Paddle Share Station

Name: Paddle Share Station
Address: 4900 N Mississippi Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55430, USA, Minneapolis, MN, US
Telephone: (844) 694-6489
Rating: 4.8

4.8(22) Minneapolis, MN

Directions Website

About Paddle Share Station

Paddle Share Station offers an affordable, flexible, and often uncrowded kayaking experience on the Mississippi River, providing options for self-guided one-way trips or educational guided tours with knowledgeable staff.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Families seeking an affordable, active outdoor adventure on the water.Parents wanting an educational outing about local history and nature (especially with a guided tour).Families with older children and teens who can enjoy a longer, one-way paddling experience.Tourists visiting Minneapolis looking for a unique river experience.Families preferring a less crowded water activity.

Why families love it

Significantly more affordable than alternative kayak rentals (e.g., Lake Calhoun).
Offers one-way trips from rental point down to Boom Island for drop-off.
The kayaking route is described as 'magical' and the river is 'often empty', suggesting a peaceful experience.
Staff is described as 'helpful' and guides are 'knowledgeable' about local history, plants, and animals.
Customer service goes 'above and beyond', even arranging guided tours when unguided options are closed.
Online rental process for convenience.

Insider tips

Be prepared to manage your return transportation (e.g., scooter or bike rental from Nice Ride station) as trips are one-way.
Consider a guided tour for an educational experience about local history, plants, and animals, especially if river conditions are restricted for unguided tours.
Anticipate a minor effort to launch kayaks into the river, though it's less strenuous than bringing your own equipment.
Pair your kayaking adventure with other local activities like visiting a farmers market for a full day out.

Good to know before you go

Families with very young children who cannot sit independently or paddle for an extended period, as no specific accommodations for toddlers are mentioned.
Parents looking for an all-inclusive, no-planning required activity, due to the need to arrange return transportation.
If river conditions restrict unguided tours and a guided option is not desired.
Parents need to plan and manage their own return transportation from the drop-off point to their starting location/car (e.g., bike rental, scooter).
It requires 'a little bit of a hassle to get your kayak down to the river', though less than bringing your own.

Crowds: The river is 'often empty', suggesting a low crowd level on the water itself, which is a positive for a peaceful family experience.
Value: Highly rated for affordability, being 'way more affordable than renting kayaks at Lake Calhoun'. The base rental cost is good value, but parents should budget for return transportation (e.g., bike/scooter rental).
Accessibility: No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews. The 'hassle to get your kayak down to the river' might pose a challenge for individuals with mobility issues.
Safety: Guided tours are available and can operate even when the river is closed to unguided tours, implying a level of safety consideration and expert guidance during challenging conditions. No other explicit safety features (e.g., life vests, staff supervision ratios) are mentioned.

What parents say

Brian Niebler

5.0

"My wife and I tried out paddleshare this summer. it was actually a lot of fun and way more affordable than renting kayaks at lake calhoun. You can rent online and paddle all the way down to Boom Island to drop them off. We then rented a bike from niceride station and rode back up to our car. Highly recommended if you're looking for an outdoor activity."

7 years ago

Emil

5.0

"This day will forever stay in my memory with my friends that took me there, kayaking route was magical and staff helpful."

2 years ago

pete murphy

5.0

"Jeff took us down the Mississippi when the river was closed to unguided tours because we had traveled to Minneapolis from Rhode Island for my birthday. WE HAD THE BEST TIME. He was so knowledgable about the history of the area, the plants and animals, and the best local breweries. The owner of the company really went above and beyond for us. 6 star experience. Thanks guys!"

5 years ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.