Water Activities Near Orlando: 7 Ways to Get Out on the Water

Jet Skiing with Luxe Jet Ski Rentals

Luxe rents premium Sea-Doo jet skis on the Clermont Chain of Lakes, just outside Orlando, and they run guided ATV tours on land too if you want to make a day of it. It is a veteran-owned local outfit with a strong reputation, and the guided setup makes it an easy yes even if you have never been on a jet ski before. The chain of lakes gives you plenty of open water to actually open it up.

Drive Your Own Mini Boat with Catboat Clermont

Catboat Clermont hands you the wheel of your own little catamaran and leads you out across the Clermont Chain of Lakes on a guided route. It is way more fun than you would expect, part boat ride and part driving lesson, and the whole team is genuinely welcoming. The owner, Nate, has spent his life around boats and water, and it shows in how easy they make the whole thing feel.

Swan Boats on Lake Eola

The swan boats on Lake Eola are a downtown Orlando classic, and they are about as easy and affordable as a water activity gets. For $15 you get a swan-shaped pedal boat for 30 minutes with room for up to five people, so it works for a family, a group, or a low-key date. The lake is home to real swans too, so you will likely share the water with a few of them while you pedal around the fountain.

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is a narrated pontoon ride that winds through Winter Park's chain of lakes and the narrow canals connecting them, past old estates, gardens, and plenty of birds. It has been running since 1938, which makes it Florida's longest continuously running tourist attraction, and it is still one of the most relaxing hours you can spend on the water near Orlando.

Wakeboarding at Orlando Watersports Complex

Orlando Watersports Complex is a cable wakeboarding park, which means an overhead cable system pulls you across the water instead of a boat. That makes it beginner-friendly and a lot cheaper than booking a boat, but do not let that fool you: getting up on the board is harder than it looks, and honestly the challenge is what makes it fun. When you need a break, there is also an inflatable aqua park obstacle course out on the water.

Mirada Lagoon

Mirada Lagoon is essentially the largest swimming pool in the country, though technically it is a lagoon: a 15-acre stretch of clear blue water in San Antonio, Florida, about an hour and a half from Orlando. We love the swim-up bar, but there is a lot more to do than float, including kayaking, waterslides, and a water obstacle course out on the lagoon. It is far enough that it is worth building a whole day around.

JetSurfing at Clermont Watersports Complex

A JetSurf board is a surfboard with a motor in it, which means you do not need a wave and you do not need to be towed. Clermont Watersports Complex on Lake Sawgrass is the official JetSurf Orlando location and runs a JetSurf Academy, so this is somewhere you can learn properly rather than just be handed a board and pointed at the water.

Lessons run by the hour, which is about right: this is harder than it looks and the first session is mostly about learning to stand up and hold a line. Rentals are for people who already know what they are doing, and they run on limited days, so check before you drive out.

Good to know before you go

• Book the jet skis and the Catboat tour ahead of time, since both run on a schedule and fill up on weekends.
• The swan boats and the Winter Park tour are first come first served, so arrive early on busy days.
• Wakeboarding at Orlando Watersports Complex takes a few tries to get up on the board. Wear something you can swim in and expect to fall.
• Mirada Lagoon is about 1.5 hours away in San Antonio, FL, so plan a full day and check whether you need tickets in advance.
• JetSurf rentals at Clermont run on limited days, and the lesson is worth it the first time. Check availability before you drive out.
• Prices and hours change. Check each spot's own site before you head out.

More ways to explore near Orlando

Looking for more? Browse our other outdoor experiences and activities near Orlando, or read about glamping with animals, cooking your own pancakes, and cute date ideas near Orlando for more ways to fill a weekend.

Last verified July 24, 2026. Addresses, pricing, and hours come from each business's own listing or the City of Orlando. Always confirm current hours and pricing before you go.