Boathouse Row
Boathouse Row
4.5
About
The best walking and biking route in the city is along the Schuylkill River. The cluster of 15 rowing clubs host a variety of rowing and running events each year.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: Fairmount Park
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4.5
376 reviews
Excellent
210
Very good
125
Average
35
Poor
4
Terrible
2
MissElegance
Philadelphia62 contributions
Nov 2019
These mostly historic boathouses are private, but there is a public place to rent boats and another for bikes or surreys. The view from Martin Luther King Dr (FKA West River Drive) is beautiful -- day or lit-up at night. Biking, hiking, driving, or picnicking along the water is lovely and can be busy but never overly crowded except on regatta days! There's an ok cafe for a beverage or snack near the bike rentals on Kelly Drive (fka East River Drive).
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patagonik
Dallas, TX55 contributions
Sept 2020
I love running along the river to the Wiss...park. wish Philadelphia invested more in preserving old buildings like this and respect its architectural legacy. The view from both sides of the river is great
Written 30 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Five Road Trippers 🚙🎡🎢🧳
Long Island, NY16,135 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
My wife and I enjoyed looking at these houses at night. Honestly, I had no idea what we were looking at. Definitely a great sight lit up.
Written 29 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mwooduk
Miami, FL9,024 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
I am glad we had a GPS and an actual address for the Boathouse Row (1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130) which led us to a public parking area where we were able to park on a Sunday afternoon for two hours for free! Driving through downtown Philly was a little crazy even on a Sunday afternoon to get here. This allowed us to walk to the front of the Art Museum and do the "Rocky statue and steps" as well as walk down to Boathouse Row which is a collection of very interesting architectural buildings and the home of the Schuyllkill Navy which is quite important; formed in 1858, it is the oldest amateur governing body in sports in the United States! It's a group of rowing clubs, all apparently quite historic as it's on the National Register of Historic Places. The river has ducks and rather a lot of litter (would be nice if Philly got that cleaned up a bit) and there were a lot of cyclists and runners whizzing past us through the park. It was nice for a 30 minute walk and just to get some fresh air. There are bathrooms between the parking lot and the boathouse row.
Written 29 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
podrozniczka60
New Jersey16,445 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
The Boathouse row consists of 15 boathouses and is fairly interesting to walk along. If there is a regatta or a race going on the whole area comes alive, picturesque and vibrant. It is located on the east bank of the Schuylkill River. You could start walking from Fairmount Water Works or even the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It is good to read up a bit about the history because each boathouse has a history of its own. They are over 100 years old. I like the boathouse row as seen from across the river - they have an iconic look! You will love them at night when lit with hundreds of LED lights they really look like a fairy tail sight.
Written 30 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
QuackerzDaTraveler
Philadelphia, PA248 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
This is the perfect place to walk, run, jog, bike, or take the kids to run off that energy! They have a separate path for runners and bikes for most of it! It such a nice time my fiancé and I walked 10 miles that day!
Written 1 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin Gibson
Philadelphia, PA56 contributions
July 2017 • Couples
Boathouse Row is near the Art Museum on Kelly Drive. This area of Fairmount Park is a nice walk, but is a close up view of the crew houses you're not allowed in.
The better view is on MLK drive where you get to look over the river to the iconic houses. The houses are outlined in lights and change with holidays and seasons. It is best to walk or ride you bike because there is no parking on MLK except for 1 emergency pull off spot, but this is where you get the best photos.
The better view is on MLK drive where you get to look over the river to the iconic houses. The houses are outlined in lights and change with holidays and seasons. It is best to walk or ride you bike because there is no parking on MLK except for 1 emergency pull off spot, but this is where you get the best photos.
Written 19 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip W
Philadelphia, PA98 contributions
Sept 2016 • Friends
Boathouse Row is an icon Philadelphia landmark. The boat houses are not a far walk from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and also have a nice area of their own with walkways and parks. Boathouse row really comes alive at night especially with the newly installed LED lights that the city recently installed to allow changing of light colors and to avoid the sketchy looking dead bulbs that were there before. I think it is definitely a place worth seeing especially at night and if you are in the area. I hope the city of Philadelphia continues to put more money into areas like Boathouse Row to make them even more enjoyable than they already are. Overall I would recommend a walk to see this icon Philadelphia landmark.
Written 7 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorraine L
Warrington, PA35 contributions
June 2013 • Family
My son was a rower for eight years. I love watching the regatta's and we still go. Some of the best times of his life and mine were spent with the rowing familes and feeding the boys the teamwork and medals. Aberdeen took over when the city bailed and has made the day even better. Dad vail and stotesbury are my favorites. The rowing was one of the best things for my son. I spent alot of cold days and rainy days were boots in certain months and dress warm. After 30 medals in is in your blood.
Written 12 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nomad0921
Wellfleet, MA624 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
Visited the boathouse area on a sunny August Monday afternoon and was surprised at the activity there. Driving in we saw several sculls on the water as well as other watercraft and many runners, bikers, and walkers. We rented bikes and road along the waterfront - the views were impressive especially in the context of urban Philadelphia. I had also run the Philadelphia Marathon some years back and the final portion of the course was along Kelly drive so there were some fond memories for me. The Schuykill River was sparkling and relatively clean. The bike and walking paths were well marked and relatively wide in most areas, there were a few narrow places that would have been ok to navigate if riding alone, a couple of locations had both walkers/runners and riders so there was some care to be exercised. We did not see the area at night but could see how it would be quite attractive. Our bike rental shop had vehicles of all types which included tandems as well as pedal powered cars that accomodated kids as well as adults so a family could easily enjoy an afternoon together. Worth a visit!
Written 26 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the walk from the Museum of art to Boathouse Row a reasonable and safe walk for a woman and 2 tweens? I would LOVE to see it, but I want to make sure it’s safe to walk to.
Written 24 March 2019
Actually the walk is nice but I hesitate to tell you that it is completely safe. There are police and security and many people strolling there but if you are doing the walk in daylight I guess it would be okay but I would take an Uber to and from just to be on the safe side.................
Written 15 June 2019
Hi, Ellen. My daughter is interested in getting married in one of the boathouses on Boathouse Row. I live in Fort Lauderdale and am trying to help with the arrangements but don't know much about Philly. Can you tell me which "house" you went to for the wedding you attended? I appreciate any help you can offer. Thank you!
Written 10 August 2015
It was a loooong time ago, the wedding was held outside, I'm pretty sure it was Undine, but if not had to be U of P because these are the two I hung around. Hope it works out for you, that would be a wonderfully memorable wedding.
Written 23 September 2015
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