Mississippi River Frequently Asked Questions

Alma Marina is located 56 miles northeast of La Crosse, WI.

Alma Marina
125 Beach Harbor Road
Alma, WI 54610-7735

Directions: Our boats are docked here at the marina. To find us take Highway 35 north from La Crosse, WI approximately 25 miles and then turn left on Beach Harbor Rd. The marina will be on the directly in front of you.

Alma Marina - Boats are available for pickup between 8:30 and 9:30 am on Mondays and Fridays. Boats are due back by 3 pm on your final day.

Alma Marina - Maximum capacity on the houseboats is 6 people on the 40' models, 11 people on the 50' models.

The lake is warm from mid-summer through late fall and pleasantly cool in the shoulder seasons. Winter and early to mid-spring water temperatures are too cold for extended swimming without a wetsuit.

View a month-by-month list of temperatures here.

Driving a houseboat is different than driving a car, but is not that difficult. The marina staff will walk you through driving the boat when you pick it up.  Most people get the hand of maneuvering the boat within a few minutes.

For the boats departing from Alma Marina $400 is due at the time of booking on 40' boats, $500 on 50' Boats. This amount does not count towards your rental, but is refundable at the end of the trip as long as there is no damage to the boat.

The Rental amount due prior to your trip.

Give us a call at 888-454-8825 and one of our reservation agents will be happy to check availability for you. It's helpful if you already have an idea of when you want to go and what boat you're most interested in when you call.

Alternatively, you can contact us online with your availability request, and one of our agents will be happy to get back to you with the information you need.

Houseboats vacations on the Mississippi river are quite popular. Some of our boats have been known to book out more than a year in advance. The earlier the better is a good rule to follow, particularly if you have an exact date in mind for your trip, or if you're planning a trip over a holiday weekend.

However, if you're flexible with your dates or the exact houseboat model, we can almost always find a trip for you even a few weeks before hand.

Linens are provided on all boats departing from Alma Marina only.

Alma Marina - The marina allows pets on the houseboats for a $50 fee per pet.

Alma Marina - There is a grocery story approximately 7 miles from the Alma Marina for all of your grocery needs.

The renter needs to be 21 years of age with a valid drivers license.

There is no special license needed to operate our houseboats. There are rules for operating houseboats on the waterways, and we will explain them to you upon your arrival.

Houseboats are on pontoons and there is very little motion. Seasickness is basically unheard of on fresh water

It is always a good time to go houseboating! Summer is the most popular and busiest season. Fall offers Indian Summer days and cooler nights. Springtime is good for viewing abundant wildflowers, waterfalls, and wildlife. Winter is favorable for the anglers, when fishing is at its best. And the rates are significantly lower between September and May.

Yes! Fishing is a very popular activity. Fishermen must have Wisconsin or Minnesota fish license. Fish include Walleye, Perch, Sunfish, Crappies and Bass are all found in abundance. The marina stores sell a good variety of bait and tackle for optimizing your chances of catching fish, whether you're a novice or an expert.