This is my favorite boat rental for canoe/kayak in Zilker Park. I have been here throughout the years and service is always quick and great. *** You need your ID! & a card on file & need a waiver signed *** I always keep this in mind when going & it saves me time The rental prices is $21 per hour Usually 1 hour is enough and it is a great time read more

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This is the most LIVELY, FUN filled happy people who come just to enjoy kayaking!!! This is my absolute FAVORITE place in Austin! It's HUGE! You can bike, walk, and run along the path! There are people everywhere around the holidays! You can find parking under the bridge.and walk around nearby. Make sure you bring water shoes. Definitely, a stop to enjoy the outdoor life! read more

Super welcoming staff! It was helpful that they let us know about a two for one deal before 12pm which made for an easy and affordable family group activity. Easy to sign waiver via QR code and lockers were a bit pricy at $5. I would recommend leaving most of your belongings in the trunk if possible. Lovely way to get some fresh air on a spring day. read more

Weekdays are great time to come to get a great deal. Currently they had a rent one boat and get 2nd boat free promotion during the weekdays (check website). You can rent a variety of items here. They give you life jackets. I went with my elderly parents and the staff was incredibly accommodating getting them in and out of the canoes. read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Our family had another amazing experience with Zilker Rentals! This was our second time visiting them while in Austin, and we came back because our first experience was so wonderful -- and this time was just as great, if not better. The check-in and check-out process was incredibly easy and stress-free. The staff was warm, friendly, and always available to help with anything we needed. The water itself is clear & beautiful, with stunning views that made our stay feel relaxing and special. Zilker Rentals continues to be one of our favorite places to stay, and we look forward to coming back again soon. Highly recommend for families or anyone looking for a peaceful Austin experience ! read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - greenery - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I have always had a great experience with Zilker Park Boat Rentals. Me and the pup continue to come back summer after summer and I think she enjoys it more than I do. We get a 2 seater for $21/hr and hit Barking Springs when we're done. The waiver is short and easy to fill out, staff is always friendly helping us load and strap things on to the kayak, and we love the Austin skyline views! read more

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I grew up in Austin and spent my childhood at Zilker Park! When I took my own kid back for a visit, we were super excited to go to Zilker especially to rent a kayak and go out on Town Lake. It was a hot summer day but down on the water there's a lovely breeze, and Austinites everywhere are out enjoying the outdoors. My teen and I paddled down under a couple of the bridges, enjoyed watching the turtles, and loved the serene feeling of being out on the water. The staff were quick, friendly and helpful. read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Beautiful day on Town Lake! - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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First time renting from this place, and we were a group of 8 people on a hot Saturday mid May. We went at 11:30am to be sure to secure enough paddles and that was the way to go. By 1:30 when we came back, the line was absolutely insane and they had ran out of paddles and kayak so you had to wait for people to come back. We loved the location, you get out right on Barton springs and take the scenic route to the lake It's a crowded area, but there is a reason for it! The people working at the desk were very nice. The people getting you on the boards got us in the middle of a coworkers argument and that was awkward though. You'll need to leave 1 driver licence with the desk for your whole group. And they rent $5 lockers to leave your stuff but we grabbed the last one, so I would bring my own (plenty of room, just not enough actual lockers) Pro-tips: - bring your own locker - do not forget your sunscreen - bring a waterproof speaker if you're heading to the lake - if you brings a cooler and drinks, don't forget a bag for trash. read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's officially summer time in Austin,Texas ! To beat the 100 degree weather I recommend kayaking , paddle boarding or canoeing on Lady Bird Lake. The water is where you want to be! This was my 2nd time kayaking alone for some quality me time at Zilker Boat Rentals.The whole rental process is simple and quick. You scan a QR code to fill out your info, give a card & id at check in then close out when your done. I feel comfortable getting on and off the kayak with the assistance of the workers that are waiting in the water to assist you. This is what keeps me coming back. I arrived early on a Friday morning around 9:30am the weather was still nice and cool, the water was perfect, all the turtles had fish were out to greet me. What a beautiful way to start my weekend. I had no problem finding parking and it is free on weekdays. Even better! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Terrible staff, they use high pressure tactics to coerce you into leaving a tip. What are we even tipping for? renting a paddle board? It was very extreme to expect a tip for no service. morning on the lake ruined by the aggressiveness. These people will want a tip for holding the door next. read more

This review is for my most recent visit on Saturday 08/29/2020. For sure in this pandemic craziness getting outdoors to go kayaking or canoeing is a great way to feel somewhat "normal" & get to have some fun w/ your peeps..and such great exercise! Since "sharing is caring" here are a few of my helpful tips & FYI(s).. -As other reviews have stated Zilker Park Boat Rentals is cash only. If you forget or don't have enough cash on you there is an ATM machine on-site to use. -make sure to take your identification w/ you when renting a kayak or canoe because when you 1st check in you give them your ID or drivers license to keep until you are finished at the end & need to pay. -parking on a weekend SUCKS BIG HAIRY TOES so make sure to have patience when looking for a parking spot. You will be parking at Zilker Park so of course it is usually busy depending on when you go. -for the kayaking newbies, like myself :)) if you get a 2-person kayak, the person sitting in the back of the kayak is the one who "steers" the kayak. -pack lunch goodies so after you're done w/ all the fun in the water you can chill-ax at one of the picnic tables there at Zilker Park. -there is a coupon online on their website but can only be used during the weekday. -fur babies are allowed but FYI, no life jackets are provided for them & the water may have the algae that is poisonous for dogs. On the day we went there (8/29/2020) were signs posted w/ this warning Hopefully, this info helps. Stay safe & sane out there! -Rebecca out read more

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Great location! You cannot beat it, as far as location goes. All these places have replaceable hourly workers so sometimes you'll get a cool one, sometimes a grumpy one. But you aren't renting kayaks for customer service. Location location location read more

Perfect day out in the Texas sun! Arrived on Monday morning to find that parking was free. The ease of the rental process was seamless and organized. Plenty of social distancing and masks, as with anywhere else, are required until you are on your kayak / canoe. We picked a two person kayak and used our life vests as a backrest; highly recommended. Once you are through the narrow canal area, it opens up to many possibilities, either to the left or right (paddle right for the Austin skyline). There are people swimming around in this area so be careful. Just do it! You won't regret it. Make sure to bring spf, water, ID and cash. Water shoes aren't necessary. We paid $18 for an hour rental. read more

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We had a blast renting stand up paddle boards at Zilker Park. It was an absolute breeze to rent, within five minutes of walking up to the shack we were loading up on our boards. I will say the river around this time of year had nasty algae that made it more difficult to paddle and you would not want to fall off in it, but if you paddle out towards the open area to the lake it clears up entirely (of no fault to the boat rental obviously: just an observation to note!). We would definitely recommend for a day to get outside and be active on the water, for a very reasonable price. read more

My girlfriend, Carrie and I decided to enjoy a day in the sun, and it turned into three hours on the gorgeous Lady Bird Lake. We got to talking about the camps we went to as kids and decided on the canoe over the kayak or paddle board for nostalgia sake. Very convenient location! Cash only. Their products are all CLEAN- super important! read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I always come here when I need to go kayaking in Ladybird Lake because the prices are way better here compared to other places. There is a coupon for weekdays on their website that gives either the second hour free or the second boat free. They are cash only and take your ID when you rent a boat. I hope the lady there appreciated learning new information because my brother had to explain to her what a NEXUS card was when she questioned his ID. The Colorado river is the most boring and dirtiest river nearby, but at least there are nice views on the lake. The single kayaks are pretty good as you can go somewhat fast in them. read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Location is very convenient. The people were very nice. We will go back in the future.

Love this rental spot. Everyone is always super friendly and helpful and great area to get into the water! And I believe they have a special rental deal (free maybe) if you are going to pick up trash on the water!! Win Win!! read more

Terrible operation. How do you have cash only payment, stiff armed and slow witted employees, and a faulty ATM machine that runs up the line dozens of people deep during a pandemic? A few groups of us had to Venmo each other because the ATM wasn't working and strangers had to band together because the business was incompetent and passed more work off to it's customers. Worth nothing I was the only person masked up in packed line. Willing to go far out of my way next time to support a business that has its ish together. read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Long line during a pandemic on behalf of terrible payment policy, slow employees, and other mishaps - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

9/21/24... My 5 year old daughter and I were looking forward to renting a kayak from this site on a Saturday. We had rented from this location before and had a good experience, but today was very disappointing. It took us long enough to find a parking spot and by the time we got to the rental, nobody was there and it was 9:30 AM. I called and it said they are open 365 days a year and open at 9 AM, weather permitting. It was a beautiful morning so weather should not have been an issue. In the end, we never got to kayak and my daughter and I were extremely disappointed. Will not be returning again and will rent from elsewhere. read more

This was great! They have coupons on their website for B1G1 free rentals M-F so I highly recommend using one of those if you can get out on a week day. It was pretty easy to find from the directions on the website too. There's an ATM on site, which was pretty convenient. I loved paddleboarding out on the river and we saw about a zillion turtles. read more

Great way to get a fantastic view of Austin. We did not need a reservation and they had a lot of available kayaks in the morning. Staff was friendly and very patient with us launching our kayaks. It was very relaxing to kayak in the morning. I know in the afternoon there was a lot more people on the water hanging out and drinking. If that's your vibe, definitely go later in the day. read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place offers pretty decent prices, but I wish they accepted card payments. If you go out to the lake, the views of downtown Austin are amazing. Although a lot of people are vaccinated, I wish they'd implement more safety guidelines, such as cleaning the paddles and disinfecting the kayaks/canoes after each use. The life jackets also had a funny smell to them. I understand the water isn't clean, but I'm sure they can clean them more often. Nonetheless, my experience was great and I'd love to come back to explore a bit more. I only rented a kayak for about an hour($18), but they have all day rentals for $54. Dog friendly place that allows fur babies on the boats. Just make sure to watch them, so they don't drink the dirty water! read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Views of downtown Austin. - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Never the same experience! I've been here and have taken my daughter many times-- every time has been a new adventure! We love it out on the lake. Bring your ID. Cost: $15/hr or $45/day; cash only- you sign the waivers and take the boats out first, then pay upon your return. They open at 9am and close at dusk; be warned, they don't rent out canoes or kayaks after 6:30pm. There's plenty of wild life to enjoy: turtles, fish, coots, etc. Have fun! read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

This rental company is CASH ONLY. Every review should mention this because we brought only enough money for 1 hr a piece, which was a bummer, but turned out to be just enough time to get our sea legs, or stand up paddleboard legs in this case. When we got here they had plenty of kayaks, SUPs, and canoes left, but they were out of lockers. We were counting on those for our stuff, so we had to take our valuables with us. The nice thing is they give you a 10-minute buffer before your official time starts. This summer it's $18/hr for a rental that gets prorated if you go over your time. It takes about 30 minutes to travel to the picturesque part of the lake if you're a newbie like us. It's a little easier on the way to the lake because of the water movement, but give yourself at least 15 minutes to get back to the boat rental. The staff is really friendly and can help you get situated if it's your first time renting. Everything is doable at all ages, so grab a mode of transportation and get on the water! read more

Time flies when you're having fun. This place gets pricey fast but it's so much fun. After nearly two hours of kayaking with 2 kayaks, it's basically worth renting for the whole day. It's also cash only. Checkout was fast and we were able to get into the kayaks and in the water quickly. The river is beautiful and cold, perfect for this summer heat. We went over our projected time limit and had to run back to our car for more cash. Worst part of the experience. Parking wasn't too bad either for being a holiday. read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - A little rain didn't stop us. - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Rented a paddle boat because I LOVE paddle boarding and havent been since Colorado, good customer service and big thanks to that guy that took my paddle board back read more

Usually don't post reviews but staff member had an aggressive pit bull running around the area and it was following/ trying to fight my dog multiple times. This lady and a couple staff were rude to my family and I who brought our 2 SUP to launch and rented one. One of the workers made strange/uncomfortable comments to both my sister and I and then smiled & laughed. Wouldn't recommend anyways we came at 11am and there was already a 40 minute wait for 1 SUP:\ read more

This place was staffed by hardworking, friendly, heart of Austin types that had been there, in many cases, for more than a decade. New management inherited the family business from her dad and fired every single one, no notice, no warning, no severance. This after these staff had worked through two years of a pandemic dealing with poorly behaved customers and risking personal health, dealing with the aftermath of that river's frequent flooding, and hauling boats back and forth in the 100 degree summer heat for years on end. I will never go back, I suggest folks steer their dollars elsewhere. read more

Kind of a hike to carry your paddleboard down here but they do have a public shore to launch your paddle board from.

This place sucks! They were so rude to us when we arrived, got our reservations all screwed up, made us wait around while they apparently had nothing else do, then wouldn't comp us for the inconvenience. I used to come here all the time, the employees were super chill super friendly, everything was so dialed in, everything was tidy, efficient, fun and I could tell they were loving their job. It's quit obvious the new owner, who fired all the old folks, has made a horrible business mistake. I don't often write reviews but I just couldn't sit back and not mention how down hill this business has gone, and such a shame because of the location, but whatever, I'll definitely be taking my business elsewhere and encourage you to do the same. Shame on them! Only one star cause I had to (yelp) read more

We rented the swan paddle boats for our family of 4 and had a blast! What a fun way to enjoy the lake!

My friends and I rented a canoe and had a wonderful afternoon! Super helpful staff, great equipment and awesome location. They have canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards available. Hands down the best Lake Austin experience you can have! read more

Had a fun time kayaking~ This place is conveniently located at Zilker Park and has lots of boats/kayaks available for rental. My only complaint is that renting a locker costs money here, and that they only accept cash. Other kayak rental places that I've gone to before accepted card and gave more instruction for first time kayakers. This place was just average and only gets the 3 star rating simply because I've gone to better rental places before. Also, I would recommend bringing something to keep your phone dry and wearing swim bottoms if you're going kayaking! The bottom of the kayak can start to get pretty wet. read more

What a great way to spend a warm/sunny summer afternoon on the water! In addition to the prices everyone is listing, it is only $5 for a locker (which was key since we walked there from our friend's place and didn't have a car nearby). Pay is via cash only, but there is an ATM about 200 feet away inside the mini train station ticket depot. You pay afterwards as they hold on to your license for insurance that you'll pay after. Other than plenty of other people out enjoying the water, we saw turtles, geese, and an overly friendly swan that people were unfortunately hand feeding (causing it to approach other people who were then scared and tried to bat the bird away). I looked at a few other stands online and most of them were $20 to rent a paddle board for an hour. Yes, $15 for an hour is an investment - but it's well worth it and most exercise classes cost around the same/aren't usually outside! read more

Zilker Park Boat Rentals - Boating Near Me - Austin, Texas

Had a very good experience renting a kayak here on my recent trip to Austin. It was easy to rent the kayak, the staff was helpful and helped us get in and out of the water in a snap. The location is great - right near the Barton Springs pool and along Barton Creek (There are some steps to go down to get to the launch, for reference). It's a great spot to kayak, allowing you to stay on Barton Creek if you want an easy, more secluded spot, but close enough that you can get out on the main river fairly quickly if you want to stay out longer. read more

Very close to the Barton Springs pool with plenty of signs, so it is pretty easy to find. You will have to go down some stairs to get to the boats/shore. It was easy to rent the kayak and the cashier had good insights on what to rent. She let us know when she started my rent time and I just had to leave an ID and sign a waiver. The other employee got the kayaks ready in the water and I just had to grab a life jacket and paddle.The water was smooth and easy to maneuver and I had wonderful time looking at the turtles in the water and Austin skyline. Docking the kayak was easy and then I just had to pay. (*They only accept cash!*) I went in the morning, on a Friday, and there were no crowds. read more

Super friendly and took care of everything. Equipment was great and loved the park and location

Lots of fun with my kids. Water is clear and cool. Very nice place to visit in Austin.

This is the perfect thing to do on a sunny day! You can paddle out and enjoy the beautiful Austin skyline. I recommend this to locals as well as any out-of-towners that are looking for a great outdoor experience! It's very inexpensive. You can rent a kayak or canoe for $10 an hour and you can even bring your dog :) It's location in Zilker Park is ideal for family picnics, sporting events, barton springs, and the botanical gardens. You can make it an all-day event! The people who run the place are really friendly and welcoming! Tip: do not forget your sunscreen. You don't realize how long you are out there! read more

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