The Best Boat Rentals in Falls Lake

On Falls Lake, most powerboat and pontoon rentals run about $60 to $150 per hour, with common minimums of 3 to 4 hours. For easy planning, budget around $350 to $600 for a half day and roughly $600 to $1,000 for a full day in peak season. Prices usually include required safety gear and life jackets; water toys like tubes or wakeboards may be included or offered as add-ons. Captained trips often bundle the captain’s fee and fuel, while self-operated rentals may charge fuel separately and require a refundable security deposit. Exact inclusions appear in each Getmyboat listing at checkout.

The lake is ideal for pontoons and tritoons for lounging, deck and ski/wake boats for towing and cruising, compact fishing boats for early bites, and jet skis for quick spins. Large yachts and sailboats are uncommon here due to lake size and facilities, so most renters choose a pontoon for groups or a wake/ski boat for watersports.

You can book either option. Captained charters are the easiest—your captain handles docking, navigation, and local spots while you focus on the group. If you prefer to drive, you’ll need to meet the owner’s age and experience rules, and in North Carolina anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must carry a NASBLA-approved boater safety card to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more. Personal watercraft have additional age rules. If you’re new to the lake, a captain removes the stress of launching, no-wake zones, and busy holiday traffic.

Common meet-up points include the Highway 50 Access in Wake Forest, the Rolling View Access and adjacent marina in Durham, the Upper Barton Creek Boat Ramp off Six Forks Road in North Raleigh, the Ledge Rock Boat Ramp near Creedmoor, and the Hickory Hill Boat Ramp off Redwood Road in Durham. Some access areas within the state recreation area have gate hours that change by season, while many NC Wildlife ramps are open 24 hours; your owner or captain will confirm the best launch with parking for your date and group. Note that the Beaverdam area is a separate, motor-free section that you cannot enter with gas-powered boats.

Expect wooded shorelines, quiet coves in the Barton Creek and Ledge Rock arms, and wide-open stretches perfect for tubing near the NC 50 bridge. Around Rolling View you may spot bald eagles and great blue herons, especially in the morning and late afternoon. You’ll also pass sandy swim areas like Sandling Beach and Rolling View, and you can cruise near the dike that separates Beaverdam from the main lake for sunset views.

For self-operated rentals, North Carolina requires a boater education card if you were born on or after January 1, 1988 and plan to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more. Bring a government-issued photo ID, your boater card if applicable, and the credit card used for the booking. Captained trips don’t require any license—just arrive on time with your waiver completed.

Yes—Falls Lake is very family-friendly. Every rental includes U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets, and North Carolina law requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket while a boat is underway. Tell your owner the ages and approximate weights of any children so they can bring the right sizes. If you have an infant or prefer a particular fit, you’re welcome to bring your own properly rated jacket.

Most captains and owners welcome coolers, snacks, and beverages; cans and reusable bottles are preferred over glass. Keep in mind that the operator must remain sober. If you plan to picnic ashore at Falls Lake State Recreation Area, alcohol is generally not allowed in the park unless part of a permitted event, so plan to keep alcoholic beverages on the boat and follow your captain’s or owner’s rules.

Many listings allow well-behaved dogs, often with a small cleaning fee or a limit on size. Confirm pet approval during booking, bring a non-slip mat and a pet PFD if you have one, and towel off before re-boarding. When launching from park accesses, pets must stay leashed on shore and are not permitted on designated swim beaches or inside park buildings.

Summer afternoons can bring pop-up thunderstorms, while mornings are usually calmer with lighter boat traffic. If conditions are unsafe, most owners will reschedule or refund per their policy; you’ll see the exact terms in your Getmyboat checkout. On hot days, plan extra water and shade, and remember that some state park gates close around dusk depending on the month—return in time to avoid gate lockouts.

Absolutely. Pontoons are perfect for 8 to 12 guests, and captained wake boats are great for active groups that want to tube or wakeboard. Book early for weekends and holiday periods, bring decorations that won’t blow away, and coordinate your meet-up point and park gate hours with your captain. If you want an on-shore celebration with alcohol inside the state recreation area, a special permit is typically required—your captain can keep the party on the water instead.

Peak boating season runs May through September, with the busiest days on Memorial Day weekend, July 4th, and Labor Day weekend. April, early May, late September, and October offer milder temps and lighter crowds, plus colorful fall foliage. For smoother water and easier parking, choose weekday mornings; on weekends, aim for an early launch or a sunset cruise. Midday slots book fast in summer, so reserve well ahead for Saturdays.

Bring binoculars for eagle-spotting near Rolling View, idle under the NC 50 bridge at golden hour, and explore the quiet coves off Upper Barton Creek for a swim stop. Anglers often target largemouth bass and crappie at first light, and families like to anchor near sandy park shorelines for a picnic and a dip before the afternoon breeze picks up.