Marinas in Arkansas

Yes, many recreational operators need an Arkansas boater education card rather than a separate boating license. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1986 must complete an approved Arkansas Game and Fish Commission course and carry proof to operate a motorboat, sailboat or personal watercraft. For boats of 10 horsepower or more, operators under 12 require direct supervision by someone at least 18. On personal watercraft, ages 12 to 15 require supervision by someone at least 18; younger children require someone at least 21. There is no blanket rental exemption, and rental personal watercraft cannot be leased to anyone under 18. AGFC accepts approved out-of-state cards and lists online courses offering immediate certification after passing.

Source: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (agfc.com)

Arkansas boaters must follow life jacket, alcohol, registration, personal watercraft and no wake rules enforced by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Every vessel needs a USCG approved wearable life jacket per person; children 12 and younger must wear one while aboard, with limited exceptions when enclosed or behind railings and not underway. BUI begins at 0.08 percent alcohol concentration, or 0.02 percent if under 21. Motorboats on public waters generally need Arkansas registration. Personal watercraft may run only from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset; ages 12 to 15 need an operator at least 18 aboard, and younger children need someone at least 21. Observe posted no wake zones and statewide distance rules.

Source: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (agfc.com)

The best overall time to go boating in Arkansas is late May through June, with September through early October offering a quieter shoulder season. Many Arkansas rivers swell in spring and lose flow in summer, while the spring fed Spring River remains floatable year round. July and August bring peak summer activity and livelier crowds.

Fall often has mild, sunny days and fewer thunderstorms than spring or summer, although storms still occur. Lake levels vary by reservoir; at DeGray Lake, water is generally highest in early to midsummer after spring rains and lowest in late fall.

Source: Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (arkansas.com)

The best Arkansas boating choices include the Ozark reservoirs, the Ouachita Mountain lake country, the Delta’s oxbow waters and the state’s scenic rivers. In north-central Arkansas, Bull Shoals Lake offers deep, calm water suited to motorboats and pontoons. Farther south, Lake Ouachita and Lake Hamilton are part of the Ouachitas’ Diamond Lakes region, offering open reservoir water, quiet coves and cruising near Hot Springs. In southeastern Arkansas, Lake Chicot provides a different experience on a former Mississippi River channel. For paddling, the free-flowing Buffalo National River passes limestone bluffs and gravel bars.

Source: Arkansas Tourism (arkansas.com)

Arkansas’s most popular boating destinations include Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, known for city cruising and dockside dining; Lake Ouachita near Hot Springs, with quiet coves and islands to explore; Beaver Lake near Rogers and Eureka Springs, where lakeside bluffs draw summer boaters; Greers Ferry Lake near Heber Springs, offering boat access to Sugar Loaf Mountain; and Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes near Mountain Home, valued for deep, calm water, fishing and scuba diving.

Source: Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (arkansas.com)

Arkansas sets operating ages rather than a rental age, and they depend on the craft. A motorboat powered by an engine of 10 horsepower or more may be operated at 12 or older; a younger operator must be under the direct supervision of a person at least 18. For a personal watercraft, an operator must be 16 or older, or 12 to 15 under the direct supervision of someone at least 18, or under 12 under the direct supervision of someone at least 21. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1986, must complete an approved AGFC boating education course. The rental operator sets its own minimum age, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (agfc.com)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Arkansas has 57 boat rentals, 1 boat club and 76 boat dealers.