Skip to content
Chicago Boat Rentals

Chicago Boat Rentals

Boat Rental
Visit website

About

Chicago Boat Rentals is a boat rental operator in Chicago, Illinois. The company rents 18-foot and 22-foot gas-powered pontoon boats for cruises on the Chicago River, with a driver's license required for the person operating the boat. Pontoon rentals are available for two-hour increments on the Chicago River, while yacht charters are offered for three hours on the Chicago River or five hours on Lake Michigan.

Gallery

Operator details

Vessels
Powerboat

Boat launches near Chicago Boat Rentals

Loads the full map of the boat launches near this listing. We leave it off by default so the page opens fast on mobile data.

Browse all boat launches

Boater reviews

What boaters are saying

4.6· 121 reviews on Google
View all on Google
  • J
    Joanne Deangelo· 6 years ago

    Hands down one of the best boat rental companies out there!! My family and I rented one of the pontoons on July 4th,from the start to finish the process was easy. We arrived and Angela was there to great us. The crew was helpful and went over the boat and process which was easy. The boat was clean no issues our family enjoyed the view. We were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the city, the landscaping and landmarks. It was breathtaking. I packed snacks brought a cooler with drinks. It was a great time !! I will definitely be returning for more amazing memories. Highly recommended!!!

  • D
    Damien Friel· 2 years ago

    Great experience. Reached the renting site easily with metro. Welcomed by an efficient team. We had great time with the whole family on our pontoon. Probably the best view on the city

  • K
    Karl Lipscomb· a month ago

    The rental was a fun low key outing for friends and family. Check in was a breeze. Next time we are back in Chicago, we will certainly be renting again!

  • J
    Jessica Nance· 3 years ago

    I have rented their pontoon boats three times now, and each time has been absolutely fantastic! The staff members are incredibly friendly and very informative. They will provide instructions on how to drive the boat, as well as, a map to help you navigate the river path. The online booking process is super convenient and hassle fee. Without a doubt, cruising down the river walk on these pontoons has become one of my favorite activities to do in Chicago during the summer. It has consistently provided me with unforgettable moments and remains one of the most remarkable experiences I've had.

Reviews powered by Google. Content belongs to its respective authors.

Typical flow by month

2002 to 2010

The water at Chicago Boat Rentals typically runs highest in May, at a median 591 cfs, and lowest in November, at 397 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 5,150 cfs, in 2010.

Typical flow by month at NB Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago, IL, in cfs
MonthTypical (cfs)Usual range (cfs)Relative level
January417343 to 503
February406348 to 548
March529422 to 728
April486420 to 689
May591486 to 754
June585505 to 719
July536493 to 615
August586521 to 686
September526453 to 597
October433368 to 566
November397354 to 490
December429344 to 573

Typical is the median of each month’s daily median values, and the usual range runs from the median 25th to the median 75th percentile, across about 8 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for NB Chicago River at Grand Avenue at Chicago, IL (site 05536118). Conditions on any given day can fall well outside the usual range. Check the current reading before you go.

Current conditions

69Maybe/ 100 conditions scoreBest day: Sun, Sep 27 (95)

Waves

2.8 ft @ 4s

Wind

11 kt

Gusts 22 kt

Air

59°F

Water level

-1.98 ft

Normal (67th)

Rain chance

3%

Forecast outlook

Tue3.1ft61°F
Wed3.0ft62°F
Thu2.3ft67°F
Fri1.4ft67°F
Sat1.0ft70°F
Sun0.2ft70°F

Forecast from Open-Meteo global models (NOAA & ECMWF). See full conditions →

Free tools

Your free outdoor toolkit

In your pocket

Take every launch with you.

Free, no account needed. Ramps, marinas, marine conditions, and maps in your pocket.

  • Every marina and boat ramp in your pocket

  • File a float plan and ETA before you cast off

  • Harbor and inlet webcams before you tow

  • GPS tracking that keeps recording beyond cell coverage

The Boating Hubs app dashboard

For operators

Run your boating business?
Launch your branded surface.

Get your own branded surface in the Boating Hubs app and a directory listing in minutes. Bookings, digital waivers, and your whole operation live in one cockpit.