Pontoon Rentals & Tours operates a distinctive, captained pontoon boat service on Lake Murray in Lexington, South Carolina, run by a master captain with 35 years of experience living on and boating the lake. Unlike a traditional rental model, the business picks up groups wherever is most convenient along the lake (delivery or fuel charges may apply depending on location), taking the hassle out of getting on the water.
Lake Murray, known as “The Jewel of South Carolina,” offers more than 750 miles of shoreline centered around a dam spanning a mile and a half across the Saluda River. Every pontoon comes fully equipped with safety gear, rope, anchor, ladder, cooler, and a map, letting groups cruise, sunbathe, swim, and visit the lake’s islands at their own pace. A signature offering is the Purple Martin roosting tour: during summer evenings, thousands of purple martins gather to nest on what locals call Lunch Island, Doolittle Island, or Bombing Range Island, drawing boaters to witness the spectacle at dusk. Additional themed tours include a Sunset Cruise, Graveyard Tour, and Island Tour, all with fuel included.
Pricing for April-September runs $260 for a 2-hour tour, $300 for a half-day, and $380 for a full day Monday-Thursday, rising to $285/$360/$440 Friday-Sunday. October-March pricing holds at $260/$300/$380 across all days of the week.
With 86 reviews at a 5.0 average, Pontoon Rentals & Tours has built an excellent reputation for a genuinely unique, guided way to experience Lake Murray.
For visitors and locals looking for a fully captained pontoon tour on Lake Murray — including the memorable Purple Martin roosting experience — Pontoon Rentals & Tours offers a highly reviewed, deeply local operation out of Jakes Landing.
