6-Hour Boat Rentals in Miami

Six hours on a private boat in Miami, with a captain, leaves room for two stops, for example a sandbar and a swim near Key Biscayne, at an easy pace. It suits birthdays and groups that want most of the day on the water.

90 boats offer 6-hour trips. From $775 for the whole boat, service fee included.

90 experiences found

What you can see from the boat

Places on and around Biscayne Bay that many trips pass or stop at. No trip covers all of them: the captain decides the final route depending on the weather, the tide and where the boat leaves from.

  • Downtown Miami and Brickell

    The towers of downtown and Brickell rise right from the edge of the bay. From the water you see the whole line at once, and it looks its best around sunset, when the buildings light up.

  • PortMiami and Government Cut

    Cruise ships tie up along Dodge Island, and Government Cut is the channel boats take to reach the ocean, between South Pointe and Fisher Island. Expect some wake when big ships are moving.

  • Star Island

    A small private island off the MacArthur Causeway, lined with waterfront mansions. Its streets are gated, so the water is the easiest way to see it.

  • Venetian Islands

    A string of residential islands joined by the Venetian Causeway between Miami and Miami Beach. The channels around them are slower and calmer than the open bay.

  • Miami Marine Stadium

    The concrete grandstand on Virginia Key was built in the 1960s for powerboat races and faces a sheltered basin. It has been closed for decades and is known today for its graffiti.

  • Nixon Sandbar

    A shallow sandbar on the bay side of Key Biscayne, named after the president who had a house on the island. Boats anchor in shallow water and people wade between them; it gets crowded on weekends.

  • Cape Florida Lighthouse

    The 19th-century lighthouse at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, inside Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. From the water you see it standing above the beach and the trees.

  • Stiltsville

    A handful of wooden houses built on stilts over the flats south of Key Biscayne, inside Biscayne National Park. The water around them is very shallow, so most boats see them from the channel.

  • Haulover Sandbar

    Just inside Haulover Inlet, at the north end of the bay, a wide sandbar fills with anchored boats on weekends and holidays. It is the usual stop for boats that leave from the north end of Miami Beach.

What fits in 2, 4 or 6 hours

2 hours

A loop of the bay: the downtown skyline, the islands along the causeways and the cruise port, or the sunset if you book an evening slot. From marinas up the Miami River, part of the time goes to the slow ride out to the bay.

4 hours

The bay plus one long stop, usually a sandbar such as Nixon or Haulover depending on the departure point, with a couple of hours to anchor and swim.

6 hours or more

Time to go farther and stop twice: Key Biscayne, the Cape Florida lighthouse, Stiltsville seen from the channel and long stretches at anchor. A full day of 8 hours adds an easier pace.

The captain decides the final route on the day, depending on the weather, the tide and where the boat leaves from.

The extra time over a half day goes to distance and to staying longer where you stop. From a marina near downtown or the south end of Miami Beach, six hours is enough to cross the bay to Key Biscayne, see the Cape Florida lighthouse and Stiltsville from the water, and spend a long stretch anchored at a sandbar.

Plan food and water for the group: six hours is a long time in the sun. Each listing says what is included, whether you can bring your own food and drinks, and how many guests the boat takes.

The cards on this page show the six-hour price for the whole boat, service fee included. Weekends can cost more; choose a date on the listing to see the exact amount. Each boat sets its own cancellation rules, shown before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

What can you see on a 6-hour boat trip in Miami?

Usually the downtown skyline and the islands on the way out, then Key Biscayne, Stiltsville or a sandbar, depending on the departure point. The captain sets the final route based on the weather and the tide.

How is a 6-hour trip different from a 4-hour one?

A four-hour trip usually has time for one long stop. With six hours you can add a second stop or go farther, for example to Stiltsville, without rushing.

What should I bring?

Swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, towels and plenty of water. Check the listing for what is included and whether food and drinks can come aboard.