Austin TX · Lake Travis
Boat Rentals in Austin, Texas
Other Austin boat rentals send you out alone. We don't. Every charter is fully captained — you bring the crew, we handle the lake.
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Austin TX · Lake Travis
Other Austin boat rentals send you out alone. We don't. Every charter is fully captained — you bring the crew, we handle the lake.
Book Your RentalMost boat rentals in Austin hand you the keys and a hopeful smile. You're responsible for navigation, safety, docking, fueling up, and keeping track of everyone on board. If you've never run a boat on a 65-mile lake before, that's a steep learning curve before lunch.
Texas Forever Charters works differently. Every charter comes with a licensed, experienced captain — DJ or Dane — who takes care of everything from departure to return. You don't need a boating license, prior experience, or any knowledge of Lake Travis. Your captain knows every cove, current, and sandbar on the lake.
It's a fundamentally better way to spend a day on the water. You're not renting a boat. You're booking an experience with someone who's been doing this for years and genuinely loves Lake Travis. All you bring is the crew and the cooler.
Most people who visit Austin spend their time on 6th Street, in the food trucks on South Congress, or wandering through Zilker Park. The lake doesn't make most travel guides — and that's how locals like it.
Lake Travis sits 45 minutes northwest of downtown Austin, deep into the Texas Hill Country. Sixty-five miles of blue water cutting through cedar and limestone bluffs, with coves that feel genuinely remote even on the busiest Saturday. It's the side of Austin most visitors don't see because nobody tells them about it.
Locals have known for decades. Lake Travis is where Austinites go when they need a weekend that doesn't involve a wait list or a parking dispute. It's where bachelorette parties end up after the brunch on 2nd Street. It's where the corporate teams that "want something different" finally find it. It's where families turn an afternoon into a memory that gets retold every reunion.
The difference between seeing Austin from a downtown rooftop and seeing Austin from a boat anchored in Devil's Cove is the same difference between watching a concert on TV and standing in the front row. The lake is the version of Texas you came to see, and it's quietly 45 minutes from wherever you're staying.
If you're an Austin local who hasn't been on the water in a while, this is the reminder you've been needing. If you're a visitor with a free afternoon, this is the side trip nobody told you about. Either way, the lake's been waiting — and the captains have a charter ready when you are.
Lake Travis has more to offer than most people realize. The main basin is wide and dramatic, but the real highlights are tucked into the coves and inlets along the Hill Country shoreline.
Most charters include time anchored at Devil's Cove, where guests swim, float on the mats, and take in the views. It's been a Lake Travis staple for decades and never gets old.
Most groups have never been on a private boat charter before, so here's how a typical day actually plays out — from arrival to disembarkation.
Arrival (15 minutes before departure). You'll meet your captain at the Volente Beach Waterpark & Resort marina. Plan to arrive a little early — there's parking on-site, restrooms, and a snack bar if anyone needs to grab last-minute provisions. The waterpark itself is included in your charter for free, before and after, so come early or stay late if you want to enjoy it.
Departure & briefing (10 minutes). Captain DJ or Dane walks the group through the boat, the safety basics, where everything is, and asks where you'd like to go. Most groups have a rough idea — Devil's Cove is the popular pick — but the captain knows alternatives if the cove's crowded or the wind's wrong.
Out on the water (the bulk of your time). Whatever charter length you've booked (2 hours, 4 hours, full day), this is your time. Cruise, anchor, swim, float on the mats, jump off the yacht's platform (yacht charters only), eat, drink, take photos. The captain handles navigation, anchoring, conditions, and getting you the most out of every minute.
Heading back (15 minutes). The captain gives you a 15-minute warning so you can pack up your cooler, dry off, and enjoy the cruise back to Volente. Disembark, tip your captain (20% gratuity, day-of, cash/Zelle/Venmo), and head out.
Total turnaround is just a few minutes longer than the charter window itself. No fuel stops, no hassle, no figuring anything out.
Texas Forever Charters includes everything you need for a complete day on Lake Travis. There's nothing to pick up at a store beforehand and nothing to figure out when you arrive.
Optional add-ons include professional drone footage and photos, catering through our partners at Beachside Billies, and more. Just ask at booking.
We run two vessels out of Volente Beach Waterpark & Resort on Lake Travis. For larger groups and special occasions, the 1996 Carver Aft Cabin motor yacht handles up to 20 guests and includes a full interior, salon, kitchenette, bedroom, and 2 restrooms. It's one of the few charter boats on Lake Travis with a real cabin below deck.
For smaller groups, couples, and families, the 24ft Bentley Navigator pontoon is the right call. Comfortable, stable, and perfect for sunset cruises, tubing, and casual lake days. Handles up to 13 guests.
Both boats are fully captained by DJ or Dane. Same quality, same service, just a different size and feel depending on what your group needs.
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