35 places to rent a canoe/kayak in North Carolina
Part of the rental fleet at Lake Johnson.
It’s one of the cheapest recreation deals going: for as little as $5 an hour you can captain your own ship on any number of waterways throughout North Carolina. These bargain basement deals are offered at various county, municipal and state parks throughout the state.
We ran a preliminary list of such places in June; today, we offer a significantly more comprehensive listing (though if you notice an omission, let us know and we’ll be sure to plug it in). We’ve broken your options down by geographic region and included only the basic info: venue, type of boats offered and how much a rental will run you. Note that we’ve either included a range of prices or the minimum; boat houses often have complicated rate structures that you can learn more about at the Web sites provided.
Note, too: A deposit is often required, some boat houses take only cash, rentals are usually seasonal and some only rent on weekends. A good idea to call ahead before heading over.
Coast
Emerald Isle
Hot Wax Surf Shop, 252.354.6466
Boats: kayaks
Rates: $35 for five hours, $55 full day.
North Topsail Beach
Adrenaline Rush, (910) 934-3422
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: Call.
Onshore Surf Shop, 910-328-2232
Boats: kayaks, standup paddleboards (surfboards, bodyboards, bikes)
Rates: $40 for four hours, $75 full day.
Oak Island
Oak Island Recreation Center, 910-278-5518
Boats: kayaks, canoes.
Rates: $15-$21 for four hours.
Swansboro
Barrier Island Kayaks, 252.393.6457.
Boats: various kayaks, standup paddleboards
Rates: $30 for two hours to $70 a day
Second Wind Tours, 910.325.3600
Boats: various kayaks, standup paddleboats, bikes
Rates: $25 half day (kayaks), $20 half day (bikes)
Salty Dog Kayak Rentals & Tours, 910.338.1541 or 252.515.1181
Boats: various kayaks
Rates: $15 for one hour to $55 a day
Coastal plain
Elizabethtown
Jones Lake State Park, 910.588.4550
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour
Gatesville
Merchants Millpond State Park, 252.357.1191
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour
Seven Springs
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, 919.778.6234
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour
South Mills
Dismal Swamp State Park, 252.771.6593
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $5 an hour
Piedmont
Albemarle
Morrow Mountain State Park, 704.982.4402
Boats: canoes, rowboats
Rates: $5 an hour
Person County
Mayo Park, 336.597.7806
Boats: canoe, kayak.
Rates: $10 for four hours
Charlotte area
Charlotte
U.S. National Whitewater Center, 704.391.3900
Boats: various kayaks, whitewater park
Rates: See Web site for rate structure
Kings Mountain
Crowders Mountain State Park, 704.853.5375
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour
Troutman
Lake Norman State Park, 704.528.6350
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5
Triad
Brown Summit
Lake Townsend Watershed Park , 336.373.3694
Boats: rowboats, kayaks, sailboats
Rates: $10
Danbury
Hanging Rock State Park, 336.593.8480
Boats: rowboats, canoes
Rates: $5 an hour
Greensboro
Lake Brandt Watershed Park, 336.373.3741
Boats: rowboats, kayaks, sailboats
Rates: $10
Summerfield
Lake Higgins Watershed Park , 336.373.3739
Boats: rowboats, kayaks, sailboats
Rates: $10
Winston-Salem
Salem Lake Park , 336.727.8000
Boats: canoes
Rates: $4 an hour
Note: Call before heading out; dam construction may affect boat rentals
Triangle
Cary
Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 919.469.4100
Boats: canoes, kayaks, sailboats, rowboats
Rates: $5 per hour.
Durham
Lake Michie (919.477.3906) and Little River Lake (919.477.7889)
Boats: canoes, “flat-bottom boats”
Rates: $6 for six hours (Durham residents, higher for non-residents).
Holly Springs
Bass Lake Park, 919.557.2496
Boats: canoes, rowboats
Rates: $5 an hour
Morrisville
Lake Crabtree County Park , 919.460.3390
Boats: canoes, kayaks, sailboats, rowboats
Rates: rowboats $5 an hour, canoes & kayaks $7 an hour, sailboats $10 an hour
Orange County
University Lake, 919.942.8007
Boats: canoes
Rates: call
Cane Creek Reservoir, 919.942.5790
Boats: canoes
Rates: call
Raleigh
Lake Johnson, 919.233-.2121
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $5 an hour
Lake Wheeler, 919.662.5704
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $5 an hour
Paddle Creek,919.866.1954
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $45-$55 per day
Saxapahaw
Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co., 336.260-6465
Boats: Canoes, kayaks
Rates: Starting at $30, including put-in on Haw River.
Umstead State Park, 919.571.4170
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour
Madison
Boats: Canoes, kayaks
Rates: $25 for 3 hours
Stokes County
Dan River Company
Boats: Canoes, kayaks
Rates: $35 for 3 hours
Mountains
Blue Ridge Parkway
Julian Price Park, Milepost 297
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $12 per hour, plus tax
