9 Best Houseboat Vacations in the U.S.

There's a lot to love about staying in a floating home for a night or longer. The essentials are already onboard so you can cook for yourself (BYO groceries) and sleep comfortably — whether you leave the dock or not. Another advantage is that houseboats often rent for far less than land-based homes in popular vacation destinations like Florida, California, and Minnesota. The best houseboat rentals offer onboard amenities ranging from kayaks and bicycles to waterslides twisting down from the top deck.

Houseboat Rental Tips

While a houseboat may not be the first option that comes to mind, you'll easily find them listed on Airbnb, VRBO, and niche sites like Houseboating.org, to name a few. It's also worth looking into local marinas and harbors where you plan to vacation because these venues often rent out a few houseboats, too.

But before you start looking for a houseboat, there are several factors to consider. For example, if you're planning a group trip, how much privacy do you need? When a houseboat rental says it sleeps a certain number of people, that doesn't necessarily mean everyone gets a cabin. Dinettes and sofas onboard usually convert into a bed, so a houseboat's common space and galley are also fair game for sleeping quarters.

Depending on the time of year and your location, air conditioning can make or break a trip. No one wants to sleep miserably in close quarters in the summer heat, and newer models of houseboats should be equipped with AC.

As for piloting the houseboat, there's no particular boating license needed to take the helm as long as you have a valid unrestricted driver's license. Many rental owners take time to walk you through the basics and a test spin to ensure you feel comfortable operating the boat.

Here are nine of the best houseboat vacations around the country. Remember to book well in advance since houseboat rentals are extremely popular during the summer months.

Best Places for a Houseboat Vacation

Sutton Lake, West Virginia

Sutton Lake has 40 miles of shoreline to explore by houseboat. The clear waters are perfect for swimming, but visitors can also hike the forested hills surrounding the lake. There are no commercial developments or homes on the lake, and it's surrounded by public lands inhabited by white-tailed deer, turkeys, and ruffed grouse (there are even rumors that a Bigfoot-type creature roams these forests, so keep an eye out). Dock within one of the hundreds of coves for a night under the inky skies of central West Virginia.

Sutton Lake Marina has three 59-foot deluxe houseboats for rent, each with an upper deck with a waterslide, a gas grill, and four queen beds to sleep eight people.

Wolf River, Wisconsin

The Great Lakes — and hundreds of other interior lakes — tend to be the focus of a summer trip to Wisconsin. But you may want to skip the typical lakefront cabin in favor of a houseboat vacation along the Wolf River near Fremont, Wisconsin. Here, you can cruise into pretty Partridge Lake, just upstream, and others in the area like Lake Poygan and Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh.

Anchor Point Marina rents a no-frills 50-foot houseboat that can sleep up to 10 people. With four queen beds and a queen sleeper sofa, everyone can rest well.

St. Johns River, Florida

Central Florida's St. Johns River — which, along with the Nile, is among the few rivers in the world that run north — is a spectacular waterway for renting a houseboat. (But do watch out for alligators on the river banks while exploring.) Venture to Silver Glen Springs, where the water turns turquoise blue and crystal clear for swimming.

Located in DeLand, Holly Bluff Marina rents out 10 houseboats ranging from the 38-foot-long Catfish Bend, which sleeps four, to the 60-foot-long Silver Glen, which accommodates up to 10. The latter has a spacious interior lounge as well as a rooftop deck for soaking up the Sunshine State's abundant vitamin D. All linens are provided along with a gas grill and a flat-screen TV with a DVD player.

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

An International Dark Sky Park, Northern Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park is a place of exceptional natural beauty — pristine waters, towering pines, and a world-class houseboating experience are yours to enjoy here. Situated near the Canadian border and the boundary waters, the park sprawls across five natural lakes, without a single road running through it.

Rent one of 13 houseboats, which can accommodate two to 12 people, from Ebel's Voyageur Houseboats. Spend your days swimming, fishing, and picking wild berries. Some of the houseboat models have screened-in porches and decks on all sides, so you can maximize your views of the epic wilderness around you. Newer options feature air conditioning and hot tubs onboard.

Table Rock Lake, Missouri

Houseboating on Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri can be whatever you want it to be. Hop between restaurants and bars at waterfront locales after dips in the lake, or escape to the more remote reaches of this Ozarks reservoir.

Table Rock Lake Houseboat Rentals offers some of the best houseboats in the Ozarks. For a large group, check out the seven-bedroom Carlyle, which sleeps 16 people and has a six-person hot tub, a swimming platform, and a wet bar on the top deck.

Erie Canal, New York

Stretching over 300 miles across New York from Albany to Buffalo and Lake Eerie, the Erie Canal is lined with 19th-century canal towns and modern boat marinas. These picturesque communities practically beg you to set out on a boating vacation, but you'll need a canal boat — a heartier riff on a houseboat designed to move in and out of locks and marinas.

Canal boats are available to rent at Erie Macedon Landing for three, four, or seven nights. Cruise along at your own pace and opt for stops at Finger Lakes wineries and shops selling Amish quilts. These charming villages are said to have inspired Norman Rockwell with their quaint beauty.

Everglades National Park, Florida

More than one million visitors find their way to Everglades National Park in Florida every year. But it's safe to say that few of them realize they could venture even deeper into the park's vast wilderness than its trails allow. Rent a houseboat and you can cruise to Whitewater Bay where manatees, sea turtles, and swordfish are commonly seen. Enjoy world-class fishing for species like tarpon, redfish, and speckled trout.

Flamingo Adventures, located deep inside the park at Flamingo Marina, offers four houseboats to travelers. Aboard a 42-foot houseboat designed to sleep six people, guests have access to a 70-gallon water tank, generator-powered air conditioning, and a propane grill.

Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon

This beautiful central Oregon reservoir spills across several river canyons and has 72 miles of shoreline. Brimming with several species of trout and bass, the lake is surrounded by mostly public lands, giving it a pristine, secluded feel.

You can rent houseboats that sleep between 10 and 14 people with Lake Billy Chinook Houseboats and spend a few nights — or longer — exploring. Expect to see basalt spires towering overhead, color-shifting canyon walls, and, if you're lucky, eagles soaring overhead.

Shasta Lake, California

Less than an hour south of Mt. Shasta, Shasta Lake is the largest human-made lake in California and a favorite boating haunt. Carpeted with tall evergreen trees, the lake's shoreline is mostly steep and mountainous, with many coves and waterfalls to explore. When you're not hiking a wilderness trail, toss out a line to snag one of the lake's prized catches, such as salmon and a variety of trout, to cook up on the grill.

Browse the houseboats available from Holiday Harbor Lake Shasta for options that sleep between six and 16 people. Some boats feature a slide while most have a swim platform. Thanks to propane-run appliances, you don't have to rely on a cooler for food storage.