The Complete Lake Travis Boat Rental Guide

Lake Travis marinas: how they compare

Anderson Mill Marina (where Premier operates): 25 minutes from downtown Austin via 183 North. Free parking right next to the dock, no stairs from parking to boat, accommodates party buses and coach shuttles directly at the dock, accessible for wedding attire and mobility-limited guests. The closest purpose-built party-boat marina to Austin.

Lakeway-area marinas (Hurst Creek, Volente): 35–45 minutes from downtown, mostly individual slips for fishing boats and self-drive pontoon rentals. Limited large-capacity charter options.

Western Lake Travis marinas (Pace Bend, Briarcliff): 50+ minutes from downtown, generally serve cabin-rental or fishing-cruise traffic, not party-boat charters.

Boat types: party barges, pontoons, ski boats

Party barges (what Premier runs): purpose-built for groups, large open decks, premium sound, on-board restroom, 14–75 guest capacity, captained. Best for: bachelor/bachelorette, weddings, corporate, family reunions, milestone birthdays. Examples: Premier's Day Tripper, Meeseeks, The Irony, Clever Girl.

Self-drive pontoons: $400–$800/day for the boat alone. You drive, you bring music, you haul coolers, you handle safety. Captain is an add-on at $200–$300/day. Best for: experienced-boater small groups (5–8) who want autonomy.

Ski boats and wake boats: 6–12 guests, focused on water sports. Not the right format for parties or large groups.

Captained vs self-drive

Captained charters dramatically reduce planning load and risk for groups. The captain handles navigation, anchor selection, weather decisions, swim-stop safety, and emergency response. Self-drive pontoons require a designated driver who stays sober, knows the lake, and can make weather calls. For any group over 12 or any occasion that can't go sideways (bach, wedding, corporate), captained is the right answer.

BYOB policies and beverage logistics

Premier and most Lake Travis party-boat operators are BYOB — guests bring beer, seltzers, canned cocktails, wine in cans or plastic, and non-alcoholic drinks. Cans and plastic only, no glass on the boat (broken glass + bare feet + wet deck is the universal rule). Premier's sister company Party On Delivery handles BYOB set-up: order beverages online, POD ices the coolers and stocks the boat before you board. Retail prices, 100% buyback on unopened bottles.

Per-person costs for groups 14–75

Per-guest base-rate math at 4 hours: 14-guest Day Tripper = ~$57/guest. 25-guest Meeseeks/Irony = ~$48/guest. 75-guest Clever Girl = ~$27/guest. Texas sales tax (8.25%) + 20% gratuity added on top. BYOB beverages typically $10–$25/guest. Add-ons (DJ, photographer, floating bar) quoted separately. The per-guest cost falls dramatically as you fill the boat.

Frequently asked questions