Kayaking and Paddleboarding with Kids
We pulled these 56 paddling trips out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in Texas, New York, Hawaii and Oklahoma. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.
56 adventures found
Kailua Beach Park
Kailua, HI
SwimmingAward-winning white sand beach with turquoise water and gentle waves. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Wailua River Kayaking
Kapaa, HI
KayakingKayak up a jungle river to a 120-foot hidden waterfall with swimming. Paid entry. Best from about …
Polynesian Cultural Center
Laie, HI
NatureInteractive Pacific Island cultural park with hands-on activities and evening luau. Paid entry. Best …
Lake George Islands Camping
Lake George, NY
CampingBoat-access island camping on pristine Lake George. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay …
Saranac Lake Islands Camping
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingPaddle-in island camping on the Saranac Lakes with 87 primitive sites. Paid entry. Best from about …
Inks Lake State Park
Burnet, TX
SwimmingSpring-fed lake swimming and cliff jumping at Devil's Waterhole. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …
Inks Lake State Park Camping and Cabins
Burnet, TX
CampingWaterfront campsites and small cabins on a constant-level lake with pink granite shoreline and the …
White Rock Lake
Dallas, TX
Biking9.4-mile paved biking loop around a scenic Dallas lake. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …
Little Elm Beach
Little Elm, TX
SwimmingSandy lake beach on Lewisville Lake with roped swim area and free life jacket loans. Free. Best from …
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Captain Cook, HI
KayakingKayak across a marine sanctuary to world-class snorkeling with dolphins and turtles. Paid entry. …
Waikiki Beach
Honolulu, HI
SwimmingIconic Hawaiian beach with calm water, surf lessons, and endless activities. Free. Works from …
Keuka Lake State Park
Bluff Point, NY
SwimmingSandy beach and campground on one of the cleanest Finger Lakes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Keuka Lake State Park Camping
Bluff Point, NY
CampingOpen lakeside and shaded wooded campsites with a swim beach and boat launch on Keuka, the quietest …
Cranberry Lake Campground
Cranberry Lake, NY
CampingRemote lakefront campground on one of the largest and wildest Adirondack lakes. Paid entry. Best …
Moss Lake Trail
Eagle Bay, NY
HikingEasy loop trail around a pristine Adirondack lake perfect for young hikers. Free. Best from about …
Moreau Lake State Park
Gansevoort, NY
SwimmingSandy lake beach, campground, and ridge trails near Saratoga Springs. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Grafton Lakes State Park
Grafton, NY
SwimmingLifeguarded sandy beach, easy nature trails, and shore fishing at Grafton Lakes State Park near Troy …
Indian Lake Islands Campground
Indian Lake, NY
CampingPaddle-in island camping on scenic Indian Lake in the central Adirondacks. Paid entry. Best from …
Eighth Lake Campground
Inlet, NY
CampingLakefront campground with beach and calm water on the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Paid entry. Works from …
Limekiln Lake Campground
Inlet, NY
CampingLarge pine-shaded campground on a clear lake near Inlet, with a sandy beach, boat launch and the …
Heart Lake
Lake Placid, NY
SwimmingSandy mountain lake beach with High Peaks backdrop and canoe rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
Mirror Lake Paddle
Lake Placid, NY
KayakingPaddle a kayak or canoe on the calm motor-free waters of Mirror Lake. Paid entry. Best from about …
Mongaup Pond Campground
Livingston Manor, NY
CampingSandy beach and motor-free paddling on the largest Catskill pond, with wilderness trails from camp …
Forked Lake Campground
Long Lake, NY
CampingMostly paddle-in shoreline campsites on a quiet Adirondack lake, a real step up from car camping for …
Kenneth L. Wilson Campground
Mount Tremper, NY
CampingLakeside Catskills campground with sandy beach and boat rentals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Golden Beach Campground
Raquette Lake, NY
CampingLong sandy swimming beach with a gradual toddler-friendly entry on Raquette Lake, backed by …
Raquette Lake Beach
Raquette Lake, NY
SwimmingQuiet sandy beach on one of the prettiest lakes in the central Adirondacks. Free. Works from toddler …
Fish Creek Pond Campground
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingMassive waterfront campground with beach and access to a chain of Adirondack ponds. Paid entry. …
Floodwood Pond
Saranac Lake, NY
KayakingMotor-free interconnected ponds perfect for family kayaking and canoe adventures. Free. Best from …
Rollins Pond Campground
Saranac Lake, NY
CampingMotor-free Adirondack pond camping next door to Fish Creek, with glassy water, loons at dawn and …
Beavers Bend Marina
Broken Bow, OK
KayakingPontoon and boat rentals on crystal-clear Broken Bow Lake. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A …
Broken Bow Lake Paddleboarding
Broken Bow, OK
PaddleboardingStand-up paddleboard rentals and lessons on crystal-clear Broken Bow Lake. Paid entry. Better for …
Mountain Fork River Kayaking
Broken Bow, OK
KayakingKayak and canoe rentals on the crystal-clear Mountain Fork River near Beavers Bend. Paid entry. Best …
River Legacy Parks
Arlington, TX
Hiking1,300-acre park with paved trails and mountain biking along the Trinity River. Free. Works from …
Lady Bird Lake
Austin, TX
KayakingKayaking and paddleboarding on calm water through downtown Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age …
Blanco State Park
Blanco, TX
SwimmingSmall-town river swimming and tubing perfect for young children. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Reveille Peak Ranch
Burnet, TX
Rock-ClimbingGranite bouldering and mountain biking near Burnet. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full …
Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill, TX
HikingFamily-friendly state park on Joe Pool Lake just 20 minutes from Dallas - swimming, hiking, camping, …
Cleburne State Park
Cleburne, TX
CampingNo-wake lake for safe paddling and swimming near Fort Worth. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
Daingerfield State Park
Daingerfield, TX
CampingStunning fall foliage and family lake swimming at a hidden East Texas gem - camping, fishing, …
Purtis Creek State Park
Eustace, TX
FishingStocked catch-and-release lake where kids always catch fish. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
Galveston Island State Park
Galveston, TX
CampingBeach camping and bay-side kayaking at Galveston Island State Park - coastal wetlands, birding …
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houston, TX
BikingPaved bayou trails with destination playground and bat colony viewing. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center
Humble, TX
NatureBoardwalk trails through cypress swamp with free guided canoe trips. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Huntsville State Park
Huntsville, TX
CampingPine forest camping with lake paddling and a sandy swim area. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
South Llano River State Park
Junction, TX
CampingCrystal-clear spring-fed river for family swimming and tubing near Junction TX - camping under pecan …
Caddo Lake State Park
Karnack, TX
KayakingKayaking through a moss-draped cypress swamp on Texas' only natural lake. Paid entry. Best from …
Big Thicket National Preserve
Kountze, TX
HikingUNESCO Biosphere Reserve with nine converging ecosystems. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day …
Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area
Lewisville, TX
Nature2,000 acres of prairies and wetlands with guided nature programs. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …
Village Creek State Park
Lumberton, TX
KayakingTannin-clear creek paddling through Big Thicket sandbars. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
Lake Pflugerville Park
Pflugerville, TX
SwimmingFree lake beach with swim area and 3-mile paved loop. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. …
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve
Plano, TX
Hiking800-acre park with boardwalks and kayaking in Plano. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. …
Mustang Island State Park
Port Aransas, TX
CampingBeachfront camping and bay kayak trail with dolphin sightings. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Sea Rim State Park
Sabine Pass, TX
KayakingGulf beach meets freshwater marsh with paddling trails and boardwalks. Paid entry. Best from about …
Martin Creek Lake State Park
Tatum, TX
FishingYear-round warm-water fishing with unique island campsites in East Texas - a hidden gem for family …
Tyler State Park
Tyler, TX
SwimmingSpring-fed lake swimming with a sandy beach, paddleboat rentals, and 13 miles of piney-woods trails …