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    Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

    3.8 (78 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Luis D.

    My wife found this activity and suggested we do this with our daughter. We decided to do it on Sunday morning and we had a nice experience. Parking was pretty easy on a Sunday morning. Staff had the place open on time and had us on the water quickly. I didn't see a bathroom which was a major booboo for us with a kid. With that said there is a free bathroom about 7 minute walk away towards the Washington Monument. We paid $40 for an hour paddle boat rental which doesn't seem like a good deal unless you are splitting this two ways. On Thursday they do have a cheaper price which would have been a good option. Staff was nice but quiet and to the point. I wouldn't suggest this on a real hot and sunny day either. Probably best during spring, fall, or early morning.

    Views from the center of the Basin.
    Matthew B.

    Experience... 10/10 Price... 10/10 If you're in DC during the week, this is the place to make a stop. Going on a Sunday in July, I was expecting the experience to be overcrowded, but I was pleasantly surprised! This will be quite the physical experience, and you must be prepared for that. If you go in the summer, make sure to bring water The price wasn't bad either! After taxes and fees, we rented a paddle boat for $45. The views are the best part of the experience. If you're a plane person, this is right in the approach to DCA, and I loved being able to watch the planes. The monuments of the Mall are also well within reach. The views of the Washington monument look amazing!

    Duck outpaddling our 4-person boat.
    Ruth C.

    Three and a half stars. Waivers are not as mandatory as the website makes it sound, and we barely heard a word from their staff (if you don't like your activity time being taken up by instructions, you'll love it here). Googling informed us that the strap wraps around on the outside of the life vests, not the inside. Not sure how often they actually get cleaned, since they just have you put them right back inside the storage chests when you're done. Take 2-person boats if you want to stay friends with everyone in your group; we compromised by turning our 4-person boat back to dock halfway through in order to have them steady it while we switched places (at the cost of never quite making it to MLK memorial). The paddling itself is fun, once you figure out that paddling hard doesn't do you much good other than calorie burning. I'll probably come back for a day date just to try a swan.

    Loved everything about this!
    Nina R.

    We had a bit of time before our tour at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving (totally worth it btw), so we were looking for something to do for an hour or so. How do you top paddle boating around with monuments in the background?! You can get regular paddle boats for $20 (the four-person paddle boat is a bit more) or a motorized swan boat for $35. My daughter was with me and she really wanted to ride around in a swan, so that's what we did. The staff was friendly and helpful. They helped wrangle us all into boats and out of them, and when we came back a little early, they let us know we still had plenty of time - I love that they wanted to make sure we got our money's worth. This was probably the best $35 I spent in DC. I'd definitely do it again.

    Austin G.

    If you're a tourist and aren't scared off by steep price tags, renting a paddle boat for one hour (note: you'll be too tired for more than hour so don't even try to get it for longer) isn't the worst idea. Per hour, it's $18 for a two person paddle boat, $30 for a four person boat, and $34 for a swan paddle boat (seriously, don't cave for this option- it's cheesy). It's a good way to see DC's key monuments up close (the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument) and from afar (Lincoln Memorial and US Capitol) without the crowds. All you need to worry about is not peddling into other boaters. Warning: You may think it's a quick trip to the Jefferson Memorial and back to dock, but it's a longer, more exhausting trip than you think. Paddling with someone else takes a lot of communication and coordination. Be prepared to fight, but push through. By the end of the hour, your legs will be sore and ready for a break. Pro-tip: If you're going to do this, go during the Cherry Blossom Festival. It's beautiful. Book months in advance as they fill up fast! Happy peddling!

    View of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial from the paddle boat on the water.
    Daniel C.

    This is a super fun spot to enjoy your time in DC. You can enjoy the view of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument on the water. You'll get a good leg workout using the paddle boats. It's especially fun with a few friends or family members. This is definitely a go-to spot for tourists.

    Views of Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and MLK Jr Memorial from Tidal Basin

    Really enjoyed this DC activity! There is parking (approx. $2/hr) directly in front of the dock where the paddle boats are rented, which was really convenient. There was also plenty of grass space if you wanted to have a picnic. The paddle boat experience itself was slightly pricey in my opinion ($35/hour) but I still had a great time and got great pictures. The experience included views of: the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial. The staff was friendly and helpful. I will definitely be taking my family, from out-of-state, to this spot.

    Jefferson memorial
    Katie B.

    The guys working the dock are great! The paddle boats are definitely older and little wonky. They work, but could use some improvement as the peddles probably need to be greased and sit a little sideways, sometimes it feels like only one person is pedaling. It's a great way to get a good view of some of the monuments and nice little leg work out at the same time!

    Olboi G.

    A nice outing if winding down the day in the city. It can be bit pricey if renting the 4 person boat for $32 an hour. Also if you have long legs, you will need to wear flexible attire. Staff is super friendly and they are more than willing to assist you. Handicapped Parking is readily available, but $6 for only 3 hours maximum.

    Beautiful
    Crystal F.

    My fiancé and I planned for a weekend during the cherry blossom festival in DC and we were able to make advanced reservation online. It was great to skip the line and get straight to a boat for the time slot we reserved for (there was a loooong line waiting by the pier). It is really fun to paddle the boat around the tidal basin and the views are amazing! And it's only $15/hr! They take all kinds of payments.

    Becka T.

    Fun activity and great way to see the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Memorial from a different perspective! $20 for a 2-seater paddle boat. An overhead shade costs additional but we were ok without it around 4:30pm on a hot and humid August day. Had a great time!

    Michelle D.

    Kinda expensive but what else do you expect? It's $16 for 2 for an hour. I thought there'd be a wait or a line of some sort due to it being a huge tourist attraction, but there wasn't! Grey and I went around 4 for Labor Day and it wasn't too hot. I bet it'd be a beautiful spot to be in during the cherry blossom season, so I'm hoping to do it then also! Side note: I'm an avid runner so I thought that pedaling wouldn't be too bad, but oh no no no it was not. I can't imagine having four people to one boat, since there's only two pedaling seats.

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    7 years ago

    Finally got a chance to do this. My daughter and I had a wonderful time. Very fun! The staff were really friendly too

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    Ask the Community - Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

    Review Highlights - Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

    Fun activity and great way to see the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Memorial from a different perspective!

    Mentioned in 23 reviews

    Read more highlights

    GoBoat

    GoBoat

    4.7(27 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Luxury

    Float DC is a fantastic and fun experience. After you sign up online, you and your group meet at…read morethe dock and he gives you the code for entry in case you have to go back and forth. The driver cannot drink so determine before you go who is doing what and then the DD of the boat will go through a 15 min overview of the boat, steering, storages etc. Everyone must sign waivers online beforehand and the driver is required to take a test on boating safety and protocols. The boats have Bluetooth capabilities so bring your phone and connectors. Life jackets are required and depending on your time slot you'll have a good amount of time to go out and come back. Steering can be a little slow so as the driver you have to be aware of your surrounds and abide by boat etiquette. If you've never steered a motor or sail boat before you may want to take a lesson or hire a captain. Handling the boat in rough water would be difficult without sone experience. All in all we had a really great time and I'd rent again but do a longer session so we can go further down the canal. Definitely recommend for all my water enthusiasts.

    Goboat was a great experience. I really want to give the experience a 5 however, it was missing a…read morescheduler. I booked on Father's Day and there was a lot of double and triple bookings that took place which turned my 2-hr 1:30 booking into a 2-hr 2:15 booking. I had baby boomers in my party so explaining what was going on to them became a little tedious. Even with that hiccup, Benny & Vusi still delivered great customer service, they were helpful in instructing us how to use the boat, as well as personable and professional. Once on the water, I truly no longer cared about the scheduling situation. With that said, I will very much likely be back.

    Photos
    GoBoat - The kids are excited about the ride!

    The kids are excited about the ride!

    GoBoat
    GoBoat

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    SeaDC - Enjoy wonderful snacks on your boat rental!

    SeaDC

    4.8(5 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    My favorite season is boat season and SeaDC has helped me spend lots of time on the water at an…read moreaffordable price! I first stumbled across SeaDC when I moved to the area in 2023. I was looking for a duffy boat to rent to celebrate my birthday since that was my birthday tradition for the past couple of years living in CA. I was so happy when I found this business and immediately booked a 2/3 hour ride. Split between 10 people it was less than $50 per person! What I love most about SeaDC is that you can drive the boats yourself and don't need a license. They're electric and better for the environment. The boats are a cool way to hang out with friends instead of going to a restaurant/bar in my opinion. There's bluetooth on board and you can bring any snacks and drinks that you want. Since celebrating my birthday on the boat 2 years ago I've done numerous days out on the water thanks to their membership option. You can pay a flat rate for the season and enjoy going out 2x a month or unlimited depending on your tier. And then lastly I want to shout out Benjamin, the manager of SeaDC. He's awesome and always so helpful. I highly highly highly recommend checking them out. Even now in November when it's a bit colder they have windows that roll down to keep the breeze out and warm inside (pro tip: bring hot chocolate with you) Thank you so much SeaDC, I've loved being out on the water on your duffy boats and can't wait for warmer weather to do it again :)

    The staff are delightful. The boats are a fun way to be outdoors for a couple of hours and show…read morevisitors the skyline. Piloting is easy. The rates are high unless you have a membership, though.

    Photos
    SeaDC - Kids love it!

    Kids love it!

    SeaDC - Relaxing

    Relaxing

    SeaDC - Family friendly

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    Family friendly

    Boating in DC at Ballpark Boathouse

    Boating in DC at Ballpark Boathouse

    3.7(16 reviews)
    1.8 miNavy Yard

    I am accustomed to wonderfully friendly and accommodating kayak companies and this one did not hit…read morethat standard. Booking was easy enough, and we checked in at the main dock, then walked down to the launch. The employee who was assisting with the kayaks seemed very tired and uninterested. We had some questions about kayaking parameters, and he responded with short, off-putting, counters. Upon entering my kayak, I saw that the interior was wet and I asked for a dryer option. He said it was not available, and the water quickly soaked into my clothes. It was one of those moments, where I looked at the stacks of kayaks and wondered why a different one was not available. Once on the water, the sights are cool! But be aware, you cannot access the tidal basin. It was a fun way to explore DC even with wet clothes.

    My partner and I rented two hydra-bikes and we had a great time. The folks helping us were laid…read moreback and helpful. I think that type of easy-going approach is odd for some people, but we really enjoyed not feeling rushed, judged, or overwhelmed with lots of info and overzealous customer service. We got a quick explanation of how to ride and where to ride and were off. They let us leave 10min early and still honored our entire 1hr reservation. We saw other kayakers and folks on the hydra-bikes and everyone was all smiles. The views from the river are so nice! I want to find a place like this back home- simple, no frills, and fun!

    Photos
    Boating in DC at Ballpark Boathouse
    Boating in DC at Ballpark Boathouse
    Boating in DC at Ballpark Boathouse

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    Tidal Basin Paddle Boats - boating - Updated May 2026

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