Hop aboard on the best boat tours in Wisconsin!
Everyone who knows me knows I’m a big fan of cruises, boats, and water-related activities.
So, they don’t wonder why I take month-long trips to different cities in Wisconsin annually.
The state is home to some of the best boat tours in the world!
So, when you travel Wisconsin, your trip won’t feel complete without at least one boat tour in your itinerary!
Are they all great? Not really.
But no worries. In this post, I’ve shortlisted the best boat tours in Wisconsin.
Just thinking back to all my fond memories of boat tours in Wisconsin got me all smiling already.
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Table of Contents
Overview: My Top Boat Tours in Wisconsin
1. Peninsula Park Caves Scenic Boat Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.3 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour & 30 minutes | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
Just like Peninsula State Park is dubbed the most complete park in Wisconsin, this boat tour offers scenic beauty and immersive storytelling.
It’s pretty much a textbook example of a classic Wisconsin boat tour.
Once you board and get comfortably seated, you can enjoy the views and the tour guides’ engaging explanations while taking in the stunning scenery around you.
I’ve visited the iconic Eagle Bluff Lighthouse on land many times, but seeing it up close from the water-facing side on this tour just brings new life to the experience!
Keep your eyes out for the caves high above the rock formations.
They’re stunning proof that Lake Michigan was once part of the Silurian Sea, which is one reason this tour is so popular!
The entire boat tour lasts about an hour and a half—just the perfect duration to fit in a water activity if you’re planning to see as many sights as possible on your itinerary!
2. Fish Creek Sunset Live Music Cruise
⭐️ RATING: 4.8 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour & 45 minutes | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
Now, for one of my favorite outdoor things to do in Wisconsin, let me introduce the Fish Creek Sunset Live Music Cruise.
The name says it all. This cruise combines the beauty of a sunset and the serenity of listening to musicians play live!
That’s just the beginning of everything to love about this tour, though.
During the trip, guides will receive informational commentary about important landmarks.
Have I mentioned you can bring your own food and drinks on board?
We had a mini picnic during this boat tour, enjoying the views of Green Bay as we listened to music and fun facts about Wisconsin.
As the sun set, we each had portraits taken with the golden sky as the backdrop.
This is no doubt one of the best romantic boat tours in Wisconsin. If you love sunsets, it’s impossible not to love this experience.
3. Door County Peninsula Park Caves & Ephraim North Cruise
⭐️ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour & 30 minutes | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
Door County is one of the best places to vacation in Wisconsin.
Like the two previous tours mentioned, this cruise is also located in the beautiful region of Door County!
So, how is this specific tour unique?
Well, it combines the stunning views of nature with the historical stories of Ephraim, French explorers, and early Native Americans.
If you love historical facts, this is the boat tour to be in!
Some landmarks we explored during this tour were the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and the Eagle Cave—the classics.
But what I really enjoyed during this tour was catching a glimpse of a native white-tailed deer drinking from the shore’s waters and other wildlife, like bald eagles!
This cruise was one of the most educational boat tours in Wisconsin. Your brain will enjoy the experience alongside your eyes!
4. Wakeboard and Wakesurf Lessons in Fremont, WI
⭐️ RATING: N/A | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
Wisconsin’s boat tours aren’t only about calm, relaxing cruises.
If you’re craving adrenaline-fueled activities, this wakeboard and wake surf lesson in Fremont won’t disappoint!
This time, you won’t be on a boat.
Instead, you’ll be surfing, attached to a speeding boat!
Sounds scary, I know. But the lessons felt very safe, well-organized, and thrilling!
Every nudge of the board, splash of water, and sudden burst of speed couldn’t stop us from smiling and shouting excitedly.
I can still feel the thrill as I was launched into the air for the first time!
For a moment, everything was in slow motion.
When I finally landed a complete jump without losing balance, it made all the previous slips and falls worth it!
This lesson is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Wisconsin in July.
5. Double Decker Pontoon with Slide on Yellow Lake
⭐️ RATING: N/A | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 12 hours | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
In Wisconsin, there is a unique boat you can’t rent anywhere else.
It’s none other than the dream-like double-decker pontoon with a slide on Yellow Lake!
Yup—you read that right. You can have your private mini-resort in the middle of the lake with this boat!
It accommodates 12 people and includes coolers, lily pads, speakers, inflatables, and fishing gear.
Just prepare the food and drinks, and you’ll be ready to host a unique, exclusive boat party!
We booked this for my friend’s surprise birthday party.
As the one who organized the event, I wouldn’t have done it any other way!
6. Self-Operated Powerboat Rental on Lake Michigan
⭐️ RATING: N/A | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
If you love doing boat tours your way, this powerboat rental is another must-try experience!
Whether you want to just cruise along the waters with music banging or anchor in and swim, you’ll be free to do as you please!
Oh, and your comfort is guaranteed throughout the entire ride.
Plenty of table space, coolers with free ice, and high-quality stereo speakers will blare your favorite tunes loud and clear!
The bathroom on board is also very well-maintained and has clean, running water!
We took this boat for a fast-paced ride outside the break wall and had so much fun cruising the shorelines and enjoying unlimited swim breaks!
Return to the boat before dusk and enjoy 3 hours of freedom cruising on the waters!
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7. 3-Hour Boat Rental for Groups of up to 15 People
⭐️ RATING: 5 | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
Expecting a get-together with a large group of 10 to 15 people?
This 3-hour boat rental is gonna be your perfect escape!
Just one glimpse at this boat’s unique design is sure to hint at the kind of amazing, cozy adventure you’ll have in the waters.
Everybody will be facing each other once seated.
Plus, you can rent a lily pad to hang out with your loved ones on the calm water!
Wanna make your experience a little bit more thrilling and exciting?
This boat rental can also be customized to include watersports.
We booked the boat-only rental, but I’m sure that this tour also offers amazing watersports that would amp up the fun!
I recommend this boat rental for special occasions like annual getaways for spring break in Wisconsin!
8. Lake Michigan 2-Hour Sailing Adventure
⭐️ RATING: 5 | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
Sailing is another unique adventure that’ll give you a different taste of Wisconsin’s scenic waters.
When we booked this 2-hour sailing tour, I didn’t know what to expect.
I thought it wouldn’t be too different from other boating tours, where the captain drives while you sit back and enjoy the experience passively.
To our surprise, we actually got the chance to be temporary crewmembers of the sailing vessel and learn about the art of sailing!
Throughout the journey, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of Racine and, if you’re lucky, Milwaukee’s and Kenosha’s.
This family-operated sailing experience is truly personal and inviting.
You can bring up to 6 people per trip, so it’s a perfect getaway for small groups who want to enjoy the waters and explore a possibly new passion together!
This tour is included in my current top-recommended outdoor activities in Milwaukee.
9. Door County Cave Point Kayak Tour
⭐️ RATING: 4.6 | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
Since we’ve already talked about boating, sailing, and wake surfing, we’re just bound to mention kayaking!
This activity combines a chill atmosphere and a touch of adventure, and it’s perfect for anyone at all skill levels.
This brings us to the question… Where to go kayaking in Wisconsin?
If you want the best experience, the safest bet is to book a Door County Cave Point Kayak Tour!
On this tour, you can paddle through scenic waterways and explore the thousand-year-old caves in Door County.
The entire outing was really memorable and showed Lake Michigan’s charms up close.
Bonus: it was really fun hearing all the local history while we paddled around!
10. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Tour (Grand Tour)
⭐️ RATING: N/A | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
No list of Wisconsin vacation ideas is ever complete without a visit to the Apostle Islands.
So, don’t miss out on booking one of the highly in-demand Apostle Island cruises: The Grand Tour.
From the water, this 55-mile tour will let you observe the Raspberry & Devils Island lighthouses and pass through the Devils Island sea caves.
You’ll also visit a historic fishing camp and the iconic brownstone quarry!
Of course, to and from landmarks, the islands’ scenic views and charms will always be with you.
This tour lasted for over 3 hours, and we treasured every passing moment.
I recommend booking the evening tour to catch the sunset, giving you perfect travel pics.
11. Mississippi River Sightseeing Cruise in La Crosse
⭐️ RATING: N/A | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour & 30 minutes | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
One of the best ways to enjoy the scenic waters and shores in La Crosse is booking this Mississippi River Sightseeing Cruise.
As the La Crosse Queen paddles through the Mississippi River, you can enjoy cocktails, wine, soda, and concession food.
All while listening to cool trivia and facts about the river and local landmarks!
This trip was easily one of the best $20 tickets I ever spent.
So, if you want cool weekend trips in Wisconsin, this budget-friendly cruise will make any day better!
As you enjoy the cruise, look for wildlife. As always, ensure you have plenty of storage for all the pictures you’ll capture!
12. Lake Geneva Boat Tour
⭐️ RATING: N/A | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour | ⭐️ BOOK NOW
They say save the best for last, so here’s one of my favorite boat tours in Wisconsin: Lake Geneva Boat Tour.
I’ve been to Lake Geneva more times than I can remember. It’s one of my go-to day trips from Milwaukee.
So, yup, I’ve been on this tour several times. And it never gets boring!
This boat trip lets you explore the historical estates on Geneva Lake from the comfort of a cruise while you hear amazing stories of how wealthy families built these houses.
You’ll only cover half of the lake within the hour of this tour, but it captures most of the amazing landmarks the lake offers.
There’s a full snack bar on board, too.
So, no need to worry if you’re like me and love munching on snacks when enjoying a scenic cruise.
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My final Thoughts on boat tours in Wisconsin
If you love boat tours, Wisconsin is one of the best places on Earth to go.
There are dozens of boat tours in Wisconsin.
Whether you want to relax, have fun, feel the adrenaline in your veins, or have a private boating trip, you’ll find boat tours that fit your preference!
I would’ve loved to mention more tours, such as the best duck boat tours in Wisconsin Dells.
But I don’t want to overwhelm you by mentioning over a dozen boat tours in Wisconsin.
I’m sure that there’s at least one tour above that’ll suit your preferences.
So, don’t overthink it; just book at least one tour through the waters! They’re the best tours in Wisconsin!
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀
