Canoe rental spots along with SUP rentals and kayaks have really gotten a bump in popularity in the last couple of years as more and more people are trying out paddling. Apart from paddle board rentals that I have written about, today we are talking about canoe rentals.
So, if you have been looking for a canoe rental near me, I have a list of awesome places where you can rent a canoe and enjoy yourself.
Canoe rental near me – where to start?
Renting a canoe is a fantastic way to test out the sport while on vacation or to explore your local waterways. If you have been planning to get your feet wet with canoeing (pun intended) before buying the full equipment, then why not try it out first by renting?
And with that said, before going to just anyplace, here are my proven criteria for a top-quality canoe rental experience.
Canoe rental spots – what you should know?
The terrain
When looking for a canoe rental shop, surely you would want a place that has a lot of diverse gear for you to test out and see what suits you best.
However, what you should also think about is where that shop is situated. Are the lakes or rivers nearby suitable for canoeing? How is the terrain around, and if you will have exciting nature spots to explore. Because you see, part of the whole canoeing is nature. And if you don’t have anything interesting to see, then you won’t enjoy it as much.
Exploring the area is half the fun, really, since canoes give you access to untapped regions and provide a completely different perspective to explore from.
Also, it’s crucial to find a canoe rental shop that has a convenient launch spot to paddle from as you want to go out in the water with as much ease as possible.
What’s even better is that if you have a car and you can put the canoe you rented on the roof of it, then you can drive off in search of new paddling areas and to learn further about your surroundings. This way, you will never get bored of just canoeing in one spot.
Family or Group Deals
Most people don’t go renting a canoe all by themselves usually. You rent with a group of friends or with your family while on vacation. So, it would be super-helpful if you could find a shop that offers group or family deals such as tandem canoes or tandem kayaks or large SUPs for more than one person.
And speaking of tandems, check out just how much fun you can have with tandem kayaks here.
Plus, search for shops with canoe gear for different body types, experience levels, and abilities.
Canoe Rental Pricing
Even though most of the shops in one same location will have reasonably comparable prices, expect a drop in the offseason and an increase in their rates for busy times of the year.
However, you should still do your research because there are known to be significant differences among shop rates in the same destination.
With that said, the best option would be to find canoe rental shops that charge by the hour, several hours, full days, and multiple days. This way you have a lot of freedom, especially when you want to go on full-day excursions. In that case, paying by the hour will be too expensive.
Also, there are shops that offer full season canoe rentals, which is excellent if you take multi-day camping trips often.
So, how much should you expect to pay?
Well, for hourly rates, they should not exceed $20 – $30.
Skilled Instructors & Guides with Product Knowledge
When looking for a canoe rental near me, then part of the fun and safety of canoeing – if it’s your first time – would be to have someone to show you how to use the gear.
Stay away from those places that just give you what they have left and send you on your way.
Tell them it’s your first time and ask any questions that come into your mind because things like paddling moves and how to hold the paddle are essential when on the water. Also, they should teach you all about the turning, upwind/downwind paddling, and handling chop, and so on.
Canoeing tours are also an excellent idea if you have never been in a canoe before or have never been to that particular area before. Canoe tours are usually planned to take you on a scenic glide with some commentary along the way.
And now that you know some basics of having a good canoe rental experience let’s get to some of my favorite renting shops.
Canoe rental near me – the full list of rental shops
Chattahoochee River National Water Trail
High Country Outfitters is a canoe rental shop in Atlanta with various paddling gear for you to try. Stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, tents, and backpacks for all your outdoor needs can be found here.
And speaking of the terrain, they are nearby Chattahoochee River National Water Trail in Sandy Springs. Here you have 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River where you can canoe, kayak or paddle, and it truly is a must-try experience.
If you are a beginner or you like camping and family trips out in nature, then the Upper Chattahoochee River Blue Trail is especially useful for novice canoers. The river here is relatively calm, and it’s even suitable for paddle boarding too. The river is open for kayaking year-round, but water temperatures never really rise above 12 degrees Celsius, so make sure to bring a jacket or even a wetsuit.
When renting a canoe here, be mindful of the time. Chattahoochee is a prime spot for spotting wildlife and taking long, leisurely paddles, so if you rent for only an hour or two, you may realize that it isn’t enough. You can also paddle past Civil War sites and historical mills while enjoying the beautiful scenery. With rich biodiversity and cool historical landmarks, there is certainly a lot to check out at Chattahoochee.
Sweetwater Creek State Park
Located near Lithia Springs, here you can rent a canoe at the Sweetwater Creek State Park.
With miles of outdoor trails, beautiful rocky bluffs, and flowers, this place is great for both history fans and canoe enthusiasts.
If you are a beginner, the scenic creek has flat waters surrounded by trees and flowers, and it is also super easy to navigate so you can confidently enjoy your canoe. Visitors can also enjoy paddling past a textile mill from the Civil War Era and places used in filming The Hunger Games.
If you are bringing your own gear, then you can quickly launch your own boat inside the park for free, so this place is truly accessible and affordable to all.
Ocmulgee River Trail
Located in Monticello, the Ocmulgee Outdoor Expeditions canoe rental shop has everything you might need for your paddling trips.
Ocmulgee Outdoor Expeditions is Macon’s original and locally owned canoe and kayak rental service for the Ocmulgee River. The Ocmulgee is gorgeous, and it allows you to see a unique view of Macon from the river as it winds through town.
Canoes, Kayaks, and Inner Peace. That is the motto of Ocmulgee Outdoor Expeditions, and you ought to try it out sometime. They also offer guided tours and canoeing lessons for first-timers.
Furthermore, the Ocmulgee River Trail has over 200 miles of connected waterways that give you complete control over how much time you spend there. With its 25 access points, it is easy to enjoy the flat waters and Class I rapids of this epic waterway.
Ocmulgee River is ideal for longer paddling trips. There are tons of mini islands to explore and camp on. Wide-open blue waters, sand bars, and forested islands all come together to make Ocmulgee an incredible weekend destination. However, there are alligators in the lake and sometimes on the islands- be careful!
Also, for those of you who are bringing their own gear and boats, you can launch your boat for free all along the river.
Lake Blue Ridge
Located in the Fannin County, the Lake Blue Ridge Outfitters is a canoe rental shop situated nearby the pristine aquamarine waters of Lake Blue Ridge. This is one of the most beautiful mountain lakes for a reason, and canoeing or kayaking there would be pure bliss.
And speaking of paddle sports, you can rent your gear at the Lake Blue Ridge Outfitters
Here you have 65 miles of shoreline at your disposal with a connection to Chattahoochee National Forest. The lake itself is pretty calm and serene for any type of paddling like paddle boarding, kayaking, and canoeing, so you will never get bored spending time here.
Just like the previous two places, if you are bringing your own boat, launching it in the river is for free. Also, when entering the area, note that there are two main entries to Lake Blue Ridge that offer different opportunities.
First, the Day Use/Boat Ramp area provides easy access into the water and has short trails along the coastline.
The other entrance, Morganton Point Recreation Area, has a beach and swimming area great for children and is a more developed part of the coastline. While you can launch from both of these areas, the Day Use area is more rugged and focuses on the water, and Morganton is better for families looking to set up camp.
Lake Allatoona
Nearby the Lake Allatoona, located in Acworth, you have the Lake Allatoona Kayak rental shop that also rents canoes.
Among their vase assortment of water gear, you can pick between waterfall tours and 5-hour canoe rentals with life vests included, which will enable you to explore the area like never before.
And while there are many lakes around for beginners too, I would recommend Lake Allatoona for those looking for a challenge. So, if you are an intermediate or advanced paddler, you will love this place.
The lake touches Cobb, Bartow, and Cherokee counties and has views of the magnificent Red Top Mountain Area. In addition to these natural beauties, Lake Allatoona is also a famous Civil War battle site with historical markers along the route.
You can enjoy paddling around the large lake area, or take a mile detour and enjoy the Allatoona Falls around Little River. Between the lake’s open waters and the fall, avid paddlers will love paddling around Lake Allatoona.
There are a few full-service marinas and boat ramps on the shores of Lake Allatoona, where you can launch your own boat for free.
Chattooga River
Located in Clayton, Chattooga Adventures is a canoe rental shop where you have paddling gear for all levels and experiences. They have kayak and canoe rentals, whitewater tours, and weekend clinics to help you along this epic water adventure.
The Chattooga River has different sections to accommodate all ability levels. About 2.5 hours from downtown Atlanta, exploring the diverse Chattooga River is a fantastic weekend getaway.
Beginners looking to go kayaking in Atlanta should check out Tugaloo Lake. Opening up into Lake Tugaloo, Chattooga River’s wild waters become nice and calm- perfect for novice paddlers. Tugaloo State Park is also an awesome outdoor destination.
Intermediate and advanced paddlers will have a blast kayaking the whitewater waves of the Chattooga River. Notorious for the legendary Five Falls, Chattooga River’s rocky whitewater runs provide epic trails for skilled kayakers.
You can launch your own boat on the Chattooga River, but guided tours are recommended because of the rough waters.
Tybee Island
Located in Savannah, the kayak & canoe rental shop has you covered with all your water sports needs. Canoeing around Georgia’s Tybee Island is truly one of the best ways to explore the coast. Visitors can canoe and SUP around tons of different areas like marshes, creeks, estuaries, and more.
Again, here you have different spots for different levels of paddlers.
So, for beginners, the southern end of Tybee Island is best. There, Tybee Creek and Chimney Creek have calm sheltered waters and sandbars which provide a comfortable and safe area for novice paddling. Novices and families may also enjoy the shorter scenic paddles around Little Tybee Island and Skidaway River.
For intermediates and experienced paddlers, the north end of Tybee Island holds more challenging waters surrounding the historic lighthouse of northern Tybee, Cockspur Island, and Fort Pulaski. As a bonus, you can spot dolphins here too.
From the quiet waters of the marsh to the exciting ocean waves, Tybee Island has something for everyone! You can spend an afternoon paddling around the different areas or take longer trips out to nearby barrier islands.
Additionally, if bringing your own gear, you can launch your own boat at Tybee Island for free here too.
Altamaha River
Located in Darien, the Altamaha Coastal Tours, this canoe rental (among other vessels) offers you excellent gear at an even more amazing spot. Namely, the Altamaha River is known as the “Little Amazon” and is one of the mightiest river sources flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. Home to over 100 rare and endangered species, paddlers interested in wildlife and bird watching should add the Altamaha to their list.
Different levels of paddlers should visit other spots for the best and safest experience.
For beginners, the Lower Altamaha is the best place for paddlers to go canoeing and kayaking. This section of the river has pretty tame waters and is surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife on both sides. Going downstream, paddlers can explore Stud Horse Creek, Lewis Creek, Rifle Cut, and Darien Creek- a stretch of about 17 miles.
However, above all, I would suggest getting a guided tour if this is your first time here so that you can truly explore the area without keeping track of time or place.
For more experienced paddlers, the Darien Creek, located at the mouth of Altamaha, is a favorite among paddlers. You can kayak to barrier islands, explore Georgia’s coast, and the Altamaha’s flat waters all in one place. Kayaking along the Altamaha is usually done in large stretches for long paddle trips, but 29 different access points make it easy to get in and out whenever you choose.
You can launch your boat anywhere along the Altamaha for free, but it is best to steer clear of the raging water of the Upper Altamaha River.