lake austin riverboat cruise

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We Are Accepting Reservations

Book your outdoor event with us today! E-mail: [email protected] 512.345.5220

-->Welcome to Lake Austin Riverboats

For parties, weddings, rehearsal dinners and corporate events, Lake Austin Riverboats has been an Austin institution for more than 50 years

-->We are the Longest Running Riverboat Operation in Texas.

-->featuring the beauty of lake austin, -->weddings, parties, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, and more, about us celebrating over 70 years.

As the longest running riverboat operation in Texas and an official boat of the Texas Navy, Lake Austin Riverboats provides a party venue as unique as Austin itself. Our full crew and captain will do everything to make your birthday, company party, meeting, group event, banquet, rehearsal dinner or wedding memorable. We offer catering, bar service, linen service, theme parties and live music. Whatever you need for your event, we bring it all together at Lake Austin Riverboats. And we're located just five minutes from downtown Austin.

About Our Boats

Hand built on Lake Austin, our authentic stern-wheel riverboats are designed to host your large party, wedding, company meeting, club luncheon or other group event. The Commodore, with its vintage twin smoke stacks, can entertain up to 250 guests and has two dining rooms. The Commodore’s Pup, with its open upper deck, can accommodate up to 125 guests. Both boats have A/C and heating for your comfort.

The Beauty of Lake Austin

Lake Austin is one of the seven highland lakes in Central Texas. Your chartered course begins at the LCRA dock next to the Tom Miller Dam where free parking is readily available. As we meander up Lake Austin, you’ll enjoy the beauty of the natural limestone cliffs, Mt. Bonnell, some amazing lakefront mansions and spectacular views of the picturesque Pennybacker Bridge. The beauty of Lake Austin and the leisurely pace of our authentic stern wheel boat provide the perfect setting for your event or party. But don't take our word for it. Check out the video below for a bird's eye view of the scenary you'll see when you enjoy an event with Lake Austin Riverboats.

Contact Us Parking and Boarding Info

Parking: Weekends and Weekdays after 5pm in the LCRA visitor parking at 3700 Lake Austin Blvd or any time in the City of Austin metered lot at 1501 Scenic Drive .

Boarding: Two different locations depending on your event. Please contact your event host for location details: (1) The Hula Hut boat dock, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd 78703 (between Hula Hut and Quince Lakehouse), or the LCRA landing behind the LCRA's Jack Miller building, 3701 Lake Austin Blvd 78703 (between Hula Hut and the Tom Miller Dam.).

Boat Boarding Address

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Send us a message

We sincerely appreciate your interest in Lake Austin Riverboats. Use the form below for general questions. If you're looking for a price qoute on your next event, please fill out the form on the Request a Quote page so we can gather all the necessary details. We look forward to hearing from you and promise to respond as quickly as possible.

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Lake Austin Riverboats Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

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New Years Eve Cruise

Lone Star is having our annual New Years Eve Dinner Cruise! On Friday, December 1st from 8pm to 10:30pm, we will enjoy the lights of downtown plus the City of Austin fireworks show from the best spot in town. We will be serving a deluxe fajita dinner plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks (bring your own alcohol) on this very special night to start off the celebration. Cruise, dinner, and tips are included in the price of $95.00PP – great for the whole family. Purchase tickets online. Use the button below for more information.

4 th Of July Cruises

Lone Star is hosting our annual 4 th Of July Cruises! Our Dinner cruise has already sold out, but you can still view Austin's bats and annual firework show on one of our pontoon boats. Space is very limited, so get your tickets now!

Austin's Most Popular Tours

Weekend sunset cruises, evening bat watching tours, weekend sightseeing cruises, friday night moonlight cruise, optional pretitle -->public tours.

Pick from one of Lone Star Riverboat's public tours down Lady Bird Lake. These tours include commentary by the captain. You are welcome to bring your own beverages on the Little Star, Southern Star, and Lone Star. The Lone Star has a non-alcoholic cash bar available.

Optional pretitle -->Our Boats

Choose from one of three different Lone Star Riverboats to host your next Austin adventure. Lone Star offers a luxurious double-decker paddle-wheel riverboat and three smaller boats ideal for sunsets and bat watching.

Optional pretitle -->Private Charters

Imagine your social occasion on a delightful cruise right through the heart of downtown Austin, Texas aboard a Lone Star Riverboat. Private charters are available year-round for groups of 30 to 100 people.

Lone Star Riverboat About Us

Located on Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) in Austin, Texas. Lone Star Riverboat Cruises and Austin are the two shining stars of Texas!

Join us aboard one of our all environmentally-friendly vessels. Experience the exhilaration of the outdoors, the abundant waterfowl, our ever changing city skyline and the natural beauty that is Austin. We offer public, narrated sightseeing cruises or witness the spectacular emergence of the world famous Mexican free-tailed bats on our sunset/bat watching cruises! Come see the sights and learn about Austin or jazz up your next occasion and have a private party aboard The Lone Star, the largest electric powered paddle wheeler in the nation.

Our staff at Lone Star Riverboat is committed to excellent customer service and making your trips as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. We want to show you Austin in Texas-friendly style.

We are a city concession and a portion of our gross sales goes to support our nationally recognized park system. Fred DuPuy is the new owner of Lone Star Riverboat which has been in business as an Austin icon since 1987.

Reviews Everybody Loves Cruises

"Lone Star Riverboat tours have consistently been one of the most popular tours in Austin. Their sightseeing, moonlight and afternoon cruises are a great way to see the city skyline and Lady Bird Lake. Their bat watching tour lands them consistently at the #1 activity in our Things to do in Austin Guide during bat watching season." ~ Ivan Collins Austin City Guide

"It was so fun, Captain Chris was so interactive and fun. I would recommend coming here if you are in Austin! Make sure to make a reservation so they can secure your spot on the boat!" ~Rachel E. October 2020

"Really enjoyed our boat ride on Lady Bird Lake! The host was funny, the ride was smooth, and the city landscape was BEAUTIFUL! I definitely would recommend and plan on bringing my family next time." ~Sarah M. October 2020

"We rented the boat for our reverse Rehearsal Dinner...The price is very reasonable and then you get to bring your own alcohol and food...The Captain walked me through how the night would go and then walked me through the invoice at the end. He is very kind! Joye was our sales contact and she was very accommodating and helpful through the whole process, answering all of my questions on linens, food, timing, etc." Kristin Davis November 2019

"Great excursion in Austin. Our boat captain was very fun and knowledgeable. Put us in the perfect location for bat viewing." ~Alison August 2020

"Beautiful sunset and Austin skyline. Educational and fun! The captain talked about the buildings in the Austin skyline and another person educated about the biology of the bats." ~Bonnie M. April 2019

"In addition to watching the bats, the boats will take a quick tour down Lady Bird Lake. The captain gave us information on the different landmarks (Stevie Ray's statue, etc.) while downtown Austin moves all around us. It was wonderful!" Kathy Roy November 2019

Special Offers

Check out valentines day cruise.

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• Parking Tips

Lone Star Riverboat © 2017. All rights reserved. Designed by Things to do in Austin -->

Scenic River Cruise

• Presented By: Austin Party Cruises
• Dates: 11/16/2024, 11/17/2024, 11/23/2024, 11/24/2024
• Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Welcome aboard! Embark on family friendly scenic river cruise and immerse yourself in the breathtaking views of Lake Austin. Discover the iconic Pennybacker Bridge, Mount Bonnell, Austin Country Club, stunning lake estates and more! Don’t miss the boat! Limited tickets available. Reserve your spot now for an unforgettable lake experience!

Amenities & Provisions:

• Climate-Controlled Interior Cabin
• Exterior Decks for Sightseeing
• Clean, Comfortable Restrooms
• Bottled Water
• Music ~ Easy Listening
• Tables & Chairs
• Captain & Crew

Pack a Picnic! Feel free to bring your own food and drinks. No cooking or grilling.

BOARDING DOCK ENTRY FEES - NOT INCLUDED IN TICKET PRICE

Boarding takes place at the Loop 360 Boat Ramp which is a  Travis County  park.

Travis County Parks  charges an entrance fee to enter the park to board a boat:

$5 per person

$3 per person (62 years & older)

$0 per person (12 year & younger)

Plan to arrive by a rideshare such as Uber or Lyft. Parking is available for boat trailers only. Those who park onsite have the potential of receiving a $25 parking ticket.

Should there be rain or bad weather, your ticket(s) will be refunded. Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

Internationally Famous Bat Watching Tour

Largest urban bat colony in the world

Watch the bats emerge nightly on our Public Bat-Watching Tour, running from March through mid-November. Or customize a private excursion with dinner, cocktails, and more. See dinner cruise and party boat pricing for rates.

Guided Kayak Tours

Sightseeing tours, private events, capital cruises fleet.

An experience like no other

Welcome to Capital Cruises

Deep in the heart of Austin, TX, we are proud to offer lunch and dinner cruises, wedding events, internationally famous bat-watching excursions, party boat services, and the ultimate alternative for group and corporate outings.

Where are you located?

We are on the boat dock at the lakeside of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Hyatt is located at 208 Barton Springs Road near the intersection of Congress and Barton Springs on the south side of Town Lake. Click here for Map and Directions .

Where can we park?

Unfortunately, there is very little free parking in the area. The Hyatt Regency does have a multi-level parking garage. Parking there should be $25.00 per vehicle for up to 3 hours, after which you may be subject to additional charges. Alternatively, you can typically pay to park at the surface lot adjacent to the hotel, though prices for this and other pay lots in the area may vary depending activities in the surrounding area. Both the Long Center for Performing Arts and Austin City Hall have large pay-parking structures and are a short walk from the dock. Also, One Texas Center off of Riverside Drive typically has available parking. Guests may drop off passengers at the front door of the hotel, but parking there is limited to 5 minutes. Please see map for directions .

When should we arrive?

For PRIVATE CRUISES, boarding time is usually 15 minutes in advance of departure (check with dock personnel for your specific cruise). For larger groups (~20 or more), we suggest telling your group to arrive 30 minutes prior to departure to allow for traffic or other possible delays. If our schedule permits, arrangements can be made for some members of your party to arrive earlier for set-up, decoration, etc. For PUBLIC CRUISES, check-in starts 30 minutes prior to departure. Reservations must be claimed no less than 15 minutes prior to departure, or they are no longer guaranteed, even if they are prepaid. Prepaid reservations are non-refundable unless the reservation was canceled at least 72 hours in advance.

See Austin like never before

Team Building

Live Entertainment

Casino Night

Check out our

Popular Entertainment Add-on Packages

Expert crew members

Meet the Skippers

Kevin Martin

Mike hardson, christine eve.

Our benefits

Why Choose Us

No hidden fees, maintenance of boats, experienced team, come see the spectacle of the world's largest urban bat colony stream from the bridge nightly..

News & Articles

Our Logbook

• Josh Duggan

Donut Boats and Duffy Boats

Show your friends and family the best time on one of our motorized vessels that you can rent and operate yourselves!  First Donut Boats in Texas! The Donut Boat’s unique design seats up to 10 people around a center table, outfitted with a center-post umbrella to shade you while cruising Lady Bird Lake. The quiet […]

Our Brand New Website is Ready to Launch!

We’ve been working behind the scenes for the past few months, poring over every last detail, overhauling our website to best serve you, the customer. Just like the next cruise you book or boat you want to rent, we’re ecstatic to be launching this incarnation of CapitalCruises.com. Throughout the brand new site, you’ll find a […]

Now offering Guided Sunset Tours

Looking to kayak at sunset on the lake? Capital Cruises now offers a Guided Sunset Kayak Tour Thursdays through Saturday evenings. Cost is $40 per person and includes a ~1.5 hour tour. See the striking downtown skyline as well as a great view of the sunset cast against the lake. Thursday – Saturday evenings departing […]

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