Where to Rent a Houseboat in Minnesota
Where to Rent a Houseboat in Minnesota
By Explore Minnesota
Love being out on the water? Want some special time with family or friends? How about a different kind of adventure this summer? Find some floating fun aboard a Minnesota houseboat, where your lodging is your vacation.
A family swims near their houseboat at Voyageurs National Park / Credit: Paul Vincent
Where can I rent a houseboat?
Several businesses rent houseboats for a few days or a week on some of Minnesota's most beautiful bodies of water. Those who have discovered this one-of-a-kind getaway in the Land of 10,000 Lakes come home with great stories about life on the water in their floating home away from home.
Voyageurs National Park is a beautiful, water-based National Park near the Canadian border that is surrounded by forest and wilderness. The best way to explore Voyageurs is by boat, and houseboats are a comfortable option for a leisurely tour of the park, stopping in secluded bays along the way.
A houseboat on Rainy Lake in Voyageurs National Park / Paul Vincent
Some popular houseboat businesses are Ebel’s Voyageur Houseboats, Northernaire Houseboats on Rainy Lake, Rainy Lake Houseboats, and Voyagaire Houseboats and Lodge.
If you’re planning a proper Voyageurs National Park trip, be sure to check our complete guide, find the perfect campsite, learn more about its many lakes, and find kid-friendly things to do.
Lake Vermilion Houseboats
Houseboats are also available for rent on Lake Vermilion via Lake Vermilion Houseboats in Tower. Read our guide to Lake Vermilion to start planning your getaway. In Babbitt in the Superior National Forest, you can stay with Kinsey Houseboats or Timber Bay Lodge and Houseboats.
Further west, Leech Lake near Walker is another big lake where you can rent a houseboat with Hiawatha Beach Resort and Houseboat. Or opt for a more urban experience and stay at the Covington Inn, a permanently moored houseboat on the Mississippi River in St. Paul — no driving required.
Relaxing in a hot tub on a Rainy Lake Houseboat
What's staying on a houseboat like?
Houseboats come in a variety of sizes, from 30 feet or so up to 55 feet, and can accommodate various group sizes, from couples to families or groups of friends. Rent one with your buddies for a different kind of fishing trip, or pair up with one or two other couples for a fun group vacation. It's also a unique option for family reunions.
In essence, houseboats are like floating cabins, with a small kitchen and dining area, bedrooms with bunk beds, bathrooms, and decks or screened-in porches for sunning and enjoying the view. Many models come equipped with air conditioning, dishwashers, TVs, water slides, and even hot tubs and "staterooms" instead of bunk beds.
Steering a houseboat in Voyageurs National Park / Credit: Mary Mathis
Of course, you have to navigate and drive the houseboat, but houseboat controls are designed with the novice boater in mind, and the rental agent will give you instructions and a demonstration before you head off on your own. Many come with a fishing boat and/or kayaks/canoes that you can use to explore the lake while your houseboat stays put.
Find more ways to get out on the water during your stay.
Swimming in Voyageurs National Park / Paul Vincent
What can I do on a houseboat vacation?
There's plenty to do both on and off the boat. Fishing, swimming, hiking on shore, and watching for eagles and other wildlife are among the options on most lakes.
Best of all, houseboats are the perfect place to relax and live the lake life. You can prop your feet up and watch the lake glisten in the sun, chat and play cards with your companions, and stargaze after the sun sets.
If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the Milky Way or northern lights show.