Taking one look at the Mississippi River will generally cause a sense of awe and amazement at the sheer size and power of such a huge body of water. Because of this boating on the river doesn’t always strike some as a great idea, however, the Upper Mississippi River presents one of the best and most unique house boating waters in the United States.
With an unimaginable acreage of water, hundreds of miles of shoreline, numerous islands, and amazing river town communities to discover, it is no surprise that the Upper Mississippi is a gem that can be considered one of the nation’s most well kept secrets. The St. Croix River is also accessible here and offers the same picturesque scenery and charming river towns. These river towns and the miles of uninhabited pure sand beaches combine to form an amazing opportunity best seen from the comfort of a houseboat.
A list of boats offered on the river can be found below. We have the best prices around and no one beats our wide selection. Click on any name for more detailed information.
The 64 foot houseboat is designed for comfortable capacity above all else. There are eleven beds and a penthouse, with a large dining area in front of the kitchen. This isn't a luxury houseboat and it's not supposed to be one. This boat is about having a nice, comfortable place to sleep and relax when you're not out exploring the Lake of the Woods.
The Chairman II houseboat is a specialty experience designed around fishing. The boat comes fully crewed, including fishing guides. The crew sleeping quarters are kept separate from yours, making it clear that this is still your vacation, reinforced by the presence of satellite TV, boat-wide stereo and water slide.
61 feet in this Vista Class houseboat split between eight people in four bedrooms is a fantastic arrangement. Air-conditioning may keep you inside but the hot tub will call you up to the top deck. Lounge in the sun, up top or on the front deck before grilling something and heading inside for a nap on one of the four queen beds.
The Voyageur Plus Series is like its smaller cousins, the non-plus, but bigger. Up to twelve people fit on board, split between eight beds, making it ideal as a shared boat for smaller families or a group of friends.
The 54 foot houseboat on Lake of the Woods is wide, spacious and easy to drive. It has ten beds, fitting up to twelve people, and because of its larger size there's plenty of room on the sun deck to soak in the scenery.
Designed with style, the Lady of the Lake almost looks like a speed boat with a giant cabin. At 54 feet long and 16 feet wide it has room for twelve in several rooms, all air conditioned. The front deck is shaded well enough that the sun won't scorch, but not too closed as to obscure Rainy Lake. The hot tub on the top deck rounds out the relaxing experience, especially at night under the stars.
The 52 foot houseboat is an excellent, classic boat. Up to eight people can sleep on board. You can BBQ on the shaded front deck and then head up top to the picnic table and enjoy the 360 degree view of the Lake of the Woods.
The 51 foot Vista Class houseboat is designed for couples or families needing separate bedrooms. Each has a queen bed and there are two bathrooms to go around. Even better is the hot tub on the sun deck. The whole thing is limited to six people, so there won't be any cramped spaces or waiting in line at the slide.
The 51 foot Vista Class 2 houseboat is a good option for groups up to five, providing everyone with a little more room than the basic Vista Class. This is especially important in the hot tub, where you definitely don't want to be crowded or waiting in line.
The 50 foot Voyageur houseboat is wider than some, so the ten people it can accommodate won't be crammed next to each other. In fact, the beds are in three separate parts of the boat. Outside you've got the catwalk and sun deck for easy fishing or lounging while inside you have plenty of room to move about.
It's too late to get in on the gold rush in California, it's over. It's not too late, however, to board the Gold Rush Jacuzzi houseboat in Minnesota's Rainy Lake, also known as Ontario's Rainy Lake. As the name would suggest, the main idea of the boat is the Jacuzzi on top, but alternating between the lake, the shower and the hot tub is a pretty fun exercise.
A classic design, the 50 foot Kempton Cruiser houseboat looks right at home on Rainy Lake. With sleeping space for twelve and a kitchen and a grill to feed everyone, you're all set for a vacation into this massive remote lake.
The 50 foot Saginaw houseboat works well for groups of up to ten looking to move around a lot on Rainy Lake. Its twin engines set it apart from the other boats of similar size and give the extra push needed to change the scenery.
The Tamarac and Saginaw houseboats are almost identical, both 50 feet long with room for ten people. They also share the feature of a screened front porch. What sets them apart is the Tamarac has one engine, and if you're not the wandering sort that's plenty.
The same rose by a different name, the Voyageur houseboat is identical to the Tamarac. Both are 50 feet long with space for ten people. The emphasis on these boats is not to stay inside and loll away the day but to get out on Rainy Lake and soak in the sun while the boat sings to you from its stereo system.
As a wider houseboat, the 49 foot model is a lot roomier than most. Up to ten people can sleep inside and there's lots of space to spread out. The rear deck is shaded and smaller, ideal for fishing or reading, while the sun deck is huge and ready for a picnic with its BBQ and table.
The 47 foot Voyageur houseboat gives up to six people plenty of room to stretch, inside and out. With a long gangway and big sun deck, it's great for fishing. The bunk beds make it easy to fit a family, especially when the kids prefer beds of their own. But most importantly, this boat makes your trip to Voyageurs National Park comfortable and convenient.
The 44 foot Voyageur Plus houseboat is only two feet longer than its sibling, but it manages to fit three more people and a hot tub. You even still get the slide, the living room, the kitchen and the sunbathing deck.
The 44 foot houseboat is a nice departure from boats of a similar size. For one it doesn't try to fit as many people, limiting to five who each get more room to spread out. It also has an enclosed rear deck which is both stylish and comforting during the hotter and colder months. And of course you still get a top deck with an express slide to wetter fun.
Smaller groups will find the 44 foot Voyageur an excellent balance of spaciousness, comfort and outdoor features. Up to 8 people can enjoy the boat, splitting themselves between the screened porch, the sun deck and the back porch where the BBQ is happening. Hit the slide to get away from it all, floating in the waters of Voyageurs National Park.
For small families or a few friends looking to spread out, the 44 foot Vista Class houseboat is the way to go. The stateroom has a king sized bed and the salon has a sofa sleeper while the rest of the boat is devoted to luxury. Luxury like the hot tub on the sun deck and the comfort of not having to step over anyone on your way to a bunk bed.
At less than the cost of a lot of hotel rooms, the 43 foot houseboat fits six people. After finishing a nice BBQ meal cooked down below, each person can (one at a time and after 30 minutes) take the express slide into the lake, only to return later for a nap or a movie.
The 42 foot Voyageur is a no-frills houseboat for groups on a budget, except that it has wonderful frills like a water slide and furnished decks. It also has enough beds for everyone to have their own, a rare treat for some. For fishing, families or friends, it's a great way to vacation at Voyageurs National Park.
The Minnitaki houseboat is the perfect fit for a small group of people, maybe a family or a few friends. There are a couple of bedrooms and a pull out sofa, with a kitchen between, but you'll want to venture outside on Rainy Lake. The upper deck is a prime spot for lounging, with the shaded rear deck a more protected option.
You don't have to literally be on your honeymoon, actually married or even a couple. The Honeymooner houseboat is for two people, but there's no heart-shaped bed or anything like that. You could even sleep separately on the pull out bed and sofa sleeper. The point is that this boat is all yours, no one to crowd you out or interrupt you if you're on an actual honeymoon.
When you just want to get out on the water, relax and fish, the 36 foot Voyageur is the way to go. There's a double bed and 1 pull-out, a kitchen and a grill and basically no reason to leave your favorite spot until it's time to go home.
