Boston Duck Boat Tours: How Long Do They Actually Last?

Thinking of taking a Duck Boat tour in Boston? Well, it’s a pretty awesome way to check out the city, since these tours go both on land and into the water! The big question folks usually have is, “Just how long is the ride?” Basically, the answer kind of hovers around 80 to 90 minutes, but it can change a bit depending on traffic and other little things that pop up. If you’re trying to work it into your day, it’s usually safer to plan for about two hours, so that you’ve got plenty of wiggle room and aren’t feeling stressed to make it somewhere else afterward.

Breaking Down the Boston Duck Boat Tour Experience

So, these Duck Boat tours, they’re pretty interesting, that is, the thing they’re famous for is that they are on both roads and water; that’s very special and exciting, right? Typically, around an hour or so will be spent cruising the city streets, where a friendly and informative guide will usually point out many of Boston’s major spots and share some fun stories. You get to see places like Boston Common, the State House, and the Public Garden. Following the land part, the Duck Boats usually plunge into the Charles River. That part in the water, where you are sort of floating around, it will last about 20 to 30 minutes. The boats gives you great views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines; plus, the experience is different because it makes seeing familiar places seem more interesting and fresh.

What Influences the Length of the Tour?

Several things might actually tweak how long your Duck Boat tour will last. For instance, traffic can definitely play a role, mainly when touring on land. Boston is quite a busy city, right, and traffic during rush hour, or when there’s some special event will move things along slower than usual. Seasonal adjustments are relevant too; during quieter months you can typically get a super quick run. Another key factor will be the specific route and any unexpected construction along the way, things such as that! They all just might contribute to a slightly varied time. Also, depending on the weather and river conditions, it sometimes is likely that they will have to make small alterations to their route, which, naturally, may take longer.

The Route Options and Their Durations

Actually, when we are talking about routes, the company that does the Duck Boat tours in Boston mostly has similar routes, so that way they cover quite the same attractions, more or less, that you want to see. What might be more relevant, right, is to see what the starting location options are; you could start at the Museum of Science or perhaps near the Prudential Center. It doesn’t really change the total tour length choosing these spots, right, it is just a matter of figuring out what is super easy for you based on where you’re staying or where you’ve been that day, that sort of deal. Always check when booking if there are some slightly changed routes for special days to take that into consideration because they have changed some for certain dates.

Tips for Planning Your Duck Boat Tour Day

Okay, if you’re looking to kind of blend the Duck Boat tour into a pretty fully-packed day, these few suggestions should come in super handy. Initially, book that ticket in advance! Duck Boat tours, it seems like, they’re very widely-known, right, so that way tickets go surprisingly very fast, most especially during peak season; which means booking ahead ensures that you will actually get a seat on the day you wish to. Secondly, think of the traffic situation! When are you wanting to do this? Basically, avoid the hours people are going to or from work. Check to see if any public happenings are happening to cause bigger problems. Last, of course, plan some “buffer” time: As pointed out prior, you are unsure how long exactly it can go; build in like 30 mins just in case there is crazy traffic or there has been an accident. If you follow this, you can relax and won’t be overwhelmed by stress!

Maximizing Your Tour Experience

Alright, so you’re on the Duck Boat! To truly make the most of the whole thing, you actually have a couple things you can do to boost that experience, right? Beginning with dressing depending on the climate: The tour’s half on land and half in the water, it is very breezy, but on land when hot, is very HOT!. Layering clothing works! Another point is to, obviously, participate! Really, the tour guides actually like it when tourists are engaging! Throw your questions out; they typically really know so much of the places that you could discover a bunch of interesting pieces of info. Lastly, and also mostly apparent, bring that camera with a pretty decent storage. You will get awesome pictures throughout Boston on the streets as well as beautiful snaps right as you guys splash into that Charles River, that’s right, which should all be kept.