17 Apr Tidal Basin Paddle Boats: The Best View of DC

Renting paddle boats on the Tidal Basin is one of the best ways, in my opinion, to see and experience the city of Washington, DC. Not only can you escape some of the crowds, but you can see the city and a few memorials from the water. Moreover, renting a paddle boat during cherry blossom season is an unforgettable experience. Want to learn how to reserve tickets and all about the boating restrictions? Then keep reading below!

Moreover, paddling around in boats on the Tidal Basin is a great option for date night. Check out my list of 20+ unique date night ideas in Arlington, VA or my review of the DC lantern festival if you need even more ideas.

Contents:

1) Location of Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

2) Getting There

3) Opening Hours and Price

4) Best Time to Visit

5) Tidal Basin Paddle Boat Logistics

6) Attractions to See From the Water

7) Nearby Attractions to the Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

8) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location of Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

The Tidal Basin paddle boats are located on the water of the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. Moreover, they are located right off Maine Avenue SW.

For other adventurous activities in the DC area, check out the Billy Goat Trail Section A in Potomac, MD or the hike to Scott’s Run Falls in McLean, VA.

Parking 

First, there is a parking lot located right next to the boating dock. However, please note this parking lot is often full or closed. The city will close the lot whenever there are events happening, such as the cherry blossom festival, to make room for food trucks and other vendors.

Second, you can park on a side street near the National Mall and walk to the Tidal Basin paddle boats. It is only a 10 minute walk from the Washington Monument to the boating dock.

Third, you can park in East Potomac Park. There is a fair amount of parking available within the park. For example, you can park alongside the side of Ohio Drive SW or in one of the paid lots in the southwestern corner of the park. You will then have to walk anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to reach the boating dock from East Potomac Park; it all depends on where you park.

View of a paddle boat in the Tidal Basin

Nearby Airports

The closest airport to the Tidal Basin is the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It is only about a 10 minute drive away, though that does depend on traffic. If you are looking for a spot where you can watch the planes fly overhead, then head to Gravelly Point. It is located right next to the airport, and thus it sometimes feels as though you can jump up and touch the planes since they are so close to the ground. Additionally, the Dulles International Airport is the next closest airport at 40 minutes away.

Public transportation from Dulles to the boating dock will take around 1.5 hours. On the other hand, public transportation from Ronald Reagan to the boating dock will only take around 40 minutes. Both routes will end at the Smithsonian station. Moreover, you can choose to rent a car from the airport or utilize a ride share service such as Uber.

Lodging

Washington DC has hundreds of lodging accommodations available for your visit. If you prefer to be near a bunch of shops and restaurants, then stay close to Dupont Circle or Logan Circle. On the other hand, stay close to Adams Morgan or Shaw if you want to be near the going-out scene.

Additionally, you can book lodging across the river in Arlington, VA. Stay in Pentagon City to be close to shopping, Clarendon to be close to the going out scene, and Ballston to be close to some amazing restaurants.

View of the Tidal Basin paddle boat dock during sunset

2) Getting There

You can either walk, drive, take public transportation, order an Uber, bike, etc. to the paddle boats. It all depends on where you are located and what else you plan to do within the day.

Walking

You can reach the dock for the paddle boats after only a 10 minute walk from the Washington Monument or a 30 minute walk from the Capitol. If possible, I recommend you walk to the paddle boats. DC is a very walkable city, but also parking can sometimes be a bit limited right by the boating dock. Moreover, walking around this area in the daytime is fairly safe due to the fact there are so many other people around.

Driving

For reference, it will take you around 15 minutes to drive from downtown DC as well as from Arlington, VA. There are a few different parking lots available, as mentioned above. However, please note that the closest parking lot right beside the dock will often be full or closed. You thus might have to park a bit further away from the dock and walk for a couple of minutes.

View of sunset behind the Jefferson Memorial

Public Transportation

If you do not want to walk or drive, then public transportation is your best option. The two closest metro stops to the boating dock are the Smithsonian as well as Independence Ave and 14th Street. Which station you stop at simply depends from which direction you are coming. You will then have to walk approximately 15 minutes from the Smithsonian station or 12 minutes from the Independence Ave and 14th Street station to the boating dock. Therefore, still be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes when visiting.

Other Options to Reach the Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

If none of the above options suit your preference, there are still a few other options. First, you can use a ride share service such as Uber or Lyft. Ride share services are definitely abundant within Washington, DC. You should thus have no problem securing a ride.

Second, you can bike or scooter to the boating dock. If you do not own your own bike or scooter, you can pay to rent one. There are a ton of bikes and scooters just sitting around the sidewalks in DC for people to rent as they need. For example, the Lime brand of bikes and scooters is quite popular. Moreover, there is a place to secure your bike right by the dock if you ride your own.

Watching the sunset from paddle boats in the Tidal Basin

3) Opening Hours and Price

Let me start off by saying that the opening hours as well as the prices for the Tidal Basin paddle boats can vary based on the time of the week as well as the season. I recommend you look up the specific opening hours and price for the day you plan to visit on the Tidal Basin Boating in DC webpage for the most current information.

When are the Tidal Basin Paddle Boats Open? 

Please note that the Tidal Basin paddle boats are closed during the winter season from Columbus Day in October through mid-March. You will thus want to be sure you get out on the water on a boat before the seasons change.

The general opening hours for the paddle boats are from 10:00am to 6:00pm. However, the hours extend slightly to be from 10am to 7pm starting in late spring and continuing through the summer. Moreover, they open an hour early at 9:00am on weekends in the late spring and summer seasons. After Labor Day passes in late summer, then the hours adjust back to 10:00am to 6:00pm daily.

Additionally, keep in mind that the Tidal Basin paddle boats can close at any time due to hazardous weather or flooding.

Cherry blossoms surrounding the Washington Monument from the Tidal Basin

How Much Do the Tidal Basin Paddle Boats Cost? 

First, it is important to note that the price differs based on the time of the week as well as the time of year. Second, keep in mind that they charge the prices below per hour for each boat. If you want to really get your money’s worth, then plan to go paddle boating with three other people. Why? Four is the maximum number of people allowed on the Tidal Basin paddle boats. Moreover, you can make the others pedal while you sit back and relax.

It costs around $38 to rent a paddle boat on a weekday. The price then rises to around $40 on the weekends and holidays. However, they sometimes offer a discount for one particular day of the week. For example, they have previously offered 30% off rental prices on Thursdays.

You can reserve tickets for a paddle boat online in advance or rent one in person at the check in booth, pending availability.

Paddle boating with my partner on the Tidal Basin

4) Best Time to Visit

The absolute best time to go paddle boating on the Tidal Basin is in the spring when the cherry blossoms are blooming. If you have ever been to the Tidal Basin during cherry blossom season before, then you know it can be incredibly crowded. A great way to escape the crowds and also to view the cherry blossom trees from a new perspective is to rent a paddle boat. If you take my advice and visit during the spring season, then why not go all out and plan a full day itinerary in Washington, DC.

If you are unable to visit during cherry blossom season, then I recommend visiting at some other point during spring or in the autumn. Then you can still enjoy either the blooming flowers of spring or the changing colors of autumn. Moreover, summers in DC can be quite hot and humid. You will definitely be sweating if you choose to paddle around the Tidal Basin at that time.

How Much Time Do I Need to Paddle a Boat Around the Tidal Basin? 

I recommend that you plan an hour and a half in your itinerary for the Tidal Basin paddle boats. First, you pay for the boat rental per hour. You are of course welcome to rent the boat for multiple hours. However, I would say that most people rent them for only one hour because that is a good amount of time to paddle around the water. It is a bit of a leg workout.

Second, you might want to allot a bit of extra time to find parking as well as to walk around the area. Therefore, you might spend an hour on the water but the other 30 minutes exploring the nearby area.

View of the Jefferson Memorial from the Tidal Basin

5) Tidal Basin Paddle Boats Logistics

Before you can get out on the water, there are a few things you should know.

Purchasing Tickets

Tickets are available for purchase online in advance as well as in person at the check in booth. If you would like to reserve a paddle boat in advance, then visit the Tidal Basin Boating in DC site. You are able to reserve a boat for a time slot within the next hour or for a time slot months away. If you reserve a boat online, then simply let them know that at the check in booth. They can look up your reservation once you provide your name.

On the other hand, you can show up at the check in booth and try to rent a boat at that time. However, please note that being able to rent a boat immediately will depend on availability. I recommend you reserve a boat in advance if you plan to visit at a peak visit time, such as a weekend afternoon or during cherry blossom season.

Signing the Waiver

There is a waiver you will have to sign before you can get on the paddle boat in the Tidal Basin. If you reserve a boat online in advance, then they will send you an email with the waiver after you complete your booking. Otherwise, you can complete the waiver in person at the check in booth.

Up-close view of cherry blossom from paddle boats in the Tidal Basin

Getting on the Water

Once you arrive, you can check in at the booth on the boating dock. You will need to do this no matter whether you have made a reservation online in advance or if you still need to make a reservation. After you check in, they will tell you to grab a life jacket. Once you have your jacket, you can follow the guides’ instructions down the dock. They will then assist you as you get into the paddle boat. As you are getting in, they will tell you a few rules you need to abide by. For example, you cannot go under any bridges, and you need to listen for any announcements they might make.

Then you are free to paddle around the Tidal Basin! However, please be aware that you will need to pedal the boat yourself. Trust me, it can feel like a bit of a leg workout depending on how fast you try to go. I have gone paddle boating on the Tidal Basin twice, but I have not yet circled the entire basin. Instead, my partner and I have previously paddled over to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, around the eastern edge of the basin, and in the middle. We have yet to make it to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial due to time restrictions and whatnot, for that memorial is pretty far from the boat dock.

Nevertheless, you can have a fulfilling experience without circling the entire Tidal Basin. We were happy with both of our paddle boating experiences and did not feel the need to go further just to say we did.

People and Weight Restrictions

One piece of good news is that they set their pricing per boat and not per person. The maximum number of people allowed per boat is four. You can thus book a paddle boat for one hour and split the cost between four people.

Moreover, the maximum weight limit per boat is 500 pounds (~226.8 kilograms).

Age Restrictions

There are no minimum or maximum age restrictions for the Tidal Basin paddle boats. However, those 16 years of age and younger must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age and older on a boat.

Other Safety Restrictions for the Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

First, everyone who enters the water on a paddle boat must wear a life jacket. They provide life jackets, with different sizes for children and adults, when you check in. Second, dogs are not allowed on the paddle boats at any time.

Third, you are not allowed to paddle under any bridges. Instead, you must remain within the main Tidal Basin area.

Cherry blossoms framing the boat dock and Jefferson Memorial

6) Attractions to See From the Water

There is no shortage of attractions to see from the water. I will go ahead and list the main ones, in no particular order. First, you can see the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. This memorial is most well-known for its dome roof. Second, you can see the Japanese Pagoda. This was a gift of friendship from Japan, and it was delivered unassembled. The Library of Congress thus had to offer their assistance to build this stone puzzle.

Third, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. This memorial is a bit further from the water, so it is best to view it on land if possible. Fourth, you can get a front row view of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. The memorial was built close to the spot where he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Fifth, you can see the Washington Monument towering over the city from just about anywhere on the Tidal Basin. Sixth, you will have a fantastic view of all of the cherry blossom trees surrounding the Tidal Basin if you visit in the spring during peak bloom.

Cherry blossoms in front of the Jefferson Memorial

7) Nearby Attractions to the Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

Not only are there attractions you can see from the water, but there are also a myriad of nearby attractions within walking distance. Of course you can also visit the attractions I mentioned in the section above, but I will not repeat them here. I will list some additional attractions in no particular order.

First, you can check out the George Mason Memorial. This memorial is located to the south of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. However, it is a bit further back so you are unable to see it from the water. Second, you can take a stroll around East Potomac Park. There are a variety of activities and attractions within the park, including the Hains Point Loop Trail.

Third, you can walk along the National Mall. You can truly spend an entire day in this area due to the vast array of memorials, monuments, and museums. Fourth, you can walk to the Wharf and grab a bite to eat. There are some fancier as well as more casual restaurants at the Wharf, so there is likely something to peak your interest.

Cherry blossom trees lining the road at East Potomac Park

8) Recommended Items to Bring

1. Water bottle: You will appreciate having some water after pedaling around the Tidal Basin for an entire hour. Water is even more important if you visit in the summer, for DC can be pretty hot and humid at that time of year. Consider a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic waste. They also keep your water cooler due to their insulation – bonus!

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: While this might not be as important on a cloudy day, it will be on a day full of beautiful clear skies. Renting a paddle boat for only an hour can lead to sunburn if you have fair skin.

3. Bug spray: Let’s be honest – mosquitos, gnats, and any other little type of fly can ruin an experience. You cannot truly enjoy paddling around the Tidal Basin if you are swatting away bugs from your face the whole time. Therefore, be prepared with bug spray or a mosquito repellent bracelet. While in Iceland, I visited the Hverir Geothermal Area and essentially ran along the path because there were so many little black flies.

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For a more relaxing activity, buy tickets to a nearby lantern festival: Lantern Festival in Washington, DC.

Or spend the day with dolphins: Kayaking with Dolphins in Virginia Beach.