For the hot days this summer, take your kids out on the water to enjoy the beautiful scenery Maryland has to offer.
Warm, sunny weather is the perfect time to be out on the water. But, if you don’t have access to a boat, don’t worry! Many parks and businesses throughout Maryland rent out boats, kayaks or canoes for daily use. Whether you want to take a quick hour-long ride or are looking to spend an entire afternoon on the water, the places listed below offer hourly and daily rentals.
Information about how to have fun on Maryland’s waterways
As always, we recommend calling ahead to make sure rentals are available for that day.
Black Hill Regional Park, Boyds, MD.
Kayak, canoe and rowboat rentals and pontoon rides. MontgomeryParks.org
Chesapeake Beach, MD.
Sit-on-top kayaks, sea kayaks, pedal boats, paddleboards, rowboats, and sailboats. 410-991-4268. PaddleOrPedal.com.
Greenbriar State Park, Boonsboro, MD.
Boat rentals. Dnr.state.md.us. 301-791-4767.
Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, MD.
Sit-on-top kayaks, sea kayaks, pedal boats, paddleboards, rowboats, and sailboats. 410-271-7007. paddleorpedal.com. (Closed on Tuesdays)
Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg, MD.
Boat rentals for fishing and recreation. Dnr.state.md.us. 301-924-2127.
Tuckahoe State Park, Queen Anne, MD.
Mountain bike, kayak and canoe rentals. Dnr.state.md.us. 410-820-1668.
Visit dnr.state.md.us to find more parks near you.
Free Kayaking!
For families that love kayaking, the West/Rhode Riverkeeper, in partnership with Discovery Village, will offer free kayaking on the first and third Thursdays of the month, from June 6 to September 5 in Shady Side, Md. The free kayaking begins at 5:30 p.m. and lasts until half an hour before sunset.
Kayaks, paddles, and life vests will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Both single and tandem kayaks are available. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. In the event of inclement weather, kayaking will be canceled and posted on our website immediately. Located on the West River in the heart of “South County,” Discovery Village is nestled on a beautiful peninsula on Parish Creek at the mouth of the West River. For directions to Discovery Village visit their website, www.westrhoderiverkeeper.org.
Below are some of the state’s outfitters who coordinate paddling trips along Maryland waterways. Also, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources has an online map that shows the locations of water trails with links to trail descriptions, and in some instances, trail maps.
- Allegany Expeditions, Cumberland (Allegany County) – Paddle along the Potomac and see wildlife up close. Beginners’ instruction and river guides are available. Opt for a whitewater adventure or something more relaxing.
- Ayers Creek Adventures , Berlin (Worcester County) – Explore coastal waterways on Maryland’s Eastern Shore by kayak or canoe. A selection of eco tours take you through wetlands and saltwater marsh. Sunset tours offer gourmet meals and wine tastings.
- Blackwater Paddle & Pedal Adventures, Cambridge (Dorchester County) – Discover Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge by kayak. Motor boats and catamarans are also for rent. BPPA operates out of the Bucktown Village Store, where Harriet Tubman, conductor of the Underground Railroad, committed her first known act of defiance. A second location is on the beach at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort.
- Chester River Kayak Adventures, Rock Hall (Kent County) – Select from five half-day trips or two full-day trips. One of the longer ones is a journey around Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. Sunset and moonlight paddles are also available.
- Kayaking Made E-Z , Conowingo (Harford County) – Paddle the Susquehanna River and upper Chesapeake Bay region. Furnace Bay is a showcase for wildlife. Visit a lock on the Susquehanna-Tidewater or take a paddle tour around Havre de Grace and learn the history of this town that almost became the U.S. capital.
- Kent Island Kayaks , Grasonville (Queen Anne’s County) – Located next to the Hilton Garden Inn off Route 50, this outfitter provides guided fishing trips on kayaks. Its slogan is: “Paddle fast and fish hard.” In addition to fishing and recreational kayaks, the company offers stand-up paddleboards.
- Patuxent Adventure Center , Solomons Island (Calvert County) – Select from a half-dozen guided kayak tours. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards can be rented. A second location is in Leonardtown, where the Port of Leonardtown marks the starting point for a three-mile water trail on McIntosh Run that ends at Leonardtown Wharf Public Park.
- ‘Peake Paddle Tours , Trappe (Talbot County) – See wildlife and scenic landscapes on the Eastern Shore as you paddle along freshwater streams, salt marshes, and the Tuckahoe, Choptank, Nanticoke and Pocomoke rivers. Proprietor offers instruction for inexperienced kayakers and more advanced training for experienced paddlers.
- Potomac Paddlesports, Rockville (Montgomery County) – Known for its beginners’ instruction, Potomac offers free weekly practice nights for affiliated students. The company operates on the Potomac River and C&O Canal in the C&O Canal National Historical Park. It has contributed 2 percent of its gross revenues to conservation issues.
- Precision Rafting Expeditions (PRE), Friendsville (Garrett County) – Located near Deep Creek Lake, PRE offers guided trips along the Youghiogheny, Cheat, Big Sandy, Savage and Potomac rivers. Expeditions range from float trips to extreme river trips. Kayak instruction available.
- River & Trail Outfitters, Knoxville (Frederick County) – Float down Antietam Creek on a tube, or select other guided trips for whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing. Other options include paddling down the Monocacy River and a visit to a Frederick brewery.
- SuperFun Eco Tours, Assateague Island National Seashore (Worcester County) – Operating on this barrier island near Ocean City, SuperFun offers paddling tours that feature “educational natural experiences,” including wildlife, sunset and full moon trips. Some tours offer sustainable shellfishing, and wine and beer tastings.
- Terrapin Adventures, Savage (Howard County) – Explore the bay’s tributaries and see wildlife from a kayak. A “paddle & crab feast” tour takes you to a local crab house following a water adventure. Tubing trips down the Patapsco River are also available.
- Ultimate Watersports, Gunpowder Falls State Park (Baltimore County) – Established in 1985, this local company will introduce you to kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding. Sunset, moonlight and wildlife kayak tours are available.
- Wisp Resort, McHenry (Garrett County) – Take a trip on Deep Creek Lake by kayak, stand-up paddleboard or pontoon boat. Instruction is available through the Greg Rouse Water Sports School. Also, Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI) is here. ASCI is the world’s only mountaintop, man-made whitewater course. It offers a variety of rafting, kayaking and riverboarding experiences in a controlled environment.
Check out more fun family happenings in our complete event calendar.
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