Marinas in Shreveport, LA

April and May, then late September through October, are the best overall boating windows on Cross Lake, when Shreveport’s spring and fall weather is generally mild. A USGS study found that the lake warms and begins stratifying in late May or early June, remains stratified through much of September, then mixes and cools in fall.

Summer is consistently hot and humid, and thunderstorms are most frequent in spring and summer, so calmer morning outings are often preferable. Water level also matters: Louisiana wildlife officials report that Cross Lake is often below pool stage in spring, while water is pumped into it during summer.

Source: National Weather Service (weather.gov)

From Shreveport, practical day-boating choices include Cross Lake, the Red River, and the Cypress and Black Bayou reservoirs. Cross Lake is the shallow-water option; Ford Park provides a public launch, and light winds often suit relaxed cruising or sailing. For a river outing, Stoner Avenue in Shreveport and Teague Parkway in Bossier City both have launches and docks on the Red River. Cypress Black Bayou Recreation Area in Benton serves two lakes, with a public boat launch, fishing piers and swimming. These waters are separate destinations rather than one connected cruise, so select your launch before setting out.

Source: Visit Shreveport-Bossier (visitshreveportbossier.org)

Boaters using Shreveport’s stretch of the Red River can choose four local day-trip stops: Shreveport Riverview, Stoner Avenue Recreation Area, Teague Parkway Recreation Area and Bishop Point Recreation Area. Riverview has a floating dock beside the river walk and Cross Bayou Historic Park; Stoner Avenue combines boat docks with picnic tables, grills and hiking trails; Teague Parkway adds docks, picnic shelters and scenic overlooks; and Bishop Point offers a launch, picnic pavilion and tables with grills for a simple waterside stop. All four are Red River Waterway Commission recreation sites.

Source: Red River Waterway Commission (redriverwaterway.com)

Louisiana requires boater education rather than a boating license: anyone born after January 1, 1984 must carry proof of an LDWF approved course to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower or a personal watercraft. A motorboat operator may instead be accompanied by someone over 18 who has completed the course if required, but that exception does not apply to personal watercraft. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 16; rental operators must be at least 18, and students cannot be certified before age 10.

U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains are exempt. Eligible renters from a state approved livery may watch the LDWF safety video for a 48 hour exemption. Course graduates receive a temporary certificate while proof is processed.

Source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (wlf.louisiana.gov)

Louisiana boaters should follow Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules on life jackets, registration, impairment, personal watercraft and posted speed zones. Children age 16 and younger must wear a properly sized, fastened U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket while underway on a vessel under 26 feet.

LDWF requires registration for all motorized vessels, sailboats 12 feet or longer and nonmotorized houseboats; keep the registration certificate aboard. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher can result in a boating DWI. Personal watercraft operators must be at least 16, and operating between sunset and sunrise requires approved navigation lights. Never exceed an established speed or wake zone.

Source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (wlf.louisiana.gov)

For a Louisiana boat rental, all renters must be at least 18. Age 10 is the earliest a person can receive boater education certification and operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower without the accompaniment exception. Under R.S. 34:851.36, anyone born after January 1, 1984, needs an approved course or must be accompanied by someone over 18 who completed the course, if required. That exception does not apply to personal watercraft, whose operators must be at least 16 and course-certified if born after that date. The rental operator may set a higher minimum, so confirm it when booking.

Source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (wlf.louisiana.gov)

Alongside the marinas on this page, Shreveport has 8 boat dealers.