Marinas in Missouri

Confirm current requirements with the state agency before your trip. Rules and fees change every season.

• Boater Education Card

  Any person born after January 1, 1984, operating a motorized vessel on any lake in the state must possess a Boater Education Card (the card is required on Missouri's lakes, not its rivers). This applies to any motorized vessel, regardless of horsepower. Exemptions are narrow, U.S. Coast Guard-licensed operators, active military members, nonresidents holding a valid boating certificate from another state, and those operating only on private waters; being accompanied by another operator does not exempt you.

• Vessel Registration

  All motorized vessels and sailboats over 12 feet in length must be registered with the Missouri Department of Revenue. Registration must be renewed periodically, and the registration number must be displayed prominently on the bow of the vessel.

• Age Restrictions for Operation

  No person under 14 years of age may operate any motorized vessel on Missouri waters unless under the direct, on-board supervision of a parent, guardian, or other person at least 16 years of age (or the vessel is moored). This applies regardless of horsepower.

• Fishing License

  Anyone aged 16 through 64 must possess a valid Missouri fishing license to fish in the state's waters, including from a boat. Different license types exist for residents and non-residents, and specific permits may be required for certain species or activities.

  Missouri Department of Conservation

1. 01

   1. Choose Your Waterway

   A big recreational lake like Lake of the Ozarks or Table Rock is one kind of trip; the Mississippi or Missouri River is another entirely. Match the water to your preferences, and honestly to your skill level.

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   2. Verify Boater Education & Registration

   Operators born after January 1, 1984, need to meet Missouri's boater education requirements, sort that out first. Then confirm your vessel's registration with the Missouri Department of Revenue is current.

3. 03

   3. Secure Dockage or Charter

   Reserve transient slips or charter boats early, especially for summer weekends and holidays. The popular marinas fill up, and walk-up availability in peak season is a coin flip at best.

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   4. Review Local Regulations

   Every body of water has its own quirks: speed limits, no-wake zones, area-specific restrictions or permits. Learn the rules for your destination before you launch, not after the first warning.

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   5. Monitor Weather Forecasts

   Missouri weather doesn't sit still. Check the marine forecast before you go, keep checking on the water, and treat a building thunderstorm as the signal to head in, not to wait and see.