kayaks and canoes, as well as supplying the local recreational and professional sports teams. Even though there weren't many people there, we still felt a litlost navigating the area. They definitely were not very tourist oriented, as no one was there to point us where to go. It was actually our first time kayaking and no one gave us any instructions or directions as to what to do in the case of an emergency, etc. They had us sign our life away in the waiver, gave us our life vests and paddles, and that was that. Luckily it was relatively self-explanatory, but it would have been nice to at least been given a recommendation as to which direction had what to see, etc. Long story short, if you're a tourist, its your first time, and you're looking for friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere, this place may not be for you. We were able to make do with what we were given though once we got on the water

    Amanda T.

    Went there twice during a trip. First time it was smooth sailing, multiple people are working, helping us check out, get on and off the water. Two days later we went back however, there was one man working, he was very grumpy, yelling at customers, and made us wait on the deck for almost an hour to see if the weather would worsen. I understand the weather concerns, however, he was playing rude with customers.

    Paddle boarding
    Nguyễn Q.

    Our group of 6 went here for kayaking on Monday. There wasn't many people. Our guy was very attentive. He answered my questions about padding board since I want to try for the first time. He also helped me to put it down and giving me clear instruction of what to do. The price was cheap: $15 for single kayak, $20 for double, and $25 for paddle board. The view is truly phenomenal!!

    Awesome views from a paddle board on Lady Bird Lake.
    Polly M.

    One of my favorite Austin activities! Love to rent a board and explore Lady Bird Lake. Texas Rowing Center makes it fun and easy.

    Kayak, oar, lake view
    Anna Q.

    Perfect nature date and view of Austin from the water! This dock is located near Austin High School, which puts you in the middle between a beautiful view of the city skyline or the rolling Texas hills. We rented a double kayak and went for the unlimited time ($40) but honestly after 2 hours on the lake rowing can get tiring pretty quickly. If you're looking for a view of the city you may want to try a different dock as it takes about 1 hr to row out to the pedestrian bridge (with a strong opposing wind). The rental includes a life jacket too so you won't need to worry about bringing your own. The weekend rates are more expensive, so I recommend going during the weekday if possible. You can choose from single kayaks, double, or SUP paddle boards. Parking is available on the street side or in a lot near the hiking trail. While you might not get wet kayaking, I recommend wearing waterproof or water resistant shoes and shorts because the seat underneath us was wet from the previous kayakers. If you're not used to rowing, wearing gloves may help too as I quickly developed blisters on both thumbs. However, the staff were nice and had first aid kits on hand and provided bandages and rubbing alcohol.

    Cheyenne H.

    I went to the Texas Rowing Center to rent a paddleboard to go on the lake for my first time. It's located just West of downtown and had plenty of street and lot parking nearby (free too!). When renting, they only ask you to sign a waiver and pay the specified amount. Stand up paddleboards were $20/hour and $45/day, but they definitely don't keep track of the time you're out for. I initially went on a Friday evening and had no wait for a paddleboard, but I went again on Saturday and waited 45+ mins for one. Definitely plan your trip accordingly. Once on the water, there were hundreds of paddleboarders and kayakers. Some were fishing, others were tied together and floating down the river. Upstream, hundreds were tied together for a river party... so fun! It was quite a hike to reach downtown. The staff at Texas Rowing Center were a tad unprofessional and disorganized, but that's expected haha. It didn't bother me too much, it made the experience more fun in my opinion. Overall, definitely check out Texas Rowing Center if you're a first timer!

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    2 years ago

    I love the location. People working there are great. The proximity to red bud isle is definitely a selling point.

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    Affordable rentals with no reservations needed. They have storage for your phones/ wallets and plenty of help to get you launched

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    Great service and excellent safety regulations will definitely be back !! They go above and beyond for everybody in the party

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    Ask the Community - Texas Rowing Center

    I was wondering where I'd have to go to apply for a summer position for Texas Rowing Center?

    Hi Rae, You can email Matt, the owner, at matt@texasrowingcenter.com

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Texas Rowing Center

    I can only speak for their paddle boarding, but they will be my go-to spot for renting a board until I buy one for myself.

    Mentioned in 17 reviews

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    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals

    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals

    5.0
    (330 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    We had an awesome time celebrating a bachelor party. Ramon is the best! Would definitely go backread more

    We had such an amazing time on Lake Travis thanks to Willo and Float On. Everything about the…read moreexperience was extremely streamlined from booking to filling out waivers to navigating to the marina. Willo gave superb instructions on operating and piloting the boat including an overview of relevant customs and laws while out on the water. Our group had six adults and one 2-year old and they had plenty of water safety devices for all ages. On a side note, it was wonderful to see how genuinely excited Willo was about Lake Travis once again having a healthy water level after several dry years. In terms of our experience on the lake, we got excellent advice on where to travel based on our team's interests and after following his directions it felt like we had arrived on our own private lake. We probably only saw a handful of other boats during our 3-hour excursion and that was only in passing. The boat came with a Garmin GPS that made it really easy to retrace our steps. For those wondering, there was excellent cell phone service out on the lake and we were able to use our phone GPS, make calls, and stream music. The boat had some nice integrated speakers with Bluetooth connectivity and we were able to jam out to our own tunes. There was also a cool flotation device attached to the back of the boat called the Aqua Lily Pad which we unrolled after anchoring, we had multiple adults laying on it without sinking into the lake. Overall, we could not have asked for a better experience and we would highly recommend booking with Float On.

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    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals
    Birthday celebration!!

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    Austin Rental Boats

    Austin Rental Boats

    4.6
    (148 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    Captain Zach was an amazing driver/ host and made our trip memorable for me and the birthday crew.read more

    We booked this boat ride for a birthday, so it was meant to be a special experience. Overall, the…read morescenery was beautiful and the ride itself was enjoyable, but there were several issues that took away from what should have been a smooth private charter experience. The communication beforehand was not great. The driver texted me the night before around 7:45 PM, and when I replied immediately with concerns about the weather and rain, I didn't receive a response until after 10 PM. The email also stated that the driver would contact us 15-30 minutes before the reservation time, but that never happened. Our reservation was from 9:00-11:00 AM. When we arrived at 9:00, no one was there, so I had to text the driver myself. He responded saying he was getting the boat ready and putting gas in it. In my opinion, those things should have been done ahead of time so guests are properly greeted and the ride can begin on time. When we boarded, the seats and boat were still wet from the rain. Since it was chilly outside, sitting in wet seats for a two-hour ride left our clothes damp and uncomfortable. To give credit where it's due, the driver was friendly and enjoyable to talk to during parts of the ride. However, he also took phone calls during the charter, which felt distracting during what was supposed to be a private birthday outing. The biggest disappointment came on the ride back. The driver stopped to assist another boat that had already said help was on the way. He tied their boat to ours and pulled them in, which significantly took away from the private experience we had paid for. While helping others is kind, it felt inappropriate during a paid private charter, especially one booked for a birthday celebration. Additionally, the trip ran later than scheduled, and there was never any communication about the delay. Our reservation was clearly scheduled for 9-11 AM, and it shouldn't be assumed guests are okay with going over time simply because the ride started late. People may have plans afterward, and communication would have gone a long way. Overall, the lake itself was beautiful and parts of the experience were enjoyable, but the lack of communication, late start, wet boat, interruptions, and detour during our private charter made the experience fall short of expectations.

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    Party all day on "Rose"!!!
    Party all day on "Rose"!!!
    Captain Zach!
    Captain Zach!
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    Retro Boat Rentals ATX

    Retro Boat Rentals ATX

    5.0
    (56 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    I booked a Retro Boat ATX for my milestone birthday after riding one during a community event and…read moreknowing 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.

    What a very unique, relaxing experience cruising around Lady Bird Lake in an electric retro boat…read more 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.

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    Retro Boat Rentals ATX
    Retro Boat Rentals ATX
    Austin city landscape

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    Lone Star Riverboat

    Lone Star Riverboat

    4.5
    (480 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    This was a great thing to do and learn about while in Austin! The tour was very educational about…read morethe bats and how they established residence under this bridge. With about 750,000 pregnant females in a few days they'll be over 1,000,000+ bats. That's soooo crazy, but and absolutely great experience. Shout out to the staff for a great tour! Mahalo from Hawaii

    My family of 3 did the sunset bat tour. It was a fun experience, but be prepared for a lot of…read moresitting on a crowded boat in the heat and humidity. We got there about 45 minutes before 8pm to get a good seat. The chairs are plastic lawn chairs and there is no restroom onboard. You can leave the boat if you need one at a nearby Hyatt hotel. There is also a restroom near Auditorium Shores, but it's kinda gross. It's also a good opportunity to walk and stretch your legs instead of waiting on the boat but leave something in your chairs to save your seat. They let you bring snacks and drinks and they also sell cold beverages. The first part of the tour involves cruising around the lake with the tour guide cracking jokes and giving some history about the structures nearby and bat facts before heading to congress bridge to wait for the bats to fly out. Seeing THOUSANDS of bats was definitely the highlight of the tour. They also used a bat safe red light, which allowed us to see them better in the dark. It wasn't a perfect experience, but the fair price, knowledgeable tour guides, and seeing the bats made it worthwhile. Definitely a good option for something to do if you're looking for something to entertain the kids or friends /family visiting from out of town.

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    Downtown Austin
    Downtown Austin
    Lone star river boat bat tour
    Lone star river boat bat tour
    The bats can't see the red like similar to infrared lights not seen by human eyes

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    The bats can't see the red like similar to infrared lights not seen by human eyes
    Lake Austin Riverboats

    Lake Austin Riverboats

    4.5
    (37 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    If I could give ten stars I would. From the moment I submitted the request to the last step off the…read morePub a month later, every interaction and step in the process was top notch. From Brandon, to Captain John, to staff and crew - everyone was amazing to work with. The day of the event was perfect and seamless. I could not have asked for anything to have been different. Everyone had a great time and raved about the day. We ordered food through them and it was delicious and high quality. We had a professional chef as a party attendant on the boat and he gave high marks. Some with dietary restrictions were impressed with options and accommodations - all that of that was coordinated through Lake Austin Riverboats - everything was perfect. The crew was amazing and so welcoming to the guests and truly contributed to the experience. Book your event - you will not be disappointed.

    I was invited to an event at Quince, which included a boat ride with Austin Riverboat. The…read morerestaurant's staff was outstanding--welcoming, friendly, and highly professional. That level of service carried over to most of the staff on the boat, making the experience even more enjoyable. During the event, I was introduced to Paul, who was seated with a group of friends. He was introduced to me as the boat owner and came across as relaxed and not at all pushy--qualities I appreciate when considering a business, especially since part of my motivation for attending was to explore options for my birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Paul's friends left a negative impression. A couple of them outright refused to acknowledge me, turning away when a gentleman attempted to introduce me. Others made inappropriate jokes about my accent in a condescending and offensive manner. One individual even made vulgar comments, implying that Paul should get my phone number to discuss event planning details later, which was completely unprofessional and inappropriate. While the event itself was enjoyable, the boat ride interesting, the behavior of those around the boat owner and the fact that the boat owner never replied to my text message trying to discuss my event, was disappointing and detracted from my overall experience. This experience left me with a negative impression of the boat's management, and I strongly feel that they are not welcoming to immigrants. The group consisted of older white men whose behavior was filled with prejudice and hostility. And for that reason I felt compelled to post a review discouraging people like me- and those against this type of behavior - to stay away and make better choices. We can use our money to invest in a much better experience elsewhere I left the boat traumatized and truly disgusted by those old men behaviors. Do better!

    Photos
    Upper deck of the commodores pup
    Upper deck of the commodores pup
    Upper deck of the commodores pup
    Upper deck of the commodores pup
    Lake Austin Riverboats

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    Texas Rowing Center - boating - Updated August 2026

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