The 10 Best Rowing Locations in the USA

The USA has an enormous range of rowing water, from tidal city rivers to alpine lakes. This is a selection of ten places that stand out, with what makes each one distinctive and who it suits. Conditions change, so check with a local club before you plan a trip.

Charles River, Boston

The Charles is home to the Head of the Charles Regatta each October, a three-mile head race that is one of the best-known events in the sport. The river is lined with college and club boathouses, and community programmes offer adult learn-to-scull courses. The water is sheltered and urban, with bridges to steer through, which makes steering practice part of every outing. Our guide to rowing in Boston goes into more detail.

Lake Champlain, New York and Vermont

A large lake with room for long outings and mountain views. Wind can build on open sections, so choose sheltered bays and early mornings. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum’s Champlain Longboats programme runs open-water rowing races for youth and adult crews, which suits people who like group outings more than racing shells. For more water in the state, see the best rivers to row on in New York.

Potomac River, Washington D.C.

A busy rowing river with boathouses near the city, giving access to the stretch by Georgetown. The Potomac Boat Club is one of the older clubs in the country, and a public boat centre nearby offers rentals and lessons. Currents, tidal influence and a busy river mean you should learn local rules before you head out alone.

Housatonic River, Connecticut

Calmer sections of the river are used for training and racing in Connecticut. It suits a quieter, more rural outing than the big city waters on this list, and works well for learning to scull in a setting with little traffic. Check which reaches are open and which clubs use them.

Delaware River, Pennsylvania and New Jersey

The Delaware and its tributary the Schuylkill, which runs through Philadelphia, are strongly associated with American rowing, notably the historic boathouses of Boathouse Row, which line the Schuylkill rather than the Delaware itself. For visitors, that means a deep club culture, regattas through the season and plenty of coaching on offer. On the New Jersey side, see our guide to the best places to row in New Jersey.

Lake Lanier, Georgia

Lake Lanier, near Gainesville, hosted the rowing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and remains a competitive venue. It is a large reservoir, so it offers long stretches of open water, but wind can still make it choppy.

Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and Virginia

A huge estuary with sheltered creeks, suited to coastal-style boats and experienced crews. Expect tides, wind and boat traffic. Many rowers use the rivers and creeks that feed the bay rather than the open water.

San Francisco Bay, California

Spectacular but exposed. Wind and tides mean this suits experienced rowers in suitable boats. Calmer, enclosed waters in the wider Bay Area suit learning, so ask a club where beginners start.

Puget Sound, Washington

Sheltered inlets and strong rowing programmes in the Pacific Northwest, with open-water conditions beyond the shelter. The region has a long college rowing tradition, and nearby lakes and ship canals provide calmer water for training than the sound itself.

Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

A very deep alpine lake. It is dramatic and cold, so safety planning matters. Cold water raises the risk if you capsize, and mountain weather can change quickly, so this is a place for experienced rowers or guided sessions. If alpine lakes appeal, our guide to the best locations to row in Europe includes several.

Choosing one

If you want	Look at
A learn-to-row programme in a city	Charles River, Potomac, Delaware/Schuylkill
Quiet, rural water	Housatonic, Lake Champlain
A venue with Olympic history	Lake Lanier
Tidal or open-water challenge	Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound

Match the water to your experience: flat water first, tides and open water later. Compare with the 16 best rivers to row in the USA and browse rowing clubs in the USA when you are ready to find a club.