Lone Star Riverboat Cruises
208 Barton Springs RoadAustin, TX, 78704
(512) 327-1388
(512) 327-1388
So glad we did this! My husband and I were visiting from DFW and I wanted to find an activity that was unique and came across Lone Star Riverboat tours. Very affordable, even better. Bring your own snacks and drinks, although they did have some canned drinks for sale. Captains DJ and Robert were friendly and humorous. We sat on the top deck but there's an enclosed 1st deck as well, which I imagine is great for colder days. The tour was an hour, left promptly, and returned promptly; great for a tight schedule. Definitely recommend for a different type of excursion in Austin.
1 hour cruise down the river. Interesting to hear about buildings new and old and the bats! If you want to see the bats fly at night then go for an evening cruise. They aren’t visible during the day. Apparently 750k-1.5m at any time. We came November and they are apparently going back to Mexico in the next few days until next year. Not sure which month they come back..
It's definitely worth the price to take one of these boat tours to see the bats (and the skyline, architecture, landmarks, etc.) while in Bat City, instead of trying to see from on top of the bridge. Our captain/tour guide was excellent, but I don't recall her name (the cute blonde comedian girl). Apparently they also have a larger boat that can be chartered for private events.
A truly amazing experience. Our guide was really funny and personable. We experienced everything we were promised: a boat tour, view of the city from the water, 1.5 million bats flying out into the country to feast on mosquitoes and various other creatures they prefer to eat. This is a 100% must for both locals and visitors.
My family and I had a great time on the bat cruise! Our guide was funny and informative with information about Austin and the different buildings along the skyline, which we all enjoyed. We've lived in Austin for less than a year and learned so many new things. And, the bats were awesome! Such a fun experience!
As a visitor from Phoenix this was a very fun experience. It’s scheduled for 1-hour but to ensure we got a full experience we got to stay out for an additional 30 minutes. Our Captain ‘Crunch’ was excellent, she was knowledgeable of her job and the sites she told us about along the way. Highly recommended. We also participated in the BYOB, we stopping at the closest corner store and poured our beverages in a styrofoam cup.
Captain Rob was charming and knowledgeable. He kept things going, while we waited for the bats to fly. He piloted the boat very calmly and kept everybody entertained. I would highly recommend using him if you want to see the bats and learn all about how awesome nature is.
Great tour, took my dad, stepmom and their best friend on the tour when they were visiting me in Austin and our Captain went above beyond to put us right in the center of all the bat cinematics, informative and entertaining. Right on schedule to over a million bats fly out for their night out on the town :). Highly recommend as must-see in Austin. Thank you Lonestar Riverboats for giving a memorative event for my family
My co-worker and I went on a bat tour while visiting in Austin for a conference. We had heard from another co-worker who visited the year prior that this was a worthwhile experience that was not to be missed! Our tour was piloted by Captain Christine. Her unique sense of humor was thoroughly enjoyed as she shared the history of the area while we sailed up and down the Colorado River. I loved learning all about the Mexican Free-Tail Bats. Seeing the bats fly out from under the bridge at sundown was like nothing else I have ever seen before. I highly recommend this experience for anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind activity while in Austin. It is rather inexpensive at $13 for an adult ticket for an hour-long tour.
Total Score:3060
Monica Sleboda
March 3, 2024This is a great thing to do while visiting Austin. Or guide was very knowledgeable of the area and came up with fun stories. Watching the bats come out at dusk was really cool too. Only thing I wish I had known before we arrived was that it’s BYOB and you can bring food. Definitely get there early so you can get on the big boat with tables on the upper deck.