Boston Pedal Boat Rentals

Rentals are available at the dock at the Boston Children’s Museum at 308 Congress Street. Look for our ticket booth, across from the entrance to the museum, and dock staff right at the dock who can assist you with rentals.

Rentals are located at the dock directly in front of the Boston Children’s Museum. Parking is available at local garages in the area. If you need parking validation, please stop by the Boston Children’s Museum front desk for validation which will take a few dollars off parking. Local garages that accept validation are Stillings Street Garage, Farnsworth Street Garage, Atlantic Wharf Parking Garage, and the Seaport South Garage. Please note parking can be limited and garage costs vary based on day and time. The Museum is walking distance from South Station (Red Line and Commuter Rail) and Courthouse Station (Silver Line).

We do not accept any reservations. Pedal boat rentals are available on a walk up basis at our ticket booth at the dock at the Boston Children’s Museum.

Our pricing is per boat, not per person. A flat rate of $25 for 30 minutes or $35 for 45 minutes covers your entire crew of up to five passengers. Please note these rates are subject to a 5% MA Convention & Facilities Surcharge.

To keep your voyage smooth sailing, we recommend bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, a summer hat, and a smartphone or camera securely attached to a wrist strap. Wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes or sneakers. Please leave behind coolers and alcohol (save the drinks for the shore, as open containers are not permitted onboard). Pets are also not allowed on the dock or boats.

We operate daily from noon until 30 minutes before sunset. This allows you to catch beautiful late-day golden hour views and watch the early evening harbor lights shift across the water. We do not do any rentals after dark.

Your safety and comfort are our top priorities. A Charles River Boat Company team member is always stationed nearby on a motorized safety skiff. If you ever need a hand or get too tired to pedal back, our staff will promptly come out to assist you. Each pedal boat is equipped with a safety whistle for guests to use to indicate that they need assistance.

Yes. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are provided for all participants and must be worn at all times while on the dock and onboard the pedal boats.

Boaters of all ages are welcome! Children must be accompanied by an adult, and we provide properly sized life jackets for infants and youth. The maximum combined weight limit per boat is 800 lbs.

Our pedal boats operate weather permitting. In the event of heavy rain, high winds, or lightning, rentals will be temporarily suspended. If there is inclement weather in the forecast, please call our office at 617-621-3001 to inquire if the rentals are still running.

No! You do not need a ticket to the museum to enjoy our pedal boat rentals. Our ticket booth and dock operations are located directly at the dock in front of the museum. We do encourage guests to check out the Boston Children’s Museum for a fun adventure for both kids and adults!

You are more than welcome to bring small snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy while you cruise! However, please note that coolers are not permitted as there is limited space on the boats. Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited —so please save the celebratory drinks for the shore!

To ensure a safe, clean, and family-friendly experience for all of our guests, all Charles River Boat Company docks and pedal boats are strictly non-smoking and no-vaping environments.

There are public restrooms conveniently available for our pedal boat guests to use right inside the main lobby of the Boston Children’s Museum.

Due to the physical design of the vessels and the transition onto the floating boat, our pedal boats are not handicap or wheelchair accessible. If you are interested in a handicap accessible cruise option, please check out our Charles River Sightseeing, Architecture, or Cocktail & Sunset Cruises departing from the CambridgeSide Mall. Further information on these tours can be found here.

No! Because our animal fleet is strictly human-powered and entirely non-motorized, absolutely no special boating licenses or previous maritime experience are required for rental.