6 of Texas’ Top 10 Boating Destinations Are in DFW: A Descriptive Yet Non-Illustrated Guide

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This guy boats.

Getmyboat, which bills itself as the AirBnB of boats, recently tracked the top 10 most popular cities for boating in Texas. The platform found six of its 10 most popular boating destinations are found in North Texas.

Getmyboat connects people with boat rental and charter services. With over 150,000 listings across 184 countries, Getmyboat says they help make boating accessible to everyone.

“By giving a platform to both individual boat owners and professional charter businesses, Getmyboat makes the experience of getting out on the water more accessible to everyone — from a weekend jet ski rental in the local lake to a vacation yacht charter to a bachelor party pontoon, and everything in between.”

Does that mean you can just drop your credit card down, rent, and roll onto the shores of Lake Lewisville? No. GetMyBoat connects you with someone who’ll be your designated driver to the Party Barge and stay out of the way like your parents used to do for a girls’ sleepover.

Miles and Miles of … Water

For a state as Texas as Texas is, we sure have a lot of waterways to explore. In Texas, there are approximately 1.7 million acres of freshwater lakes, 4 million acres of saltwater, and 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

We’re number 7 on the list of rankings of states with the most registered boats.

There are over half a million registered motorized boats in Texas, and many more other vessels including canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and other watercraft. [That’s Texas Parks and Wildlife being diplomatic to say they’re not registered, you rule breakers.]

Getmyboat recently tallied the most popular rental destinations on their platform to compile this top 10 boating destinations in Texas.

And P.S. I tried to save photos of the most interesting rentals at each of these lakes and the site said, “Nah bro. I’ll give you a AVIF file and you’ll like it.”

1: Austin

[Insert the best-composed photo of sorority girls with the cutest matching swimsuits and heart sunglasses you’ve ever seen in this spot here. I’m not going GGW here; it’s genuinely an adorable photo.]

Average hourly rate
$151/hour

Average trip price
$603

Most popular style of boat
Pontoons

Home to the expansive Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Lady Bird Lake, Austin is the top destination for the boatward-bound. Specifically, water sports like wake surfing, wakeboarding, and tubing, as well as sunset cruises and lake tours of the celebrity homes that line the shore are popular activities. We have Party Cove, they have Devil’s Cove. They win. You can also visit waterfront restaurants or top spots like Hippie Hollow and Volente Beach.

2: Canyon Lake

[Photo of cliffs and water with paddleboarders crouched over awkwardly]

Average hourly rate
$116/hour

Average trip price
$458

Most popular style of boat
Pontoons

Situated in the picturesque Texas Hill Country between Austin and San Antonio, the Canyon Lake Reservoir is said to have crystal-clear waters surrounded by rolling hills, impressive cliffs, and an abundance of wildlife. You boat here for the scenery. Here, pontoons are a popular style of watercraft for renting, and the lake is beloved for all sorts of recreational activities, including water sports, fishing, and paddleboarding. Jet skiing is also a popular activity on Canyon Lake and rentals start at just $90/hour.

3: Lewisville

[Photo of women with their backs turned to the camera, slightly bent over. Not sure why.]

Average hourly rate
$223/hour

Average trip price
$851

Most popular style of boat
Yachts

I’m going to quote this one straight from the source:

“A thriving suburb of Dallas, Lewisville boasts Lewisville Lake, a 29,000-acre reservoir perfect for boating escapades. With its numerous parks and access points, Lewisville Lake provides ample opportunities for sailing, fishing, and water sports. The city’s commitment to water quality and conservation efforts enhances the overall boating experience.

Yachts are a popular style of boat to charter on Lewisville Lake, and many boaters will embark on an adventure to Party Cove for an afternoon of fun in the sun and meeting up with other boaters. Visit a waterfront restaurant like Sneaky Pete’s or Captain Jack’s Floating Bar and Grill if you get hungry while exploring the lake.”

Meeting up. That’s what you call it. And special shout-out to one of the lake’s most popular rentals, the “Stranger Danger Luxary Party Boat on Lewisville,” yours for $299 an hour for a minimum four hours.

4: Lake Conroe

[Photo of elusive national forest land. Gonna need a few to explain this concept to North Texans.]

Average hourly rate
$114/hour

Average trip price
$482

Most popular style of boat
Powerboats

Lake Conroe is home to an expansive 21,000-acre lake that borders the Sam Houston National Forest. See, a U.S. National Forest Park is a federally-protected and preserved parcel of park land that’s really pretty. We North Texans know nothing of this because the four national forests in Texas are nowhere near North Texas. Oh, and the closest U.S. National Park is in Arkansas, apparently. Come on feds, is North Texas really that plain?

5: Galveston

[Photo of fishermen that you’d see hanging in your favorite Dallas fried shrimp place]

Average hourly rate
$107/hour

Average trip price
$325

Most popular style of boat
Pontoons

Galveston is beloved for fishing excursions, where anglers can book a full-service fishing charter and make an unforgettable catch. The most popular species to catch here include sand trout, flounder, croaker, redfish, and black drum.

Not into fishing? Rent a boat and cruise past the iconic pier and amusement park on the waterfront.

6: Little Elm

[Photo of glistening new municipal infrastructure on the waterfront]

Average hourly rate
$116/hour

Average trip price
$471

Most popular style of boat
Pontoons

Getmyboat says boaters can enjoy the city’s developed waterfront, complete with parks, boat ramps, and recreational facilities. They recommend a visit to The Lakefront at Little Elm, an entertainment district on Lewisville Lake in the town that is perfect for families looking to get outdoors and have a good time. Isn’t that nice?

7: Rockwall

[Photo not found]

Average hourly rate
$114

Average trip price
$468

Most popular style of boat
Powerboats

It’s a great location close to Dallas for getting out on a boat and powerboats are popular here for people looking to enjoy fun water sports like tubing, wakeboarding, and more. That’s really all Getmyboat said.

8: Hickory Creek

[Photo of trees sticking out of the water in shaded coves. Nature.]

Average hourly rate
$215

Average trip price
$818

Most popular style of boat
Yachts

Located on the shores of Lewisville Lake, Hickory Creek emerges as a boating haven in North Texas. “It’s a cute town that offers access to all the great boating and outdoor recreation of Lewisville Lake,” Getmyboat writes.

Visit the plethora of lakefront parks and nature preserves here, including Lake Park, Sycamore Bend Park, and Willow Grove, to connect with nature and enjoy being on the water. Insert a checkmark emoji here.

9: Grand Prairie

[Photo that looks similar to the landscape of most North Texas lakes. Lots of generic-looking pontoons.]

Average hourly rate
$135

Average trip price
$530

Most popular style of boat
Pontoons

Situated near Joe Pool Lake, Getmyboat touts Grand Prairie as a great spot for fishing, waterskiing, or casual cruising. There are also a lot of great parks for camping or picnics on the lakefront around Grand Prairie.

10: Grapevine

[Photo of this Silver Lake Marina with historic homes in the background. I want to see this.]

Average hourly rate
$128

Average trip price
$513

Most popular style of boat
Powerboats

On Grapevine Lake, you can find affordable boat rentals starting at $128/hour on average, with every type of vessel available. Fishing enthusiasts will delight in the lake’s abundance of bass, catfish, and crappie, making it an ideal destination to secure a bragworthy freshwater catch. For a touch of history, Getmyboat recommends cruising to the historic Silver Lake Marina and taking in the scenic beauty of the restored 19th-century buildings.

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Shelby is Associate Editor of CandysDirt.com, where she writes and produces the Dallas Dirt podcast. She loves covering estate sales and murder homes, not necessarily related. As a lifelong Dallas native, she's been an Eagle, Charger, Wildcat, and a Comet.

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