Summer getaways don’t always have to involve a cottage or Airbnb rental; renting a houseboat lets you sleep right on the water, giving you the dreamiest escape! Most houseboats feel like floating cottages, complete with bathrooms, kitchen space and indoor/outdoor areas for hanging out. And while Toronto has a gorgeous waterfront, the best houseboat escapes are just a road trip away. Some rentals let you captain your own boat, while others keep it super simple, allowing you to stay docked at a marina, so really, the only thing you’d have to navigate is where to grab dinner.
Here are some of the best houseboat rentals and floating stays within a road trip of Toronto.
Rideau Canal, Smiths Falls
Booking company: Le Boat
Pricing: Varies by boat, date and trip length
Distance: About a 3.5-hour drive (or VIA Rail trip) from Toronto
Le Boat rents out self-drive canal boats from its Smiths Falls base, and you don’t need to be an experienced boater or have a boating licence to book one! Guests receive instructions before heading out, so you can essentially play captain, steer the boat yourself and even sleep on board. The company’s sample seven-night Smiths Falls itinerary takes travellers through parts of the Rideau Canal, with suggested stops in scenic places like Westport, Newboro, Chaffey’s Lockstation and Jones Falls.
Houseboat in Penetanguishene, Georgian Bay
Booking company: Airbnb
Pricing: Varies
Distance: About 3 hours from Toronto
Airbnb offers more than house and condo rentals: you can also book a stationary floating home stay! It’s perfect if you want to sleep on the water but don’t actually want to drive a boat. This houseboat in Georgian Bay is located on a dock at the south end of a 500-slip marina, with shared outdoor access to a BBQ cabana and marina amenities (including a pool!). The houseboat has a bedroom with a queen-sized bed, a private bathroom, a full kitchen and even a deck where you can take in the view.
Omemee/Kawartha Lakes
Booking company: Egan Houseboat Rentals
Pricing: 2026 rates start at $499 for a four-day low-season rental, with weekly rentals starting at $799
Distance: About 1.5 hours from Toronto
This is one of the closest true houseboat-rental options near Toronto! The fleet includes several sizes, from smaller boats for families or friend groups to larger options that can sleep up to 15 adults. Depending on the boat, you’ll find cool features like BBQs, fire tables, water slides and even hot tubs. No boating licence is required, and training is included before you head out. From there, you can cruise the Trent-Severn Waterway and explore iconic lakes and locks from Gamebridge to Peterborough.
Vintage sailboat retreat near wine country, St. Catharines
Booking company: Airbnb
Pricing: Varies
Distance: About 1.5 hours from Toronto
This chic sailboat stay is perfect for a romantic mini-retreat, with just enough space for a private weekend on the water. The boat sleeps two guests and is docked at St. Catharines Marina, with a small kitchenette, V-berth sleeping area, above-deck seating and access to marina washroom and shower facilities. It’s also close to Niagara-on-the-Lake, wine country and the Welland Canal, so you’ll have tons of date night options.
Trent Lakes, near Bobcaygeon
Booking company: R&R Houseboats
Pricing: Deposits start at $250 for 40- and 44-foot houseboats
Distance: About 1.5 hours from Toronto
Choose from several houseboat sizes, including 40- and 44-foot boats that sleep up to 10 adults and larger 60-foot luxury boats with room for up to 16! All boats come with slides, and the larger boats have cool extras like hot tubs, fire pits and big upper-deck hangout spaces. You don’t need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card to rent, but captains must be at least 25 and have a valid driver’s licence. After orientation, renters are issued a temporary licence for the rental period.
Cottage on the water, Port Stanley
Booking company: Airbnb
Pricing: Varies
Distance: About 2.5 hours from Toronto
This 28-foot boat feels like a little cottage on the water. It sleeps up to four guests, with two bedrooms, three beds, a bathroom, kitchen essentials, BBQ, Wi-Fi and a TV (but really, you’ll likely be wrapped up admiring the stunning sunset by the waterfront). The marina also provides bathroom and shower facilities, so you won’t have to rely on the boat setup. Port Stanley is already a popular beach-town escape from Toronto, so this gives you a more creative way to stay there while still being close to shops, restaurants and the waterfront.
Trenton, Quinte West
Booking company: H2O Getaways
Pricing: Summer weekly rentals start at $3,950
License: The captain of the boat must have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card
Distance: About 1.75 to 2 hours from Toronto
There’s no better way to explore the lower end of the Trent-Severn Waterway than on a boat designed as a floating cottage! Expect modern interiors, onboard amenities and space for up to six people. You’ll get hands-on training before departure, including steering, docking and how the locks work. This option is beginner-friendly in terms of experience, but H2O Getaways requires the captain of the boat to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card before arriving at the dock. The good news? You can complete the online course/test in a few hours, then use a temporary card right away while waiting for your permanent card to arrive by mail.
Gananoque/Thousand Islands
Booking company: Houseboat Holidays
Pricing: All rentals require a deposit of $400 (refundable on your return, minus any incurred costs like gas); 2026 weekly rates start at $1,500; shorter non-weekly rentals start at $850
Distance: About 3 hours from Toronto
Explore islands, swim spots and scenic stretches of the St. Lawrence River on your own floating cottage! Cruise through the Thousand Islands or plan routes toward Boldt Castle via the Wolfe Island Cut and Clayton. Choose from houseboats that range from 38 to 48 feet, with weekly, weekend, long-weekend and midweek options available, depending on the season. You don’t need a licence to rent from Houseboat Holidays; you basically just fill out a simple Renter’s Checklist, which serves as your temporary proof of competency for your trip. A guide will provide instructions and demos on operating the boat, and then you’ll be on your way.
Trent-Severn Waterway and Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough
Booking company: Le Boat
Pricing: Varies
Distance: About 1.5 hours from Toronto
The Trent-Severn Waterway stretches for hundreds of kilometres between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay, and the Peterborough base makes it super easy to explore locks, rivers and charming small-town stops along the way. Like Le Boat’s Rideau Canal option, this is a self-drive experience that’s perfect for beginners, so you can live out your captain fantasy even if your boating experience is mostly limited to watching other people dock boats from a patio.
Life on the water, Kingston
Booking company: Airbnb
Pricing: Varies
Distance: About 2.75 to 3 hours from Toronto
This is the perfect option if you’re looking for a docked houseboat stay in one of Ontario’s prettiest waterfront cities. This 1970 River Queen houseboat sleeps up to four guests and includes a rooftop patio, kitchen, lake access, parking, TV and air conditioning. It’s close enough to downtown Kingston that you can spend the day lounging on the boat and then head into town for dinner or a waterfront walk.
