Top 6 Houseboats For Rent In Southern California, USA - Updated 2024

Alexis
Alexis 
Updated
| 3 min read

Southern California, also known as SoCal, is famed for its gorgeous climate. There is an abundance of sunshine all year round, perfect for outdoor activities such as swimming and surfing. There are also many land-based theme parks and attractions around this region, such as Disneyland Park, San Diego Zoo, Joshua Tree National Park, and Universal Studios Hollywood among others. Still, summer days are ideally spent out on the water, soaking up the sun, and relaxing on a houseboat with friends. A great water destination, Southern California features many lakes that welcome houseboats. By staying on one, you get a luxury vacation and a great adventure at the same time. For your next getaway in SoCal, check out these top houseboats for rent in Southern California, USA.

We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 12, 2024.

1. Luz de Luna in San Diego

This charming 50-foot (15.24-meter) yacht is excellently designed for a luxurious seafront adventure. This boat rental in Southern California’s city of San Diego has a roomy lounge area with a flat-screen TV, a long couch with pristine finishings, and a well-off kitchenette with induction stovetops and mini-fridges.

With two plush bedrooms, it can sleep up to four guests. There are en-suite bathrooms as well in each bedroom, but if you want to make the most of the luxury lifestyle, the marina, where it’s usually docked, offers additional exciting facilities, such as a hot tub, pool, and outdoor shower. From here, you can explore much of downtown San Diego a five-minute drive away.

Stayed at this property?
San Diego, California, United States
183.35 km (114.0 mi) from Venice Canals
house boat 4 Guests 2 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms

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2. Charming houseboat with amazing views in San Diego

Experience living on the water in an active marina when you rent this chic Southern California houseboat anchored at Marina Cortez on Harbor Island in San Diego. This rental can accommodate up to four guests with two en-suite bedrooms. An additional queen-sized sofa bed is available in the living room. It also features a fully equipped kitchen so guests can conveniently cook their own meals, and WiFi is available throughout the property.

You will be charmed waking up to nice sunrises and ending days with vibrant sunsets on the upper deck, where you can also lounge and eat your meals. Location-wise, this property is close to great restaurants and attractions like San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld.

Stayed at this property?
San Diego, California, United States
182.41 km (113.4 mi) from Venice Canals
255 reviews   Superhost Wifi Available
Houseboat 3 Beds 4 Guests 2 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms

Accommodates: 4

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the kitchen has useful amenities and fully stocked with all the kitchen needs
warm weather great patio and comfortable beds
the rooftop deck was amazing and patt had lots of supplies for the beach or pool
wi-fi worked fine pleanty of hot water all the time all good
small kitchen had the basics needed we enjoyed the rooftop patio as well
Cleanliness:
everything was very clean and comfortable
the houseboat is very clean and functional
the house is clean and comfortable
the space was clean and very comfortable
houseboat was clean and we had everything we needed
Host:
the host is a very helpful and accommodating one too
the home was well equipped and the manager molly was very kind and helpful
she was very helpful and made our trip much better
molly the property manager is so helpful kind and makes us feel right at home
patt was very responsive to any questions/e-mails i sent and was very thorough with check-in directions
Location:
great location and central to downtown
the location is perfect
the location was also great
we were very close to the airport which was definitely an advantage for transportation
the location was great for the zoo uss midway and beaches
Read more reviews

3. Boatel California in Ventura (from USD 163)

Permanently moored in Ventura Harbor Village, this beautiful and well-maintained houseboat welcomes up to six guests. It has two rooms with a total of four beds, one bathroom, and a half bath. Bond in the boat’s salon as it has a couch and a TV with Netflix for entertainment. Whip up meals in its fully equipped kitchen. The Keurig Coffee Maker comes with free coffee.

High-speed WiFi is available in the boat, which means that you can work here without interruptions. When you need a break, head to the boat’s deck for some harbor viewing. Incredible views are guaranteed. Want to work on your tan? This property is just 30 meters (100 feet) from the beach.

Stayed at this property?
Ventura, California, United States
79.12 km (49.2 mi) from Venice Canals
448 reviews   Superhost Wifi Available
ENTIRE HOME 5 Beds 6 Guests 2 Bedrooms 1 Bathrooms

Accommodates: 6

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
for land lubbers better description of the sleeping and bathroom facilities would help
breakfast is extra but excellent the next morning out on the deck
the space was comfortable and cozy
Cleanliness:
super clean and unique setting
the accommodation was clean and truly comfortable
Host:
host is amazing and helps at every chance she gets
martha is a great host
nice place with great hosts
the owner does an amazing job and the place was super tidy
great boat and great host we enjoyed our stay for the weekend
Location:
the location is perfect
nice location - neighborhood area felt safe even to walk to at night
it is super close to good restaurants shopping and ventura beaches
it's in a great location with water activities restaurants and shopping in walking distance
amazing location and very comfortable accommodations will be revisiting
Read more reviews

4. Mini yacht with tandem kayaks in Marina del Rey

Docked at Marina del Rey, this boat is favored by previous guests, particularly because of its location. The harbor is within walking distance to Venice Beach and Lighthouse Beach, perfect for beach lovers. There are also lots of great restaurants around the area.

Good for two guests, book this one-bedroom mini yacht for a romantic getaway with your partner. Besides the beach, tandem kayaks are available for guests and you can use the boat as your launching pad for your adventures on the water. Free breakfast is provided when you book your stay here and there is also a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals.

Stayed at this property?
Marina del Rey, California, United States
1.47 km (1.0 mi) from Venice Canals
358 reviews   Superhost Wifi Available
Houseboat 1 Bed 2 Guests 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 2

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
best sleep ever and the mattress was unbelievably comfortable
50 yards to the bathroom and shower wasn't bad just inconvenient
the bed is extremely comfortable and having the option of watching movies was a plus
Cleanliness:
awesome place super clean and well kept
the bathroom despite being a short walk is clean and the shower is great
no bathroom facilities on the boat itself but short walk up the pier to clean boaters-bathrooms
marina shower facilities were clean and convenient
the communal bathrooms were new very clean and only a quick walk from the boat
Host:
jon was a great host
jon was a great host
jon was super nice and knowledgeable a great host
jon was an awesome host and the cadence was a great experience
jon is the best host on airbnb
Location:
very private and secure location
great location with fantastic restaurants and beach a close peddle walk or paddle away
close to great restaurants in beautiful marina del ray
very quiet relaxing atmosphere with prime walking/biking distance from everything
for the price and the location i’d say this is the best place in the area
Read more reviews

California Tour Guide

Stephanie Eley

Stephanie Eley

I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of... Read more

Tours by Stephanie

5. Luxurious beachfront boat in Marina del Rey (from USD 499)

Experience a deluxe experience while on a romantic weekend getaway aboard this boat, located in the heart of Marina del Rey. Constructed with gorgeous teak wood and featuring velvet furnishings, this rental is beautiful, comfortable, and can accommodate two guests.

The boat has everything you need for a hassle-free stay. It has a fully equipped kitchen and a coffee maker for your morning caffeine, a cable TV for nights in, and WiFi to stay connected with your family and friends. You can walk to Venice beach and catch the sunset there or even kayak at the nearby Mother’s Beach.

Stayed at this property?
Marina del Rey, California, United States
2.0 km (1.3 mi) from Venice Canals
3 reviews   Superhost Wifi Available
Houseboat 2 Beds 2 Guests 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 2

Top guest reviews
Cleanliness:
the sailboat was clean cozy and felt safe
great hospitality in a very nice marina central and quiet with clean restrooms
Host:
we had a wonderful experience the host was on top of it all and very kind
overall a great trip and even more wonderful hosts
right off the bat jc & sol were incredibly communicative informative and helpful
Location:
perfect location in the heart of marina del rey
parking was easy just a quick walk from the lot to the slip
Read more reviews

6. Remodeled yacht in a serene harbor

Stay in this 15-meter (49.2 feet) luxury yacht located at the harbor of Marina Del Rey harbor. This yacht is perfect for guests looking for relaxing accommodation since it is moored in a secluded and serene harbor. Recently remodeled, this rental can fit up to four guests in two bedrooms.

Have a barbecue party since a grill is available upon request and dine on the yacht’s deck for amazing views. The yacht also has a kitchen equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave for easy-to-prepare meals. Free WiFi is also available on the property.

Stayed at this property?
Marina del Rey, California, United States
1.45 km (0.9 mi) from Venice Canals
12 reviews   Wifi Available
Houseboat 3 Beds 4 Guests 2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 4

Top guest reviews
Cleanliness:
it was clean safe and comfortable
Read more reviews

A unique stay on a boat

If you are traveling to Southern California soon and want to try something new, consider staying on a yacht. Use this list of the top houseboat rentals in Southern California, USA, to help you decide on the best houseboat for an unforgettable experience.

Frequently asked questions about the top houseboats for rent in Southern California, USA


Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Alexis is a financial analyst by profession. However, she enjoys working out, reading, and eating when not crunching numbers or analyzing data. Apart from these, Alexis is also a writer and a...Read more

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