Booking choice: The Seadog river and lake speedboat tour, from $48 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Chicago's two waterways offer different views, and the boats that sail them leave from different places. Navy Pier is on the lake, not the river, which catches people out.
This guide explains what each cruise shows, how the two connect, and which combination tours are worth the extra money.
The quick answer
Choose the river for the buildings and the commentary. Choose the lake for the skyline and open water. To get both, book the Wendella lake and river tour at $48 or the Seadog speedboat at $48.
Is a river cruise or a lake cruise better in Chicago?
The river for the architecture, the lake for the panorama. A first visit works best with the river, or a tour that does both.
On the river you pass close to the buildings and under bridges, and the guide has something to point at every minute. On the lake the towers merge into the skyline you see in photographs, and the water can be choppier.
| Cruise | Water | Length | From | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago River 90 Minute Architecture Tour | River | 90 minutes | $45 | Live guide |
| Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour | River and lake | 90 minutes | $48 | Live guide |
| Seadog River and Lake Architecture Tour | River and lake, speedboat | 75 minutes | $48 | Guide, then a speedboat run |
| Chicago Sunset Cruise on River and Lake | River, then lake | 90 minutes | $48 | Live guide |
| Chicago Lake Michigan Fireworks Cruise | Lake | 3 hours | $60 | Cash bar on board |
What can you see from the river?
The Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Marina City, the Willis Tower and the river's branch points, from the water.
The Wendella landmarks guide lists the same landmarks, and Marina City dates from 1967. The river is where the guided architecture tours happen, because the boat is low and close to the facades. Hear the guide talk about the 1900 reversal of the river's flow and you will start to see why the city looks the way it does.
What can you see from Lake Michigan?
The whole skyline in one frame, with Navy Pier and the Willis Tower, and a stretch of the lakefront.
The lake and river tour promises views along Chicago's 26 miles of shoreline. Shoreline's 45 minute lake cruise offers the skyline with pre-recorded commentary at about $30. The lake is also where the sunset and fireworks cruises end up, because the sun sets over the city, not over the water in front of it.
How do boats get from the river to the lake?
Through the Chicago Harbor Lock at the mouth of the river.
Both Seadog and the Wendella lake and river tour pass through the lock. One source describes the boat rising or lowering as it passes through, which is part of the fun. Seadog's own route goes up the river past the bridges and skyscrapers, through the lock, then speeds along the lakefront past Grant Park and the Museum Campus.
Where do river and lake cruises leave from?
River cruises board at the Michigan Avenue Bridge or the Riverwalk. Many lake cruises board at Navy Pier, on the lake itself.
That is the trap. Seadog leaves from Navy Pier at 600 E Grand Ave, while the Wendella lake and river tour leaves from 400 N Michigan Ave and reaches the lake by the lock. Check the meeting point on the listing and the confirmation. The Navy Pier site lists the operators that board at the pier.
Is the lake rougher and colder?
Usually. The open water has more wind and a bit more motion than the river, so bring a wind layer.
The Seadog speedboat is bring-your-own-drinks, with no glass containers, and guides suggest arriving 30 minutes early with a jacket. The speedboat portion is short but fast. If someone in your group dislikes motion, the river boats feel calmer, and the 90 minute river tours have a heated cabin to retreat to.
A river cruise through the lock, then a speedboat run on the lake.
Explore the Seadog river and lake speedboat tourIs there a way to see the lake without a tour boat?
Yes: rent a kayak or paddleboard at Ohio Street Beach for two hours at $40.
The kayak rental includes a life jacket and a single or double kayak, and the beach is a short walk from Navy Pier. It does not include a guide. Paddling is weather dependent, so check the date for wind before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Is Navy Pier on the Chicago River?
No. Navy Pier is on Lake Michigan. Some cruises from the pier go up the river through the Chicago Harbor Lock, but the dock itself is on the lake.
What is the difference between a Chicago River and a Lake Michigan cruise?
The river cruise shows the buildings from close range with a guide. The lake cruise shows the skyline from a distance with more open water and wind.
Does the Wendella lake and river tour go through a lock?
Yes. It goes from the river through the Chicago Harbor Lock to Lake Michigan and back, in 90 minutes.
Which cruise is best for sunset?
The Wendella sunset cruise, which starts on the river and continues to the lake so you can watch the sun set and the skyline light up.
Ready to book
Choose your Chicago River cruise
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Seadog River and Lake Architecture Tour
A river cruise, then a fast ride on the lake; BYOB
Chicago Lake and River Architecture Tour
One boat for the canyon of towers and the lakefront skyline
Chicago Sunset Cruise on River and Lake
Timed to the sunset, ending with the skyline lit from the lake
