Lone Star Riverboat Cruises
208 Barton Springs RoadAustin, TX, 78704
(512) 327-1388
Austin, TX, 78704
Austin, TX, 78704
(512) 327-1388
September 5, 2025
What an awesomely unique experience we had on the bat tour with Lone Star riverboats. They weren't exaggerating when they said hundreds of thousands of bats will fly out from under the bridge! They literally fly out for about 20 min! The tour guide did a great job giving a little history of the city. BTW- San Antonio has the largest bat colony! Bring a raincoat in case it rains and a hood to protect from bat droppings... Would highly recommend if visiting Austin.
August 21, 2025
Taking the riverboat cruise to see the bats was one of our favorite experiences while visiting Austin! Captain Robert was kind and seemed very passionate about his job. We appreciated his knowledge about the city and his dad jokes. This was a great way to get a good view of the city as well. I highly recommend taking this tour!
August 2, 2025
Excellent experience with Hans solo our captain on the Little Star. Awesome view of the Austin skyline, sunset and especially the Mexican free tail
July 14, 2025
Highly recommend the Lone Star Riverboat for bat viewing in Austin! We had Han Solo as our captain on the smallest boat (the Little Star), and it was a great experience. Han Solo was funny and knowledgeable about the bats and being in the smallest boat of the four allowed us to squeeze in with all the kayakers and get a nice spot near the bridge. Very affordable, and you also get a little city tour on the water as the sun sets, which is a neat bonus!
July 13, 2025
An Unforgettable Family Experience on the Lone Star Riverboat! Our family recently enjoyed a truly fantastic time aboard the Lone Star Riverboat, and we can't recommend it enough! From start to finish, it was an engaging and memorable experience that offered so much more than just a boat ride. The tour provided fascinating insights into the buildings lining Lady Bird Lake, giving us a new appreciation for Austin's architecture and history. As the sun began to set, we were treated to a truly breathtaking display – one of the most beautiful sunsets we've ever seen, painting the sky with incredible colors. Of course, a highlight was witnessing the spectacular emergence of the bats from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. It's an iconic Austin experience, and seeing it from the unique vantage point of the river was absolutely magical. What truly elevated the experience were the knowledgeable guides. They shared a wealth of fun facts about the city, and we learned so much about the incredible bats that migrate all the way from Mexico to Austin, including their vital role in the city's ecosystem. Their commentary was engaging and made the entire tour feel both educational and entertaining. If you're looking for a unique and enjoyable way to experience Austin with your family, complete with stunning views, fascinating history, and an unforgettable natural phenomenon, the Lone Star Riverboat is an absolute must-do! We had a great time and made some wonderful family memories.
July 13, 2025
We did the sunset bat viewing tour. We were a family of 5: 2 adults, 1 senior citizen, 1 toddler and 1 child. Literally a group of all ages. It was a great experience. The weather was amazing,the tour guide was funny, and friendly. I will say the tour isn’t exactly “historic” information but just humorous. Atleast our tour guide was. They say to get there 45 mins earlier to board but that was tough with little kids as they started to get bored really fast. If you’re traveling with young kids I’d suggest getting there closer to the time. The total time on tour was about an hour to 1 hour 15 mins. Some folks did find it a bit boring because the boat does go pretty slow but personally I had came in with that expectation so it went really well for us. I would definitely do this sightseeing tour again. Maybe even multiple times. And maybe without the younger kids. Bats: that was a different experience! There were SO many. One pooped on me LOL but it wasn’t a lot and not many ppl felt that. It was cool to see, there’s a huge population of them under the bridge. Idk if I care to see that bats again but the tour itself was great. Overall 10/10 recommend. Whether you’re trying to have a mini romantic vibe, a good time with your parents, your family, Or even just visiting.
June 24, 2025
Highly recommend. Natalie was our tour guide on the Northern Star pontoon and she was terrific. Melissa greeted us, checked us in, and was the tour guide for the Southern Star pontoon; she was great as well. We sat in the front row and could hear all of Natalie's facts, tips, history, and information. That plastic lawn chairs were tolerable. The boat ride was lovely, the information was interesting, our guide was engaging, and the bats . . . The bats were AWESOME! The four of us completely enjoyed ourselves and would do this tour again.
June 18, 2025
So much value for the price point! I've done several boat tours all over the country, and I was impressed how knowledgeable and upbeat our tour leader Maverick Staub was. For my husband and I, admission was less than $30 for the bat watching sunset boat ride. For me the tour leader's knowledge and enthusiasm with leading the tour was well worth it. No restroom on the boat just seats for views and that's it, but it went a little over an hour.
April 22, 2025
Our tour guide Joseph was great! We had friends in town from Germany and they said the bat tour was the best part of their whole trip. Joseph was very funny and knowledgeable. Even though I've lived in Austin for 20 years, I learned a lot. It's fun to be a tourist in your own city sometimes. Highly recommend, especially for the really affordable price!
Total Score:3410
Jackie Nolan
This bat watching cruise was amazing. The skipper of the cruise was so knowledgeable and was able to get us close to the bats. It's worth the time and money. You should try it.