10 Boat Day Trips in the USA to Give a Whole Day To

1.From Seattle: Round Trip by High Speed Ferry to Victoria, BC

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 479 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $192Our pick

Take the passenger-only FRS Clipper from downtown Seattle to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. Expect comfortable economy seating, Puget Sound views, a cafe, duty-free shopping, and roughly three hours each way. Bring the correct border document and plan carefully if you want more than a short day in Victoria.

“Easy to navigate. Beautiful city. However, we weren’t able to get the full experience of being on the deck due to weather. No one’s fault. Also some activities aren’t available during the week as they are on weekends. Maybe go on a weekend.”

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2.Dry Tortugas National Park Day Trip by Catamaran from Key West

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 433 reviews · from $220

Take the Yankee Freedom III from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park for a full day of Fort Jefferson, beaches, snorkeling, and open-water views. Breakfast, lunch, gear, and the park fee are included. Guides such as Hollywood, Dan, and Ben bring the fort’s past to life.

“Great operation, boat crew and amazing time at the park. You will enjoy it! Just be prepared for the downtime on the ferry there and back.”

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3.From Miami: Bimini or Grand Bahama Day Trip by Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 299 reviews · 15 hours · from $284

Take a same-day ferry from Port Everglades to Bimini or Grand Bahama. You get free island time for beaches, swimming, snorkeling, sting rays, golf carts, or Crystal Beach and its swimming pigs. Check-in is early, and your passport and re-entry documents must be correct.

“I wouldn't know about the activity because the ferry was cancelled. I arrived at the Ft. L port and no one was there. I called the number and it went straight to voicemail where I was told to send an email, which I did and also left a voicemail to call me back ASAP. A security guard told us that the ferry was leaving from the Port of Miami so we went there. After we confirmed the ferry was not leaving from the Port of Miami with the local personnel, I received a text showing an email from 3 Feb stating the ferry was cancelled. I never received the email…”

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4.Maalaea: West Maui Snorkeling & Sailing Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 210 reviews · from $200

Meet the Sail Maui crew at slip 72 in Maalaea Harbor for a five-hour catamaran trip toward Lanai. You can snorkel at one or two reef sites, spot turtles, dolphins, fish, and seasonal whales, then enjoy breakfast, lunch, and an open bar. Captains and crew may include Patrick, Dan, Jenna, Chase, or Ron.

“It was outstanding and worth every dollar. Especially the guides were great. They explained everything very well and gave insights into everything. From our perspective, it was the best sail trip you can book in Maui. Best regards, Mahalo, the Swiss. It could not be better 🤙”

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5.Kailua-Kona: Captain Cook Reef Catamaran Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 189 reviews · 4 hours - 270 minutes · from $80Best value

Join Kona Coast Boat Tours for a 4 to 4.5-hour catamaran ride from Honokohau Harbor to Captain Cook Reef. Guides such as Bryce, AJ, Aidan, and Kelly share island history, serve sandwiches and fruit, and help you snorkel among tropical fish, turtles, and occasional dolphins or whales.

“I loved all the information our captain gave us. The spots he showed us, and the history behind them. The lunch was a proper lunch, so extra points for that.”

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6.New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation and Swamp Cruise Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 183 reviews · 8h 30m · from $125

Travel from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation and Jean Lafitte National Historical Park on an English-guided day trip. Tour the plantation house, walk beneath its famous oaks, then spend 1 hour and 40 minutes on a covered swamp boat watching for alligators, snakes, and wetland life. Hotel pickup, entry, and transport are included.

“Everything was great. Loved both the Oak Alley Plantation Tour and the Swamp Tour.”

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7.Washington DC: Mt. Vernon Day Trip with River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 102 reviews · from $161

Take a 6-hour-45-minute Potomac River cruise from Washington, DC, then tour Mount Vernon with a small group of up to 15. Your English-speaking guide leads you through the farm, gardens, burial grounds, and estate buildings. The mansion is closed for renovation until June 2026.

“Awesome! Tour guide Ayana was amazing. Went out of her way to explain everything and accommodate everyone, especially those who had a hard time keeping the pace. The breakfast snack and box lunch on the boat were both very good. A lovely experience.”

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8.Austin to San Antonio Day Trip: Alamo Tour & Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 87 reviews · 7 hours · from $241Top rated

Travel from downtown Austin in a small group of up to seven with a local guide such as Mike, Victoria, or Bill. Visit the Alamo and Mission San José, stop at Buc-ee’s, ride to the Tower of the Americas observation deck, and cruise the River Walk.

“What a fun filled and informative day! Our guide was terrific, providing excellent information about all the sights we visited, tending to our needs, and making it a terrific trip. I highly recommend the trip for anyone. We were never hurried and never bored. Having a knowledgeable driver made getting around the city a snap.”

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9.From Myrtle Beach: Charleston Day Trip, Boone Hall & Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 36 reviews · 10 hours · from $210

Travel from Myrtle Beach to Charleston by air-conditioned coach, ride through the old city by horse-drawn carriage, cruise past the USS Yorktown, shop at City Market, and tour 738-acre Boone Hall Plantation. An English-speaking guide and deli lunch are included.

“We enjoyed our day trip to Charleston. It was well planned and the various guides were very informative. I wish there had been a little more time to allow for shopping at the market, however, since that wasn’t the focus of the tour, it wasn’t really an issue. Over all, it was a nice mix of activities.”

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10.From Fort Lauderdale: Bimini Island Day Trip by Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 29 reviews · 16 hours · from $289

Take a fast ferry from Port Everglades to Bimini, then spend several hours swimming, relaxing on the beach, sightseeing, or booking activities such as snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, and golf-cart hire. You must bring a passport and arrive early for port immigration.

“GOOD DAY TRIP BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DO IN BIMINI. All the trips you see online to purchase on board are not available but the crew are great . I am in a large heavy electric wheelchair and they made it so that I can get on and off so anyone else disabled should not be put off by access. One point that I cannot emphasize enough. Hungarians must make a new ESTA to get back into America. Leaving the country voids the ESTA no matter when the expiry is. The ferry company should be more proactive in warning of this. Maybe in their booking procedure or signs on the…”

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