Washington DC 4th of July Cruises

Imagine relaxing on a boat with friends, family, fireworks, and your favorite drinks – our 4th of July cruises are a unique way to catch the show without battling the crowds! The Tidal Basin and surrounding areas are known for being some of the best places to watch the 4th of July fireworks in Washington, DC.

Whether you’re visiting or a local, our Potomac River fireworks cruises in Georgetown, The Wharf, and Navy Yard offer a rousing yet relaxing way to watch from the water.

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Enjoy a 4th of July Boat Ride on the Potomac River with Family & Friends

Select from our Motorized Paddle Boat Party Cruises (8-20 people), Tiki Boat Booze Cruises (6-18 people), self-driven Retro Boat Rentals (up to 4 people), and the Whitlow’s on Water Tiki Barge (1-47 people).

Sail Solo or Invite Family & Friends

Our cruises are great for groups of all sizes, we offer single tickets for individuals and small groups as well as private boat charters for special events and larger groups of up to 47.
Order Drinks On Board or Bring Your Own

Choose a flexible BYOB cruise and pack your favorite beer, wine, champagne, hard seltzer, or soft drinks. Or embark on a hassle-free bartended boat ride with drinks available for purchase. We also offer all-inclusive drink packages on select cruises!
Bring Your Favorite Food or Order Catering

Most cruises are Bring-Your-Own-Food so bring your favorite takeout or homemade spread. Whitlow's on Water cruises offer catering for lunch & dinner cruises.
Build Memories With a Family-Friendly Boat Ride

We take safety seriously and welcome everyone from children (ages 5 and up) to senior citizens so bring the whole family out for an unforgettable Independence Day reunion on the river.
Cruise in Comfort With Premium Amenities

Most of our boats have a bathroom on board, a canopy to keep you covered, coolers to keep your goodies cold, and Bluetooth speakers to play your favorite tunes.

4th of July Fireworks Cruise in Georgetown Washington DC

Top-Rated July 4th Fireworks Cruises in DC

Locals and visitors alike love cruising with us! But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what a few of our happy customers had to say:

“We rented the tiki boat (which conveniently comes with a bathroom) for July 4th fireworks – and this was so much fun. I hadn’t seen so many of my friends in a while and coming together on the boat ride was such a fun activity while catching up over drinks and food (you’re allowed to BYOF!!!). Chase and Hannah took good care of us and were the best boat guides ever. We also had great music thanks to their bluetooth system. I was afraid we might have too many people (around 12) for the boat but there was a ton of space to sit, walk around, dance, and hang out. You’re guaranteed a good time on the water with these guys, so don’t miss out on this.”

Mohsin Ali

“We had the BEST time. Sam and her dad the captain were exceptional hosts and facilitated a wonderful family memory. My mom who is 89 was greeted by Sam who set my mom up on a comfortable bench fortified by life jackets. Sam and her dad were engaging, knowledgeable about the waterfront and made my family feel right at home. We had 12 of us and this was absolutely the highlight of the 4th of July weekend. We have over the years done other boat rides and this by far was the most enjoyable. Would highly highly recommend to anyone wanting to create that special moment for family and friends. Thank you Sam and Sam’s Dad. The Malone Family”

Linda Malone

4.9

Based on 346 reviews

Beth McFadden

01:19 27 May 25

We had a wonderful time on Whitlow’s on Water. The staff were friendly and made it a pleasant experience. Would recommend and would do it again!

Shantel Goodman

22:56 10 May 25

The cruise was a refreshing experience! Staff members were super friendly and the weather was beautiful!

Frances Posey

01:04 06 May 25

Thank you 🎶🎉❤️ We went on a big surprise birthday party that took months to put together! You just never know what will happen. The crew of Whitlow’s were amazing. Kind & understanding when the birthday boy was late! The crew was fun and smiled the whole trip……. Everyone was so nice! We will recommend them to all our friends!

Julia Lattarulo

13:59 29 Apr 25

Had a wonderful time!! Will probably try to do this when I’m up to DC for long weekends. I think Whitlows on the Water is a great spot and is ideal for any occasion whether it be Birthdays, parties hangouts, or just two friends catching up!! Get there early to grab a seat close to the bar and your set 👍🏻 👍🏻

Jacqueline

10:13 25 Apr 25

If you’re lookin’ to add a splash of fun to your day in D.C., Whitlow’s on the Water is the place to be.This floating tiki bar is the life of the Potomac! With its lively atmosphere, friendly crew, great music, delicious drinks (those rum punches) and stunning views of the monuments, it’s perfect for any celebration or just a sunny afternoon escape. So grab your sunnies, set sail and get ready for an unforgettable experience on the water.

M P

22:28 23 Apr 25

Had an awesome time at our company party with Whitlow’s on the Water. Karlee, Sousa and Brad made sure we kept things safe and fun, and Connie kept the drinks flowing. Hoping to be back for our next outing, and would definitely recommend for any groups that are looking for awesome service & hospitality, great food and drinks and a more relaxed pregame before a night out. Huge thanks to the staff and management for setting us up!

Asmita Parekh

20:39 06 Apr 25

Celebrated my husband’s 50th birthday on the Whitlows boat. We were 25 people and everyone had a great time. The captain, bartender were super nice and very attentive. We highly recommend your next event with them! It’s lifetime memories we made to cherish forever.

Sean O’Sullivan

01:30 12 Nov 24

An absolutely fantastic time! Could not say enough good things about the entire experience, especially how friendly the Captain and crew were!

Annie M

22:33 01 Nov 24

Went on a little booze cruise for a friend's birthday and loved it! We played our own music on a nice sound system, plenty of comfy seating, drinks were reasonably priced, they even had football on 2 TVs! Will definitely be booking again!

Annie Williams

16:36 01 Nov 24

Great crew and awesome boat!!!

Melissa Harke

16:08 30 Oct 24

What a great experience! Our family loved it.

Andrea Paro

01:41 29 Oct 24

It was a lot of fun and the staff was great. I’d definitely go again!

Anna

23:34 24 Oct 24

This is the first thing I do when visitors come to visit DC! The perfect way to see the monuments and the city from the water -all with a cold beverage and awesome music! Thanks Whitlows on the water - I’ll be back!

Lynne McCartin

15:26 22 Oct 24

We had a wonderful evening on the Tiki boat. The whole crew was amazing. Very good with giving all the safety regulations and answering any questions. They could not have been nicer. Our whole group had a wonderful time!

Sandy McCartin

00:13 22 Oct 24

Had THE best experience on Whitlows on Water!! We hosted our engagement party on the boat and couldn’t have asked for a more fun and unique setting. The tropical party vibes were 10/10 and the staff was incredible. Will definitely be back for more fun!

Joyce McCartin

00:06 22 Oct 24

So comfortable. Friendly staff. Enjoyed every minute. Thank you.

Jack Tyse

23:39 21 Oct 24

Great Food, awesome server.

Rudy Segovia

13:36 15 Oct 24

100% worth it… everyone was friendly

Sofia Abuzobaa

12:47 15 Oct 24

What a fantastic experience! Great vibe, good music, and a scenic night view made it even better. I recommend going at sunset, whether for a birthday, celebration, or just a fun night out with friends. Shay, our bartender, was amazing, and the captains were fantastic too. It was totally worth it- something different and I can’t wait to do it again!

Laura Sanchez

19:39 13 Oct 24

10/10 recommend Shay!!! She’s so fun and made the whole trip worth it. Also chase was a great DJ

Celebrate Independence Day with a Boat Ride to Remember!

The perfect way to watch the spectacular fireworks celebration in DC, the 4th of July cruise is our most popular one of the year. Availability is limited and our cruises sell out fast so book your tickets now!

RESERVE WITH A DEPOSIT: Reserve your private cruise for only $200-250 and pay the rest later! Deposit Policy
EASILY ADD PASSENGERS: Add additional passengers up to the time of your cruise
GET A FULL REFUND OR RESCHEDULE: 15 days or more prior to your cruise date you can cancel to receive a full refund or seamlessly reschedule

Paddle Boat - Georgetown

$70-200/Person

Drinks: BYOB
Group Size: 8 - 20
Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

Tiki Boat - Georgetown

$75-200/Person

Drinks: Sold On Board
Group Size: 8 - 18
Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

Mini Tiki Boat - Navy Yard

$500-1000 (Full Boat)

Drinks: BYOB
Group Size: 1 - 6
Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

Paddle Boat - The Wharf

$70-200/Person

Drinks: BYOB
Group Size: 8 - 16
Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

Tiki Barge - The Wharf

$75-225/Person

Drinks: Sold On Board
Single Tickets & Private Charters
Duration: 2 hrs

Retro Boat - The Wharf

$275-500 (Full Boat)

Drinks: BYOB
Group Size: 1 - 4
Duration: 1 hr 30 mins

Georgetown

TIKI BOAT: $75-200/person | 8-18 people | 1.75 hrs
PADDLE BOAT: $75-200/person | 8-20 people | 1.75 hrs

The Wharf

WHITLOW'S TIKI BARGE: $75-200/person | Up to 47 people | 2 hrs
PADDLE BOAT: $75-200/person | 8-20 people | 1.75 hrs
RETRO BOAT: $275-400 (Full Boat) | 1-4 people | 1.5 hrs

Navy Yard

MINI TIKI BOAT: $500-700 (Full Boat) | 1-6 people | 1.75 hrs
PADDLE BOAT: $75-200/person | 8-16 people | 1.75 hrs