Green Lake Boathouse is a coffee shop and boat rental operation right on Green Lake in Seattle, giving visitors a chance to combine a coffee break with a paddle around one of the city’s most popular parks. Rentals run seasonally from April through September, weather permitting, with a live webcam on the official site showing current lake conditions.
The rental fleet includes double kayaks (14 feet, fitting 2 adults plus a child), single kayaks (11.5 or 12 feet, fitting 1 adult plus a child), double and quad pedal boats, row boats (fitting up to 3 adults, great for fishing or a picnic on the water), and stand-up paddleboards in various lengths from name-brand makers. Every rental includes life jackets and paddles.
Standard rates run $28 an hour for single kayaks, pedal boats, row boats, and paddleboards, or $32 an hour for double kayaks, with a discounted happy hour rate of $25 an hour for any boat rented before noon. The first hour is paid upfront, with additional time on the water prorated every 15 minutes at $6.75; prices don’t include tax, and a 50-cent processing fee applies to card transactions. Rentals are first come, first served, with no reservations accepted.
The attached coffee shop offers healthy grab-and-go snacks, coffee, hot and cold beverages, and beach supplies, open daily 9am to 5pm with extended hours as daylight lasts longer into the summer.
For Seattle locals and visitors looking to paddle Green Lake by kayak, pedal boat, row boat, or paddleboard, Green Lake Boathouse offers an easy, walk-up rental option paired with a lakeside coffee shop.
