Lake Travis Guides › Party boat

Party-Boat Saturday on Lake Travis

Double-decker party boat on Lake Travis near limestone cliffs, with people on floats

A party boat with friends is one of the most popular ways to spend a Saturday on Lake Travis. Here’s how to pick the right boat, keep the day safe and time it so you’re not fighting the crowds.

Check before you go

677.12 ft 3.9 ft below full pool (681 ft)

Lake Travis level as of Oct 29, 12:00 PM CT

Today’s water level Live webcam Lake Depth Map

Captained charter or self-drive?

  • Captained charter: the company provides the boat and a captain who knows the lake, finds the spot and handles anchoring. Best for bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays and big groups, or anyone who wants no one in the group stuck driving.
  • Self-drive rental: you rent a pontoon or double-decker and one of you drives. Usually cheaper for smaller groups, but the driver must meet Texas boater education rules (below) and stay sober all day.

Compare companies on the Lake Travis boat rentals page or see where they launch on the Lake Depth Map. Saturdays in summer are the busiest days of the week, so book early.

Questions to ask before you book

  • How many people can the boat legally carry, and is a captain included or extra?
  • Where do you board, and is there parking for the whole group?
  • What’s allowed on board: coolers, food, alcohol, glass, speakers, floats?
  • What happens if there’s bad weather or lightning? What’s the cancellation policy?
  • Are life jackets provided in every size you need, including for kids?

Where the boats go

On summer weekends, party boats tend to anchor up in Lake Travis’s big coves, with Devil’s Cove being the best-known party spot. Expect music, lots of floats and a crowd. Captains know the current hot spots. If you’re driving yourself, pick a cove on the map before you leave, anchor well away from other boats, and watch the water depth: coves get shallower as the lake drops.

Ramps & marinas at today’s level (677.1 ft)

The lake is close to full, a good level for most of the shoreline. Ramps still vary, so check the one you plan to use. Each public ramp has its own lowest usable elevation, and marinas can move docks or limit services when the level drops.

Which ramps are open · Marinas · Marinas on the Lake Depth Map · LCRA boat ramp status

The rules that matter

  • Sober driver: boating while intoxicated (0.08 BAC) is illegal in Texas.
  • Life jackets: there must be a wearable, USCG-approved life jacket for every person on board, and children under 13 must wear one on boats under 26 feet while underway.
  • Boater education: anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 needs a boater education course to drive a motorboat over 15 horsepower or a jet ski, unless a qualified adult (18+) is on board.
  • Swimming: swim near the boat with the engine off, and remember open water is a lot more tiring than a pool. Floats are not life jackets.

Full rules: TPWD boater education.

Timing your Saturday

  • Morning start: earlier departures mean calmer water, easier parking and a better pick of anchor spots.
  • Midday: peak sun and peak crowds. Shade, water and sunscreen matter more than you think.
  • Late afternoon: plan your return time with the rental company, and keep an eye on the sky. Texas storms can build quickly in summer.
Bring: sunscreen, hats, sunglasses with straps, a lot more water than you expect to drink, snacks, towels, a dry bag for phones and a waterproof speaker if the company allows it.

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Boating rules summarized from Texas Parks & Wildlife (checked Oct 29, 2026). Lake level from the latest Go Lake Travis reading. Each rental company sets its own rules on capacity, alcohol and glass, so confirm before you book.