Next Intro to Kayaking Class - Saturday 5/2
2026 Summer Camp Registration is Open

Cape Fear River Adventures

Hourly Rentals

leisure_paddle

Hourly Rentals

Activities Kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding

Skill level Beginner

Age 3+ Years

Weight limit Kayaks and canoes: 250lb/person Paddle boards: 200lb/person

Duration
1 hour, 2 hours, or "all day" options

River features
Calm water; small rock garden 1.5 miles away

Searching Availability...

Trip Cost

Single Kayak

1 Hour - $39

2 Hours - $49

All Day * - $59

Paddle Board (SUP)

1 Hour - $39

2 Hours - $49

All Day * - $59

2-person Kayak

1 Hour - $59

2 Hours - $79

All Day * - $99

2-person Canoe

1 Hour - $59

2 Hours - $79

All Day * - $99

Fishing Kayak

1 Hour - Not offered

2 Hours - $59

All Day * - $69

Hourly Rentals

Kayaking, canoeing or paddle boarding river trip

This self-guided paddle begins and ends right at our office in Lillington—no shuttle required. Paddle upstream for as long as your rental time allows, then simply turn around and float back to the starting point. Under normal conditions, the river’s gentle current makes paddling upstream just as easy as paddling down. When river levels rise, the current can become stronger and more challenging; for safety, this option is unavailable during times of higher water.

Relax and enjoy a beautiful, flat-water stretch of the Cape Fear River. Bring the whole family along in a canoe or try kayaking for the first time as you explore miles of virtually unspoiled wilderness. With trips lasting up to two hours, there’s plenty of time to discover a favorite rock garden—perfect for swimming, breaking for lunch on the riverbank, or sitting in a shallow rapid with cool water rushing by. Keep your camera handy for turtles basking in the sun or glimpses of bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons soaring overhead. Whether you’re paddling briefly or making the most of every minute, this peaceful stretch of river promises a memorable and enjoyable experience.

What to wear

Dress for the weather with layered clothing if necessary, and expect to get wet. Wear long sleeves or opt out for sunscreen. Bathing suit is a great option in warmer months, but don't forget sunscreen! Paddling booties or water shoes are great! You can also wear old gym shoes, or strap-on sandals, but no flip-flops! Any hat is recommended.

What to bring

Bring plenty of water! Plan on taking one 12oz bottle of water per person per river hour. Absolutely no glass containers!

Sunscreen, unless you are wearing protective clothing

Nutritious snacks or a full lunch, especially for longer trips. You can easily fit a mid-sized coolers in our 16’ Old Town canoes. Small, insulated fabric coolers may be strapped to the back of our kayaks or paddle boards.

At least one phone per group.

Optional spare clothes for after the trip. We have changing rooms and spray showers available.

Water toys, cameras, speakers, etc.

Trip F.A.Q.

We strongly recommend making online reservations! It allows you to complete all the required paperwork online and it will speed up your check-in! That’s also the only way we can guarantee the equipment you need.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your activity, please do so at least 72 hours before your activity start time for a full refund or a no‑fee reschedule. Inside 72 hours, bookings are final and cannot be changed or refunded. We will do our best to accommodate your trip as scheduled. However, we reserve the right to adjust your activity due to river conditions or weather by rescheduling, offering a different activity, or issuing credit for future use. Refunds are not provided for weather‑related changes.

3 years old and up.

250lb per person for any kayak or canoe; 220lb for paddle board

We promote healthy living and healthy enjoyment of the great outdoors! Alcohol is not recommended to have an amazing time on the river, however if you must… Responsible, moderate consumption is strongly enforced. All North Carolina and Waterways laws apply and are closely monitored by local and Wildlife Law Enforcement.

ABSOLUTELY NO GLASS CONTAINERS OR LIQUOR.

You have to have at least one 18 year old individual in your party out on the water. Anyone else under 18 must have consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Choose any river activity that suits your group the best. Once you have the date and trip picked, we will email a quote that has the appropriate discount applied. Groups must be paid for in one single payment to qualify for our group discount. Give us a call 919.495.5555 or contact us with questions!
We look forward to seeing you and your group having a blast on the river!

 

Yes! We offer 10% discount for military, EMS, Fire, Police, Teachers, and Students. Use Promo Code SERVICE when making your online reservations. Be sure to have your military or relevant ID with you when checking in on the day of your trip.

Yes. Hourly Rentals are designed as an upstream‑only, out‑and‑back experience, so you can return early at any time by paddling back to the launch area. Be sure to allow enough time to turn around and return before your rental period ends (Hourly Rentals have three time options: 1 Hour, 2 Hour, and All Day (back by closing time)—the trip back is usually a bit quicker.

If you’re looking to paddle downstream, that does require a shuttle back. For that experience, check out our Easy Paddle trip.

Think of this experience as a self‑made loop—you control how far you go and when you head back!

Yes, we do! We accept all major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

There are no gators or sharks, but there are water snakes. They are mostly non-aggressive type, but we ask you to respect wildlife and keep your distance. Checking your surroundings while on water goes a long way. Any incidents with wildlife are extremely rare and generally it is a unique experience to spot any wildlife while out on the river!

Dogs are allowed but not recommended. If your furry friend has never been in a boat, you might find yourself fighting to keep your pup onboard instead of enjoying the day 😉 Only dogs with prior boating experience are allowed on 10 Mile Challenge and Epic Overnight.

1 person per single kayak; 2 people in tandem kayaks; 1 person per paddle board (SUP). 2 adults and up to 2 small kids per canoe (total weight of kid(s) should not exceed 100lb). No riders in canoe on 10 Mile Challenge or Epic Overnight. Canoes have only 2 seats, kids sit on the bottom of canoe.

Canoes have plenty of storage. You can bring a cooler, backpack or other accessories. Kayaks however, have more limited storage. A smaller backpack or small cooler will fit ok, but not much more than that.

Maybe! The river is an unpredictable environment and there is always a possibility of capsizing. You must be prepared for it, dress and gear up accordingly.

Absolutely! We’ll be happy to get you started on your paddling career!

Over 2,000 5-star reviews! Book with confidence!

Book Activities
Copyright @ 2026 Cape Fear River Adventures, LLC. All rights reserved.