Tennessee boasts a variety of tourist attractions, which include shopping malls. With the Mississippi River on one side and the Appalachian Mountains on the other, the state enjoys some breathtaking sceneries and must-visit locations. For instance, Tennessee is blessed with a picturesque shoreline, pristine water, historical places, and a variety of family activities including fishing, camping, and watersports. You can enjoy all these in the comfort of the wide range of houseboats available for rent on the lakes and rivers of Tennessee. Here, you will get clean, well-furnished houseboats offering a wide range of amenities to fit your needs and budget. So if you are looking for a memorable getaway, continue reading and learn where to rent a boat in Tennessee, 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 August 19, 2024.
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1. Luxury houseboat in Chattanooga (from USD 247)
This boat rental in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is located minutes away from downtown. While you are enjoying a stay in the emerald waters, you can access some of the famous attractions in the area with ease such as the Tennessee Aquarium, Rock City Gardens, and Ruby Falls.
Best suited for a family of four, the luxury houseboat is equipped with cozy beds that ensure a good night’s rest. During the hours when you stay in, you can watch movies on a high-definition TV or have an energizing workout on the exercise equipment furnished inside. Useful amenities include an internet connection and a well-appointed kitchen for preparing meals.
Out on the gorgeous sundeck, guests can enjoy bonfire evenings around a roaring campfire or make yummy barbeques on the outdoor grill over socializing with drinks and music. Enjoy a night of stargazing on the hammock while sipping a glass of wine.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
air conditioning worked wellwhen turning on the hot water heater make sure to check the microwave clockCleanliness:
the houseboat was clean and well stockedthe boat was clean well stocked and easily locatedwe enjoyed our stay on the boat it was clean and had everything we could needthe place was clean when we arrived and the check-in/out instructions were easy enough to managethe boat was very clean and easy to accessHost:
austin was a great hostaustin was a wonderful host he was there to answer any questions we might havea prime example of what a great host looks likehe was very responsivewonderful host check in instructions are very clear and informativeRead more reviewsLocation:
great location with restaurants and bars in walking distancegreat location felt safe and had wonderful access to downtown and bike shareboat was docked in a great location walking distance to two cool bar/restaurants and easy access to downtowngreat location and beautiful boat austin was great to work with and quick to respondbeautiful boat at a great location and quick response times
2. Spacious yacht near downtown with a kitchen
Found in Knoxville, Tennessee, this Airbnb houseboat rental is a stone’s throw away from the popular Gay Street, Market Square, Knoxville Convention Center, and World’s Fair Park.
The 1977 Whitcraft 50’ Gold Coast Cruiser is moored to the docks of Volunteer Landing Marina. You can access the famous James White Greenway from where the marina starts. The pet-friendly rental welcomes up to two dogs for an additional cost with the rule that they must not be left unattended and put on a leash at all times.
Air conditioning and heaters add to the comfort and convenience all year round. Should you decide to fix meals when hunger strikes, you can do so in the functional kitchen that has an electric cooker among other useful appliances. Enjoy a flavorful spread with your loved ones at the dining table while soaking in the sights of a spectacular sunset.
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
1.19 km (0.8 mi) from World's Fair ParkAccommodates: 6
Top guest reviews
Host:
john was very helpfuljohn was the best airbnb owner i have ever hadjohn is a great host always responsive appreciative and very helpfulgreat host great spot great dealjohn was very responsive and helpful and we found everything as was mentioned in the descriptionRead more reviewsLocation:
it is an amazing locationenjoyed our stay very much beautiful scenery and close to downtownsuch a unique place had a wonderful time on the boat
3. Cozy houseboat in a gated marina (from USD 286)
Located at Volunteer Landing Marina, this four-bedroom houseboat offers a cozy place for up to six people. The boat features a sleeper sofa, fully-equipped galley with a full-sized refrigerator, stove, and more, a vanity and shower, and outdoor seating in the aft deck and bridge. The boat also has a designated parking spot in the marina, and the marina itself is gated which promises security for both your own well-being and your belongings.
As for nearby places you can visit, UT football stadium, downtown Knoxville and two adjacent restaurants are only a short walk away while Knoxville Convention Center, Market Square, and the East Tennessee History Center are less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) away.
Top guest reviews
Host:
Jim was very accommodating and we enjoyed getting to know himVery friendly and helpful marina staffWe had heavy rains Friday nighta short walk to downtown and a gracious hostWhat more could you ask for?Read more reviewsLocation:
We also enjoyed grilled breakfast and ate on the top deck of the boatso it was very enjoyable to be under cover looking at the river and grilling on the George Foreman grillThe walk from the stadium to the boat after the game was awesome
4. Magnificent houseboat with rooftop deck (from USD 388)
This houseboat is docked in Knoxville along the serene Volunteer landing marina and a short distance from an award-winning steak house called Ruth’s Chris. The dock is also close to other important landmarks such as the Thompson-Boiling arena, Neyland stadium, Newland greenway and the University of Tennessee. This boat has two bedrooms with a king-size bed in the master suite, a full bed in the crew’s quarters and a cozy pull-out couch for additional comfort. The houseboat also features three decks situated at the stern, bow, and roof. The 70’ party deck is spacious and it has 2 HD televisions, a grill, and gas stove. The master and salon areas have UHD flat-screens. Outside the marina, there is a variety of fun activities to keep children entertained, including a short ride to pigeon forge, mini-golf at Sir Gooneys and jump jam.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
We came down from MI to celebrate Thankgiving with our daughter who lives in Knoxbut it truly was like a little condo on the water and was well furnished with anything you needed Good space on the boat lovely upper deck to relax to watch boats passing byI was thinking this was going to be more like a camping tripThe golf cart came in handy for riding over to Calhouns Didn't have a chance to use the bikes or kayaksThe property is spotless and the beds are very comfortableCleanliness:
Clean exactly as picturedThe boat was supplied with everything and was quite room for the 4 of usHost:
Al checked in with us right away to make sure we were all settled in and the marina manager Joe was very helpfulWe made use of the golf cart and kayaks Owner was very responsive to any questions & made a point to check & make sure our stay was going wellThis boat is amazing Al was so easy to work with tooThe owner was most helpful and very quick to respond to any questions The staff at the marina were very helpful showing us where to park our car how to access the security gate etcThe owners were great and very attentive organized and available for questionsRead more reviewsLocation:
renters wanting a quiet get awayThe boat is in the perfect location to walk into town and to Market Square and to the campus and stadiumThe location is perfect for a base to explore the city and surrounding areasIt was a great location andThe nearby Greenway and ease of access to downtown shopping and restaurants was a plus we'll be back
5. Floating oasis for relaxation (from USD 320)
This floating home for rent in Tennessee boasts a large living room furnished with rocking chairs and a cozy sectional sofa. It also has a quality television, smart DVD player, WiFi, fireplace and a kitchen with a number of appliances and plenty of seating and counter space. There are a total of three bathrooms, two in the main house and one in the master suite. The exterior docking area can accommodate up to four boats and it has an outdoor bar, media system, and a dockside fireplace for grilling among other things. To access the house, you are required to rent a boat in Spring Dock Resort.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
It was everything we hoped it would be Whether you're laying in the sun or fishing throughout the dayit felt like home coming in to rest and relaxHost:
Ryan was very helpful also with the reservationThey seem like great peopleIt was very relaxing and made us feel welcomedI didn't get to communicate with Ryan's husbandand they were wonderful at responding to any questionsRead more reviewsLocation:
This house was amazing and located in a really great community of peopleThey enjoyed spending time on the late relaxing on the deck and grilling outI booked the stay last minute and the VRBO site wasn't working
6. Beautiful Norris Lake home (from USD 345)
If you visit the Whiteman Hollow marina on Norris Lake, you can book this beautiful floating houseboat. The houseboat is clean, very spacious and can accommodate up to 12 people including children. This three-bedroom floating home is located a few steps off the interstate 75 (I-75) highway and a shopping mall. Here, you will take delight watching the beautiful sunsets at the comfort of the front porch. In addition to that, there is a swimming deck adjacent to the house, where you can engage in fun pool activities such as noodle jousting, ball racing, and chicken fights. Other notable features of this floating home are the indoor and outdoor sound systems with auxiliary provisions for phones, laptops, and iPods.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
We had 6 people and the toilet constantly backed upThe first night the home smelled like a port-a-potty and the second day the toilet leaked all over the bathroom floor Although the marina management did send someone to pump out the systemThe amount of space inside the home was greatHad all of the amenities for cooking good DVD selection for littles and adultsThe property itself is niceCleanliness:
beautifully decorated no bathroom issuesHouse was up to date and nicely decorated Main areas were cleanHouse was very comfortable Short on bath towelsHost:
Whitman Hollow was also a great hostThey were not willing to offer another boat refund or even discountWe all found that to be very relaxing Marina was great and accommodating with anything we needed for the house Very friendly and great food as well Everyone in floating houses where nice and fri...The marina took care of all of our needsthey had the same problemRead more reviewsLocation:
just steps from the houseNot a big problem and it would go awayFirst time at a floating house and first time at Whitman Hollow renting a houseThe house lake and surrounding area is beautifulOur family of 5 really enjoys Norris Lake and being directly on the water is great
7. Downtown Chattanooga yacht
Chattanooga yacht club (CYC) is a true power boater’s club with over 3000 ft (914 meters) shoreline and 132 boat slips for the safe harbor of different vessels including cruising yacht, ski boats, sportfish vessels and personal watercraft. At CYC, you will enjoy warm hospitality of the host, clean and spacious yacht rooms with a well-equipped kitchen and living room. You will also love the boat rocking you to sleep and waking up to the beautiful melodies of ducks, barges, herons, and rowers. During club functions or weekends, CYC dock provides visitors with a convenient area to tie up and enjoy a variety of amenities including HDTV, a heated swimming pool, and WIFI connection for a comfortable stay.
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
161.87 km (100.6 mi) from World's Fair ParkTop guest reviews
Cleanliness:
very clean and spaciousHost:
brad was a great host and took time to show us around the marina and yachtyou will be welcomed by a super friendly host who makes you feel like familybrad was an awesome hostbrad was great super friendly very informative and had great suggestionsvery responsive and friendlyRead more reviewsLocation:
so nice staying on the water and so close to downtownnice and quiet with a secluded feel right in downtowni will be booking this place again for sure
8. Homey boathouse
Norris TN boathouse (NHLB) offers a variety of services including fishing, restaurant, pontoon rentals, and marine supplies. Recently, the company introduced the presidential series; a luxurious houseboat loaded with a state of the art media system and underwater lighting around its perimeter. For reservation, you need to pay a deposit that’s refundable upon checkout. The houseboats are equipped with safety gadgets including life jackets, anchors, backup generators and holding tanks that are continually drained into the treatment facility after every rental. You will also enjoy a fully equipped kitchen, linen sheets, pillowcases, towels, and a nice Roswell or wet stereo system with mp3 player input. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed but the luxury options available are an indication of astounding new advances that you will experience in NHLB.
Andersonville, Tennessee, United States
33.93 km (21.1 mi) from World's Fair ParkTop guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the sofa is super comfy and the a/c works greatwe rented a jetski and had a great breakfast buffet at the marinawe were gratefulcons` the tv doesn't work properlyCleanliness:
the houseboat was nice but wasn’t very cleanthe boat house itself was extremely clean well organized and had everything we neededHost:
kevin was very responsivegreat place and host was very helpfulsuper relaxing place to stay the host was awesome highly recommendeveryone on the dock was friendly there's more southern hospitality here than any other placepeople are friendly makes staying a pleasureRead more reviewsLocation:
great location for some r&rthe location is amazingit's a pretty remote locationperfect location and on the waterthe place was in a great location
9. Floating house on Norris Lake (from USD 150)
This floating house has some of the best sceneries in all of Lake Norris, comprising beautiful slopes and hills of the surrounding area. Although the houseboat provides all the comforts of a home, you are expected to bring your own boat since the house is literally floating on the lake and you can’t access it without such means. While at this floating house, you will view the beautiful sceneries of the surrounding and children can go swimming right off the front porch. The cabin is clean and well supplied with all basic amenities including linens, soaps, condiments, kitchen utensils, and water toys. The house is family-friendly because children and pets are allowed but smoking is strictly prohibited.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
The kids loved swimming right off the front while the adults relaxed on the porchThere were several things in the home in need of repair - nothinglovely home plenty of room for the 4 adults and 2 children on our tripI'm saying all of this because the houseboat itself was very goodThe out side could use some TLCCleanliness:
All the neighbors were very inviting and extremely niceHost:
Our only problem was finding the house upon our arrival in the dark Friendly neighbors helpedThe only complaints were the listing needs updated and the owner did not respond to any attempts made to contact while we were thereshe did apologize for her delay and was nice to deal withThey also have a very nice selection of water toys to shareThe garage where the floats & outdoor chairs were was locked and we did not get a key that fit the lock nor did the marina have a keyRead more reviewsLocation:
Floating house in a wake free zone beats a house boat in my opinionThe profile page that VBRO has on file needs to be updated by the property ownerThe house was in a great floating neighborhoodNone of this got in the way of our wonderful experienceFirst day there we had no electricity due to lines breaking
10. Rental within walking distance of downtown Knoxville (from USD 350)
This rental is another serene houseboat to rent in Knoxville, Tennessee. The houseboat is a walking distance from a few key destinations including the Calhouns, Neyland Stadium, I-40, and Knoxville downtown market. Families, as well as individual occupants of the houseboat, enjoy ample seating area, comfortable beds, and a well-furnished kitchen. The best part of this establishment is its tranquility and beautiful scenery without interruptions from the big city. Further, you can rent a variety of boats at the marina, including bikes, kayaks, paddleboards and pontoon boats. However, an important point to observe is that the owner has enacted a no-smoking or pet policy within the premises.
Top guest reviews
Host:
Gabe was a great hostGabe was a great asset as well providing great instructions and a tour of the house boatGabe was an AWESOME hostOur family enjoyed the ample seating areas the nice kitchen and slept well on the comfortable beds Gabe the owner was very hospitable and flexible with our needsWe had a great experience Lots of room very comfortableRead more reviewsLocation:
Checking in and out was a breezeThe location cannot be beat with a very short walk to the Vol Navy and all of the surrounding football tailgating areas Additionally and easy walk to downtown for dining and nightlifeSpent a weekend out on this house boat with some friends from out of town
11. KokOasis houseboat
KokOasis is a 75-foot (22-meter) houseboat named after Kokopelli, a fun-loving mythical figure from Southwest America. As the name depicts, the houseboat offers a peaceful sanctuary to visitors looking to relax in a modern vessel with quality suites. For instance, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system provides a comfortable living environment to occupants all year round. For convenience and additional comfort, the houseboat is designed with spacious staterooms, TVs, a hot tub and a fully furnished kitchen. KokOasis is suitable for a number of family events including vacations, birthday parties, graduations, collegiate sports, weddings, and athletic events. KokOasis also offers either a 45 or 90-minute cruise in the famous Queen Priscilla; a 1968 U.S navy tender under the Tennessee boat line. The establishment is clean thanks to the hospitable staff who ensure the garbage is emptied, towels are changed on a daily basis and water is continually pumped to each room. An additional offering includes a complimentary breakfast option prepared on the final day of your stay.
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
1.34 km (0.9 mi) from World's Fair ParkTop guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the place was conveniently located the rooms were spacious and the amenities were excellentgreat alternative to a boring hotel roomthe bed in the back bedroom is super comfortable and the sheets are divineour last morning they brought breakfast and it was deliciousCleanliness:
the beds were extraordinarily comfortable boat was clean and linens were washed for us everydaythey're very attentive & everything was spotlessly clean and immaculatethe space is clean very spacious and just plain funthis place was so much fun very clean and comfortable excellent communication with hostwe absolutely loved our time on the boat- so peaceful clean and very well-maintainedHost:
kevin and drew were both great hostskevin and drew were amazing hostsdrew and kevin are the perfect hostskevin and drew and perfect hostskevin and drew are fantastic hostsRead more reviewsLocation:
nice 15 min walk to market squarethe location was great and easy to get tothe location for a football game was perfectthe location is great for enjoying knoxville and campusgreat location and easy to get anywhere in town
12. Family-friendly floating house (from USD 275)
You can also rent a boat at the harbor of Shanghai Marina. Here, you will live in a two-stateroom vessel adequately furnished with a full sleeper sofa, one king and a queen-size bed. The kitchen is equipped with a microwave, dishwasher, and an under-counter refrigerator. Another feature to look out for is the enormous front deck and dockside that’s suitable for sunbathing and outdoor activities. There is also sufficient area around the houseboat to dock as you swim in the clean waters. The houseboat is perfect for both individuals and families looking for a nice gateway on a boat that is fully stocked, and where children can enjoy paddleboarding.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
The house looks just like the picturesThe house has all the amenities of homeIncredibly well equipped and comfortableKitchen was well stocked Large deck to enjoy the lake view and grill outThe best was just relaxing in the lake steps off your houseCleanliness:
The house itself was decorated beautifully was clean and included everything you need accept for clothes and foodThe place comes with plenty of water toysHost:
Owner's live next doormost of all Randy was helpful if we needed him welcoming all the timeShut the duck up and listen Randy and Paula were more than accommodatingCouldnt have asked for a better setup We will definitely be back and have already spread the word about Harbor Nightswas a nice change from the standard vacationRead more reviewsLocation:
The amenities were a plus my daughter enjoyed the paddle boardRandy and Paula were awesomeSo many different places to sit around for coffee and end with wineHad a great time boating and relaxing on Norris LakeSo great to just roll out of bed and be on the water
13. Boat on Tellico Lake
This stationary houseboat is found on the beautiful Tellico Lake, which is acclaimed for its magnificent mountain views. Here, you will enjoy unlimited access to the entire vessel, including the vast upper decks furnished with grill and patio furniture. Also, the boat is clean and offers different amenities including but not limited to tidy washrooms, a dryer, freezer, Wi-Fi, toaster oven and microwave. You can relax aboard the houseboat while watching a Blu-ray movie or explore the rich ancient history of the area. However, note that it is forbidden to move the boat, which is moored in an end slip with a fascinating view of the lake.
Vonore, Tennessee, United States
48.13 km (30.0 mi) from World's Fair ParkSuperhost
Accommodates: 6
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
way better and more comfortable than i thought it would bethe place was spotless beds were comfortable amenities were greatCleanliness:
very clean easy to use everythingclean and well stocked we had everything we neededthe cleanliness was adequate but could have been much better inside and outeverything was very clean and it definitely exceeded my expectationsHost:
josh is a great host who responds very quickly to any questions or concernsjosh is a very nice host quick to respond with questionsfriendly neighbors and a pretty good restaurant next door this place is greatRead more reviewsLocation:
great place to stay very uniquegreat place to staysuch a fun place to stayperfect place to stay if you are trying to have a fun laid back lake weekend
Countless attractions in Tennessee
Indeed, finding the right boat can be exhausting. Look no further, the lakes of Tennessee have an extensive database of houseboats to suit all your needs. Take at least a week-long vacation in this region and you’ll be thrilled by countless on-shore and off-shore attractions.
Frequently asked questions about where to rent a boat in Tennessee, USA
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