Dive into the very best boating destinations across Wisconsin, with proprietary booking data from Getmyboat illustrating the demand for rentals and charters.

Table of Contents

Overview

Despite its neighboring state of Minnesota being known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Wisconsin, known as "America's Dairyland," actually has more lakes and waterways to boast. There are over 600,000 registered boats in the state, and thanks to its numerous lakes and waterways, Wisconsin is a paradise for boaters.

This report focuses on Wisconsin's top cities for boat rentals, ranked by popularity and rental activity.

About This Report

This report analyzes booking and demand data from Getmyboat, the world’s largest boat rental marketplace, examining the top boating locations in Wisconsin.

It contains proprietary data for each city, including the most desired vessel style for renters and average pricing. It discusses the local features that make each of these destinations popular for boating.

Our Methodology

To develop this report, Getmyboat analyzed boat rental demand and booking data for all locations in Wisconsin. Cities are determined by the city that the boat owner registers the boat in within their profile on the platform. The data was cleaned to exclude outlier hourly and total trip rates, while rental types were categorized into the significant categories to be evaluated in this report.

The Top 8 Boating Cities in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Data Map 2025

#1: Milwaukee

Most Popular Style of Boat: Pontoons

Number of Vessels Available: 13

Ranking at #1 for the second year in a row, Milwaukee, is Wisconsin's largest city and the top hub for boating in the state. Sitting on the western shore of Lake Michigan, you can find a variety of boat styles, from pontoons to sailboats and fishing boats. The city's extensive waterfront offers many locations, both on the lake and on the Milwaukee River. The river is great for sightseeing tours, where you can marvel at the city's historical architecture from the vantage point of the water.

On Lake Michigan, you can cruise from the main port on Jones Island past Veteran’s Park and the North Point Lighthouse to see a few key attractions in the city. Roll out a floating mat and enjoy a swim or book a fishing trip to make an epic catch during your boat day in MKE.

#2: Oshkosh

Most Popular Style of Boat: Pontoons

Number of Vessels Available: 24

Also maintaining its spot in 2nd place, Oshkosh, thanks to its location on Lake Winnebago, remains at the top of the list for boating cities in Wisconsin. The lake is the largest inland lake in Wisconsin and is ideal for water sports like wakeboarding and tubing. The city of Oshkosh hosts several major events during the summer months like the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, an annual aviation event that draws boaters to the area to watch the airshows from the lake. Launch your boat at Menominee Park, a public access area with picnic tables.

#3: Madison

Most Popular Style of Boat: Pontoons

Number of Vessels Available: 7

Rising in the ranks in 2025 from #5 to 3rd place, Madison has grown in popularity for boat rentals and charters thanks to the beautiful lakes. The capital city of Wisconsin sits between Lakes Mendota and Monona. It offers a vibrant boating scene with ample opportunities for recreation and relaxation on the water. Sailing, fishing, and cruising are all popular here, and sightseeing some of the beautiful views of the Capitol are enjoyed by boaters in Madison. Launch at Marshall Park or use the Tenney Park lock system to go between the lakes.

#4 Lake Geneva

Most Popular Style of Boat: Pontoons

Number of Vessels Available: 8

Lake Geneva is a resort city in southeastern Wisconsin, known for its luxurious Gilded Age lake homes and pristine waters. Visit Riviera Beach to swim or try your hand at water sports like wake surfing, a popular pastime for lake visitors. Check out Big Foot Beach State Park nearby or dock and dine at Pier 290, a waterfront restaurant in Williams Bay on the north side of the lake

#5: Racine

Most Popular Style of Boat: Powerboats

Number of Vessels Available: 3

Racine, situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, offers excellent boating opportunities with its well-developed marina and beautiful lakefront. Fishing charters and sailing are popular here. Visit North Beach for swimming and beach activities, or enjoy kayaking and canoeing on the Root River.

#6: Kenosha

Most Popular Style of Boat: Fishing Charters

Number of Vessels Available: 6


South of Racine on the shores of Lake Michigan is Kenosha, another boating gem in Wisconsin. Here, you can book 5-star fishing charters and catch Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, lake trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. Other popular boating activities include sailing charters on the lake and powerboat rentals for cruising.

In Summary

During the summer, Wisconsin's offers a range of beautiful waterways to explore by boat. You can enjoy all styles of boat trips, from high-speed adventures on powerboats, to leisurely sailing cruises. Fishing reigns as a popular activity on many lakes and waterways, and while it may be an inland state, the vast expanse of Lake Michigan will give you the sense of being on the ocean. Wisconsin's top boating cities have something to offer whether you're looking for adventure or relaxation.

About Getmyboat

Getmyboat is the world's biggest and best marketplace for fun, safe, and easy boating experiences of all kinds. Launched in 2013, over 2 million customers have gone boating through the platform, with 180,000+ listings across 184 countries and thousands of 5-star reviews for boat owners and captains. 30% of trips are boat rentals, while 70% of trips are captained by boating professionals, so customers feel safe while they enjoy being together with family and friends on the water.



Citing this Report

Media professionals are welcome to utilize this data for journalistic reporting purposes, with a citation and link to Getmyboat. For any questions, or for any other data not found in the below report, reach out to pr@getmyboat.com. Our data and press team can provide further analysis, press quotes, and any other information needed for press stories.