Think sun, fresh air, the breeze blue skies and all in the comfort and privacy of a rented boat. Local boat rentals are a great way to get your family a private mini vacation that doesn’t take too much work. We’ve got the scoop on rental options for pontoon boats, fishing boats, speedboats, and more, all within driving distance from Chicago.
Boat Rentals within 2.5 Hours from Chicago’s Suburbs
(listed from nearest to farthest)
Spring Lake Marina
25125 Grass Lake Road
Antioch, IL
(847) 395-6440
- Approximately 1 hour from Chicago
- Deck boats, tri toons and mini pontoons, standard pontoons, premier pontoons
- Fuel is not included in the cost of rental
Your Boat Club (Chain O Lakes)
25837 W, IL-173
Antioch, IL 60002
(612) 208-1800
- Approximately 1 hour from Chicago
- Rentals include speedboats, pontoon boats, and fishing boats
- Their website also allows for boat rentals in 3 other states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida
Chain O Lakes Boat Rentals – Pontoon Boat Rentals
26050 W Riverview Pl.
Antioch, IL 60002
(224) 277-5231
- Approximately 1 hour from Chicago
- Pontoon boat rentals for half day or full day
- Closed on Mondays to Wednesdays except for holidays
Twin Lakes Boat Rental
101 E Lake Shore Dr.
Twin Lakes, WI 53181
(888) 251-2628
- Approximately 1.25 hours from Chicago
- Available rentals include pontoon boats, waverunners, and a tiki bar pontoon boat, as well as kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes
- 4 hours or full day rentals available for the pontoons, while other rentals are available for a minimum rental of 1 hour and more
Heritage Harbor (Starved Rock Area)
111 Harbor View Dr.
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 433-5000
- About 1.5 hours from Chicago
- Jet skis, pontoon boats, kayak, tubes, fishing boats and electric boats available for rental. Stand-up paddleboards are available to rent for a full-body workout while enjoying the water and the views.
- All rentals are a minimum of 2 hours except for the jet skis, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.
Jerry’s Majestic Marine
N1599 Maple Ridge Rd.
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 248-6128
- Approximately 1.5 hours from Chicago
- Pontoon boats, rental charters and waverunners are available to rent
- Fuel prices included in the cost of boat rental
Pontoons on the Move (Lake Country Area)
W23075 Lindsay Rd N46
Pewaukee, WI 53072
(262) 370-7377
- Lake Pewaukee is just under 2 hours from Chicago, but they deliver to multiple lakes. If there is bad weather, you can pick one of the many lake options.
- Offer daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal pontoon rentals (within a five hour radius from Pewaukee, WI)
- Fuel and tax are not included in rental rates.
Delavan Lake Marina Boat Rentals
2518 N Shore Dr.
Delavan, WI 53115
(262) 728-5540
- Approximately 1.5 hours from Chicago
- Available rentals include pontoon boats and deck boats, as well as tubes, lilypads, canoes, and paddleboards
- Hourly rentals are available on weekdays but not weekends. Weekend options are half day or full day.
Delavan Boat Rentals and Lakeside Bait and Tackle
3542 State Road 50
Delavan, Wisconsin 53115
(262) 725-7007
- Approximately 1.5 hours from Chicago
- Pontoon and fishing boats available to rent, as well as canoes and kayaks
- Rentals are available for 4- or 8-hour sessions.
Pine Lake Marina
908 Pine Lake Ave.
La Porte, IN 46350
(219) 402-1120
- Less than 2 hours from Chicago
- Pontoon boats, tritoons, ski boats, sports packages, and more.
- They also rent water toys including tubes, skis, wakeboards, and kneeboards
Lake Lawn Resort
2400 E. Geneva St.,
Delavan, Wisconsin 53115
(262) 728-7950
- Less than 2 hours from Chicago
- Pontoon , tri toons, power boats, waverunners, paddleboats, paddle boards and even water toys are available to rent.
- All prices are subjected to a 10% increase on weekends and holidays.
Blue Water Boat Rentals
Harbor locations are:
Woodland Harbor Marina
525 Kentucky Avenue
South Haven, MI 49090
(888) 426-2864
Anchors Way Marina
143 Anchors Way
St. Joseph, MI 49085
(888) 426-2864
- Approximately 2 hours from Chicago
- Speed boats, pontoon, jet skis and paddle boats available to rent.
- 2 to 4 hour rental blocks are available to book online.
Park Shore Marina
22230 Maple St.
Cassopolis, MI 49031
(269) 362-2237
- About 2.5 hours from Chicago
- Pontoons, speedboats, fishing boats, and paddleboats, as well as kayaks, water trampolines, and more
- 2 hour minimum on all boats
Lake Shafer Boat Rentals
2419 NW Shafer Dr.
Monticello, IN 47960
(574) 583-5238
- About 2.5 hours from Chicago
- Available rentals include Yamaha waverunners; pontoon boats; runabouts; and ski boats with skis, rope, and vest
- Scroll to the end of their home page for a discount code and check individual boat pages for early bird morning specials. .
Tips to Make Your Boat Rental a Success
Remember to ask your rental company these questions:
- Ask if tax, gas, and oil are included in the price or if you have to pay extra for those.
- Ask if the boat has enough lifejackets for the children and adults in your party.
- Ask about cancellation charges, deposit rates and weather impact to understand what you’re signing up for.
- Some companies do not allow pets, so be sure to ask if you’re bringing a fur kid.
Here’s what to wear on the water: Expect warm summer days, so swim shirts with a built-in SPF guard is highly recommended. The longer the sleeves, the better for sun protection and the less layers of sunscreen you will need to lather on. The reflection of the sun off the lake is very intense, so think about bringing hats, sunglasses, and long sleeves! Sun hats with a tie to prevent you losing it with the wind is absolutely a must.
Don’t forget the sunscreen: Remember reapply sunscreen often. It is so easy to just float around in the water and forget how much time has passed. Remember to get out of the water to dry off and let the new layer soak in before jumping back in the water.
Choose the right toys or check out what is available for rent: The best toys for your boat day are things your don’t mind losing ! Pool noodle, floats, balls, sand toys for when stops by the beach happens would all be great ideas. For older kids, check out water package options that may be of interest to them.
Think through food and drinks on the boat: We packed two coolers, one with food, and one with drinks. It is so easy to get dehydrated, so make sure you pack lots of water and ice to keep everything cool. Good foods for the boat include sandwiches, cheese and crackers, veggie trays, and chips. Keep it simple!
Extra items to bring: A package of baby wipes, Ziploc bags, and a roll of paper towels were a must. Make sure you bring your own garbage bag for trash from snacks and drinks. Depending on your kids’ age, you may also want to bring along a travel potty.
For more fun on the water, check out our kayak, paddleboat, and canoe rentals here!
