While the Orlando area has plenty of activities to keep you busy, it’s safe to say airboating ranks near the top of the list of thrilling experiences that can be found near you. Here are 20 great airboating sites that’ll have you taking to the water in no time.
Captions by Harry Sayer.
Jolly Gator Fish Camp
4650 E State Rd 46, Geneva, 407-321-0153
If you want to do some real backwater airboating, this is the spot. Operated by Central Florida Airboat Tours, Captain Bruce offers up a 30 minute ride for $20 and an hour is $40. You’re guaranteed to see plenty of gators, migratory birds, cattle and pretty much everything else that calls the St. Johns River home.
Photo via brianh8357/InstagramWild Willy’s Airboat Tours
4715 Kissimmee Park Rd, St Cloud, (407) 891-7955
Wild Willy gets you one-hour airboat rides for $48 on Lake Tohopekaliga. Seasonal sunset tours, which go from November to March, run you $65.
Photo via FacebookKissimmee Swamp Tours
4500 Joe Overstreet Rd, Kenansville, (407) 436-1059
This is the spot for a more wild airboat experience. Further away than other airboat tours, you can choose between 60 and 90 minute tours on the Lake Kissimmee, the third-largest lake in Central Florida. The tour takes place on the Great Florida Bird Trail, giving you the chance to see bald eagles, whooping cranes, snail kites, and other endangered species. An hour trip costs $50 and 90 minutes will run you $64.
Photo via donnawgynn/InstagramGrasshopper Airboat Ecotours
301 Tucker Lane, Cocoa, (321) 631-2990
Captain Rick Thrift is in charge of the custom-built airboat Grasshopper, and promises plenty of Florida flora and fauna to see. It’s $60 plus tax for an hour and a half, but pay in cash to get a discount.
Photo via FacebookAlligator’s Unlimited Airboat Nature Tours
14400 Reese Drive, Lake Wales, (863) 696-0313
$50 for an hour gets you a scenic trip up the Kissimmee River followed by the Lake Hatchineha marsh. You also visit the Dead River, where century-old cypress trees grow.
Photo via FacebookTom and Jerry’s Airboat Rides
68 N Main Terrace, Lake Panasoffkee, (321) 689-8918
See the sights of Lake Panasoffkee, a 4,460 acre spring-fed lake controlled by the Florida Fish and Game commission. The lake has spring-fed channels that lead into swamps and wilderness areas that connect to the Withlacoochee River, which flow north to the Gulf of Mexico. The ramp price is $47, but buy your tickets online for a discount.
Photo via FacebookBoggy Creek Airboat Rides
2001 E Southport Rd, Kissimmee, (407) 344-9550
You can have several options to choose from at Boggy Creek Airboat rides. They offer a sunset tour, a scenic nature tour, a night expedition to see Florida’s nocturnal creatures in action, and more. Prices range from $27 to $53.
Photo via theofficialticketcenter/InstagramAirboat Rides at Midway
28501 E Colonial Dr, Christmas, (407) 568-6790
$38 half-hour airboat rides will take you by an Indian burial mound and into the Cypress forest, and will show you Florida’s wildlife in action. If you’re lucky, you’ll find “Pork Chop”, the Vietnamese Pot Belly Pig, greeting you at the entrance.
Photo via swmiddo/InstagramAirboat Rides at Loughman Lake
1955 Hatbill Rd, Mims, (321) 268-2277
If you want to make a night of it, try out the Airboat rides at Loughman Lake. The half hour costs $32 and the hour is $45. When you’re finished, stay at one of the Loughman Lake Lodge cabins for a nightly fee of $90.
Photo via sunshinescripture/InstagramBig Toho Airboat Rides
2017 Neptune Rd, Kissimmee, (321) 624-2398
If you’re vacationing at Walt Disney World or another theme park, this is the one for you. Convenient for tourists and sporting two airboats capable of holding large groups, Big Toho Airboat rides can give you the Florida wildlife scenery you want to see. An hour trip costs $76.
Photo via socalkam/InstagramOrlando Airboat Tours
4275 Neptune Rd, St Cloud, (407) 572-3561
Orlando Airboat Tour, located at Marsh Landing Adventures, possesses 6-person airboats equipped with Bimini tops to shield you from the sun. An hour is $50, 90 minutes is $65 and two hours is $85. Take the four-hour eco safari for $166 and visit Shingle Creek in the Everglades and travel into the islands once inhabited by Seminole Indians for a 45-minute nature walk.
Photo via kermitkisser/InstagramAlligator Cove Airboat Nature Tours
14900 Camp Mack Rd, Lake Wales, (863) 696-0406
Alligator Cove Airboat Nature Tours adds a personal touch to your airboat ride.With a recipe that contains “Generous portions of Mother Nature, equal parts of wildlife and birds, a sprinkle of history, a scoop of humor,” and more, the airboat tour promises an unique experience. Keep an eye out for Big Jake, the gator that’s often seen on the tour.
Photo via katehickleeds/InstagramWild Florida Airboats & Gatorpark
3301 Lake Cypress Rd, Kenansville, (407) 957-3135
A great pick for families. Wild Florida offers animal encounters, ranch buggy tours, and the Chomp Grill on top of the airboat rides. $26.50 gets you a half-hour on the water while an hour costs $47.50. Bring a Florida ID to get 50% off Gator and Wildlife park admission and 15% off one-hour airboat rides.
Photo via davewadesound/InstagramSpirit of the Swamp
2830 Neptune Rd, Kissimmee, (321) 689-6893
Families will want to choose the Spirit of the Swamp. With a four passenger minimum and a six passenger max, the custom Panther airboat promises a personal experience in the headwaters of the Everglades. You can have a $50 “Wild Florida” trip for an hour, or a $85 dollar “Florida Cracker” trip that includes a nature walk on Makinson Island.
Photo via currentlywandering/InstagramBlack Hammock Fish Camp
2316 Black Hammock Fish Camp Rd, Oviedo, (407) 365-2201
$27 will get you on one of three airboats every 30 minutes on Lake Jesup. The 100,000-year-old lake is home to over 9,000 gators – the largest concentration of the species of any lake in the U.S. Plus, this spot has 2-for-1 margaritas every day.
Photo via cparrish43/InstagramCaptain Fred’s Airboat Nature Tours
3301 Lake Cypress Rd, Kenansville, (407) 957-3135
Located on Lake Hamilton, you can catch a pair of nesting eagles as they raise their young. Captain Fred’s prides themselves on being handicap-friendly, with a step-free loading dock and ramps for better access. $40 will get you an hour and a half on the water.
Photo via FacebookBJ’s Airboat Adventures
68 N Main Terrace, Lake Panasoffkee, (321) 442-3464
Take a trip down the Withlacoochee River and see just what Florida’s wildlife can be. An hour is $50 plus tax but make sure to buy your tickets online for a discount.
Photo via FacebookAirboatRidesMelbourne.com
6000 Lake Washington Rd, Melbourne, (321) 288-3997
$40 gets you a hour traveling on the Upper St. John’s River. Captain Mike Tipton grew up in the area and makes a priority to take customers off the beaten path. Sunrise and Sunset tours are available, too.
Photo via FacebookA-Awesome Airboat Rides
1332 Cupid Ave, Christmas (407) 568-7601
A $50, 90-minute tour along the St. Johns River will show you all the wildlife Central Florida has to offer. And unlike other airboats that hold up to 30 people, these airboats are designed to hold a max of six people to offer a more personal experience.
Photo via FacebookTwister Airboat Rides
FL-520, Cocoa, (321) 632-4199
A 30-minute ride costing you $24 will take you through the marsh of the St. Johns River and Lake Poinsett. Try out the Lil’ Twister tour for an hour at $60 to go deeper into the river.
Photo via twobitgator/Instagram