In close competition with Lake Austin, Lake Travis has become one of the premier boating destinations for locals and visitors to the Austin, Texas area. You can’t beat the local climate, with sunny days in the 70°s being the norm for most of the year. The lake has become infamous for its iconic party scene, with massive raft-ups taking place at Devil’s Cove, Starnes Island, and Hippie Hollow Park. Its close proximity to downtown Austin—less than 20 miles and a quick 30 minute drive—has easily put Lake Travis on our list of one of the best lakes for boating in the United States.
For the best Lake Travis boat rental experience, be sure to secure one of these boat types:
Pontoon boats are essentially big party barges, large enough to suit families, couples, and groups of friends. Pontoons are perfect vessels for navigating party spots like Devil’s Cove and Starnes Island, and most of them are also equipped to pull towable tubes.
Wake boats and ski boats provide an adrenaline rush for renters looking to try wakesurfing, wakeboarding, water skiing, or kneeboarding for the first time. They also tend to have epic sound systems to help you ‘rock’ the boat.
Safety Requirements:
Boating License/Education Rules: Texas has a mandatory boat education law that applies to some operators of boats and/or personal watercrafts (PWCs), including a 16-year old minimum age to operate a vessel with horsepower greater than 15 HP (including PWCs).
Life Jacket Requirements: 13 years and under must wear a PFD.
For more information, visit Texas Parks & Wildlife website.
Where to dock your boat, or meet your rental:
West Beach Marina- Lake Travis
Paradise Cove Marina
VIP Marina Lake Travis
Highland Lakes Marina
Northshore Marina at the Hollows
For more information, check out Boating on Lake Travis: Everything You Need to Know.
The Austin area, including Lake Travis, offers an ideal year-round boating climate. Winter is short and mild, while most of the year is humid but comfortable, with temperatures averaging in the mid-70°s and reaching the upper 80°s and mid-90°s in the middle of summer. Trust us when we say—you will feel that intense Texas heat between the months of July and August, which makes cooling off in Lake Travis a go-to activity for all. The best part about Lake Travis weather? Boats do not need to be winterized, which means the lake is wide open and there are boat rentals available 365 days out of the year.
Avg. Temperature High: Peaks around 96°F in July and August
Avg. Temperature Low: Around 41-45°F during winter months, from December through February
Avg. Water Temperatures in and around Austin:
73°F in the Spring (March, April, May)
83°F in the Summer (June, July, August)
79°F in Fall (September, October, November)
65°F in Winter (December, January, February)