Marinas in Iowa

No conventional boating license is required in Iowa, but operators ages 12 through 17 must carry an Iowa DNR approved watercraft education certificate to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower or a personal watercraft alone. They may instead operate with a responsible, experienced operator age 18 or older aboard. Children under 12 may operate those vessels only with such an adult aboard; operators 18 and older are not covered by the state education mandate.

The rule also applies to rentals; Iowa law does not create a rental customer exemption. Approved online courses may issue a printable temporary certificate immediately after passing. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources administers the program.

Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (iowadnr.gov)

Iowa boaters must carry a properly sized, U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for every person; children under 13 must wear one while the vessel is underway, with limited cabin and below deck exceptions. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources also prohibits operating a motorboat or sailboat with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher.

Iowa residents using vessels on public water must register them, display current numbers and decals, and carry the registration certificate aboard. Anyone age 12 through 17 operating a motorboat over 10 horsepower or a personal watercraft needs approved boating education or an experienced adult aboard. Personal watercraft cannot operate from sundown to sunup.

Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (iowadnr.gov)

The best time for most Iowa boating is late May through early September, with June through August as the peak for warm weather lake trips. Iowa DNR says recreational water use is typically concentrated between Memorial Day and Labor Day, while Travel Iowa notes that spring and fall are less crowded than summer in the Okoboji area.

May and September can offer quieter outings, but Iowa’s spring water may remain dangerously cold. Heavy rain can also raise river levels quickly and create stronger currents, so review weather and water conditions before launching.

Source: Travel Iowa (traveliowa.com)

Iowa’s best boating variety is found in the northwest Iowa Great Lakes, central Iowa’s large impoundments and the Mississippi River corridor. West Okoboji Lake and Big Spirit Lake anchor the northwest lake region, with several neighboring waters and state parks nearby. Around the Des Moines area, Saylorville Lake offers a federal impoundment setting, while nearby Big Creek Lake provides another option for boating and paddling. Boaters seeking major river water can explore the Mississippi, one of Iowa’s two border rivers.

Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (iowadnr.gov)

Iowa’s most popular boating destinations include the Iowa Great Lakes around Okoboji and Arnolds Park, the state’s premier lake vacation area for sailing, jet skiing and recreational boating. Clear Lake is a favorite for classic summer boating in northwest Iowa. Big Creek Lake near Polk City combines boat access and rentals with popular fishing and the largest beach in Iowa’s state park system. Lake Macbride near Solon and Iowa City suits a quieter day of kayaking, paddling or swimming, with boat ramps, a beach and seasonal rentals.

Source: Travel Iowa (traveliowa.com)

Iowa law allows a person age 12 through 17 to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower or a personal watercraft without supervision only after completing an Iowa DNR approved boater education course and obtaining a certificate. An operator under 12 must be accompanied on board by a responsible person who is at least 18 and experienced in operating the vessel.

Under Iowa Code section 462A.12(6), operators age 12 through 17 may instead be accompanied by that adult. Anyone required to have the certificate must carry it and make it available to an officer. The rental operator sets its own minimum age, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (legis.iowa.gov)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Iowa has 27 boat rentals, 7 boat clubs and 42 boat dealers.