Lake Austin Boat Rental Policies & FAQs
Everything you need to know before your Longhorn Leisure Lake Austin boat rental.
📍 Pickup Location & Parking
All commercial Lake Austin boat rentals depart from:
Loop 360 Boat Ramp (Pennybacker Bridge area)
This is the only permitted commercial pickup location on Lake Austin.
Parking is limited and Austin Police Department regularly issues citations for illegal parking.
We strongly recommend rideshare services (Uber/Lyft) to avoid delays or tickets.
Launching near Loop 360 provides quick access to:
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Party Cove
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Little Venice
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Hula Hut
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Ski Shores Café
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Pennybacker Bridge scenic views
📅 Cancellation, Rescheduling & Refund Policy
Cancellation terms are the same for every boat and trip:
11 or more days before your booking: free reschedule to another date, or a 100% refund returned to the card you paid with
7 to 10 days before: 50% refund of the total price
Less than 7 days before: non-refundable, except for unsafe weather (see below)
⛈ Foul Weather & Lightning Policy
Your Lake Austin boat rental takes place outdoors and is a rain or shine event.
Light rain can actually enhance the experience, and there are protected areas on the lake to relax while passing showers move through.
Lightning Policy:
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If lightning is forecasted or detected within a 10-mile radius, the trip is paused immediately
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We resume once 20 minutes pass without lightning in the area
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If lightning persists for one hour or conditions are deemed unsafe, the trip will be canceled
In the event of cancellation due to unsafe weather:
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If your captain determines the weather is unsafe (lightning, hail, severe storms), you receive a full refund
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If weather moves in after your trip has started, you're refunded for the time not spent on the water
Safety is our top priority. Our founder is a U.S. Coast Guard-certified captain with 30+ years of boating experience, and we always err on the side of caution.
📅 Same-Day Reservations
Looking for a last-minute Lake Austin boat rental?
Call or text us at 512-630-2338 and we’ll do our best to get you on the water.
🍻 Can Guests Bring Alcohol?
Yes — adult beverages are allowed on your Lake Austin pontoon rental.
Please note:
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No glass containers
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No red wine
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Drink responsibly
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Texas law prohibits providing alcohol for sale — this is BYOB only.
🥪 Can Guests Bring Food?
Absolutely. We recommend simple, easy-to-manage items such as:
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Sandwiches
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Fruit
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Chips or popcorn
Coolers are welcome.
💵 Captain Gratuity
For captained Lake Austin boat rentals, gratuity is customary.
Standard tipping range: 18%–25%
Payment options:
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Cash
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Venmo
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Pre-charge to credit card
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If gratuity is not provided, a 20% service charge will be applied to the card on file.
👨✈️ Can Boats Be Rented Without a Captain?
No.
All Longhorn Leisure rentals are fully captained Lake Austin boat rentals to ensure safety, compliance with Texas Parks & Wildlife regulations, and a stress-free experience.
🌊 Do You Offer Wakeboarding or Tubing?
No.
Our focus is on:
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Party Cove trips
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Scenic cruises
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Restaurant stops
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Swimming & floating
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Social lake experiences
🍹 Can We Visit Lake Austin Restaurants?
Yes! Your captain can take you to:
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Hula Hut
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Ski Shores Café
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Quince Lakehouse
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You may stop for food and drinks or be dropped off at the end of your trip.
Due to Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission regulations, we cannot pick up guests directly from restaurant docks.
📲 Can I Book Same-Day or Last-Minute?
Yes! Call or text 512-630-2338 and we will do our best to get you on the water. Texting early in the day gives you the best shot, and trips booked within 72 hours of departure often qualify for our last-minute rate.
👥 How Many People Can Come?
Bentley Pontoon: up to 15 guests
Double Decker Barge: up to 24 guests
Bigger group? We can arrange multiple boats for up to 88 people. Give us a call.
👑 Do You Have Bachelorette Packages?
It is our specialty: Lake Austin’s most-reviewed bachelorette boat experience. Add any of these to your trip:
Basic Bach Package ($75): cooler stocked with ice and bottled water, photo props and commemorative koozies
Just Bring the Bride ($175): mimosa bar with chilled mixers and flutes (you bring the bubbly), 30 lbs of ice and a case of water, pink cowgirl hats for photos, captain photos, props and koozies
Bachelor parties are welcome too, with the same packages. Text 512-630-2338 to plan her perfect day.
🐕 Are Dogs and Pets Welcome on Board?
Yes! Every Longhorn Leisure boat is dog friendly, so well-behaved pets are welcome on all of our boats.
Pets must wear booties or shoes to protect the deck
Bring towels for the leather seating
A pet life jacket is highly recommended
🛥 What Is Included on the Boat?
Everything you need, with no nickel-and-diming:
Licensed captain (always included)
Bluetooth stereo system
USCG life jackets for all ages
Lily pad float mat
XL cooler
First aid kit
👨👩👧 Are Kids and Babies Welcome?
Absolutely. All ages are welcome, and we carry USCG-approved life jackets from infant to adult sizes.
✅ How Safe Are Your Boats and Captains?
Licensed and trained captains on every trip
Background-checked crew
USCG life jackets for all ages and sizes
Fully insured fleet
Meets all Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations
⭐ What Guests Say on Google
Longhorn Leisure is rated 5.0 stars from 1,600+ Google reviews. A few recent ones:
“Just so knowledgable on the water. He knew all the spots by name, knew a handful of the houses that belonged to famous people. Really nice guy, super relaxed, and great vibes. All around excellent job by Captain Brandon.”
— Kevin M., Google review
“Todd was a great captain on our family sunset boat ride. He made sure we were well attended, safe, and had a good time. Would definitely book with him again!”
— Tannya, Google review
“Celebrated my man’s 30th birthday today on a pontoon boat! We had an absolute BLAST! Captain Brandon went above and beyond making sure we had a fabulous time and made us feel right at home!”
— Jireh C., Google review
“Brandon showed us a great time. He isn’t your ordinary boat tour guide. He showed us all around the lake & we were able to swim and have a great relaxing time.”
— Hannah Y., Google review
“Captain Todd was awesome! We had a wonderful cruise on Lake Austin and lots of fun playing in the water. Todd was easy to work with, a delight to interact with, and very skilled at handling the boat!”
— Caitlin P., Google review
Read all 1,600+ reviews on Google →
❓ Still Have Questions?
Call or text: 512-630-2338
Email: info@longhornleisure.com
We’re happy to help you plan the perfect Lake Austin boat rental experience.