Choose from Four Options
- $18 for a sightseeing boat tour for two people ($33.60 value)
- $35 for a sightseeing boat tour for four people ($67.20 value)
- $65 for a margaritas boat tour for four people ($130.40 value)
- $89 for a Padelford Riverboats season pass, good for four people per trip from May–October ($150 value)
From May–October, present your season pass at the ticket window and get up to four entries on any public sightseeing cruise. See the schedule for a full list of available times. Guides narrate the tours, which depart from Harriet Island in St. Paul. Tours subject to availability.
Padelford Riverboats
In 1969, the founder of Padelford Riverboats, Captain William D. Bowell, Sr., launched the Jonathan Padelford steamwheeler into the Mississippi, hoping to bring visitors to the riverfront for leisurely jaunts. After more than 30 years of expanding his fleet and ferrying passengers along the historic waterways, he handed the reigs over to his daughters and nephew. Today, the family operates five boats equipped with dance areas, bars, sun decks, and the nostalgia that William hoped to keep alive. With the Twin Cities' skyline and the rugged, green banks of the river as the backdrop, US Coast Guard–licensed vessels float passengers past sights such as Pig's Eye Cave, Fort Snelling, and Pike Island. Some cruises also include dinner or fireworks, and special holiday cruises are also available.