Boat Rental Lake Hopatcong NJ: Pontoons, Kayak Launches and Rules

If you are searching for a boat rental Lake Hopatcong NJ visitors can book, the good news is that New Jersey’s largest lake has several marinas that rent pontoon boats by the half day or full day, plus public spots where you can launch your own kayak or boat. The catch: to drive a powered rental yourself, New Jersey requires a boating safety certificate, and Lake Hopatcong rentals also ask for a boat endorsement on your driver’s license.

Our team pulled every detail below from each business’s own website and from official state sources. One geography note up front, because it matters for directions: Lake Hopatcong is shared by the Borough of Hopatcong in Sussex County and by Jefferson Township, Roxbury Township and Mount Arlington in Morris County. Most of the rental marinas below sit on the Jefferson Township (Morris County) side of the lake, while the Sussex County shoreline belongs to Hopatcong Borough.

Lake Hopatcong boat rentals at a glance

• Pontoon rentals you drive yourself: Bridge Marina and Lake Hopatcong Boat Club & Charters, both on Brady Road in Jefferson Township, Morris County.
• Pontoon with a captain: offered by Lake Hopatcong Boat Club & Charters, and Bridge Marina notes rentals with a driver are an option for renters without a certificate.
• No certificate, no driving: a public or private cruise on the Miss Lotta with Lake Hopatcong Cruises at Nolan’s Point, Jefferson Township.
• Bring your own kayak: the free launch at Roland-May Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary on Lakeside Avenue in Hopatcong Borough, Sussex County.
• Bring your own boat: the state boat launch at Hopatcong State Park in Landing, Roxbury Township, Morris County.

Marinas that rent boats on Lake Hopatcong

Bridge Marina (Jefferson Township, Morris County)

Bridge Marina is at 89 Brady Road, which carries a Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 mailing address. The Brady Road bridge it is named for is a county bridge in Jefferson, per Morris County. The marina rents Starcraft triple pontoon boats only. Its website is clear that it does not rent speedboats, jet skis or bowriders. Each pontoon holds up to 10 passengers or 1,300 pounds of people and gear.

Rental windows listed on the site include a full day (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), limited half days (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.), and shorter “Build-Your-Own” blocks at Lake Hopatcong (8 a.m. to 11 a.m., 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.). As of fall 2026, the posted Lake Hopatcong prices start at $199 on weekdays for a Build-Your-Own block, $299 for a weekday half day and $399 for a weekday full day, with weekend rates higher and fuel included, plus fees and tax. Prices change, so confirm when you book.

Requirements posted by the marina: the renter and driver must be at least 30, hold a valid NJ Boating Safety Certificate (or an accepted out-of-state equivalent), have a boat endorsement on their driver’s license, and leave a Visa or Mastercard for the security deposit. The marina also runs NJ boating safety certificate courses. Phone: (973) 663-1976. Some rental windows are listed as limited, so book early, especially for summer weekends.

Lake Hopatcong Boat Club & Charters (Jefferson Township, Morris County)

Lake Hopatcong Boat Club & Charters (LH Charters) is at 1 Brady Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849, on the same Jefferson Township stretch of Brady Road. It rents Tahoe pontoons: a 23 foot Tahoe LTZ that seats 10 and a 25 foot Tahoe Cascade Entertainer that seats 12. You can book a half day or full day and either captain the boat yourself or hire a captain.

To drive it yourself, the company requires a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate and a boating endorsement on your NJ driver’s license. Prices are not posted on the rental page, so call (973) 307-1322 or use the online booking for current rates and dates.

Lake Hopatcong Cruises (Nolan’s Point, Jefferson Township)

Not a rental, but worth knowing if nobody in your group has a certificate. Lake Hopatcong Cruises sails the Miss Lotta from 37 Nolan’s Point Park Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849. Nolan’s Point is in Jefferson Township, Morris County. The company offers private charters and public cruises, including brunch, sunset dinner and cocktail cruises, plus themed and sightseeing trips. Dates and prices are listed on its booking page. Phone: 973-663-5000.

Kayaking and paddling: launch spots on the lake

Roland-May Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary (Hopatcong Borough, Sussex County)

This is the Sussex County side of the lake. The Lake Hopatcong Foundation’s Inlets and Aisles Water Trail map lists the sanctuary on Lakeside Avenue in Hopatcong as a public launch with no entrance or launch fees, limited on-site parking and no restrooms. Launch along the vegetated shoreline next to the Lake Hopatcong Trail parking sign. It is a calm starting point for exploring the coves on the borough’s shoreline. The Foundation publishes its water trail maps on its water trails page.

Hopatcong State Park (Landing, Roxbury Township, Morris County)

The state boat launch at Hopatcong State Park sits at the southern end of the lake in the Landing section of Roxbury Township. NJDEP’s boat launch information sheet lists a daily launch fee of $12 for NJ residents and $20 for non-residents during the shoulder seasons (April 1 to the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, and the day after Labor Day through October 31), along with annual decal options. The sheet is not dated and fees are subject to change, so check with the park before you go.

Wherever you paddle, follow the Foundation’s rule: much of the shoreline is private homes, and homeowner association beaches can look public but are not. Land only at public sites.

NJ boating license rules for renters

New Jersey does not issue a “boating license” in the car sense. What you need is a combination of two things:

1. A Boating Safety Certificate. Per the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau, to operate a vessel on New Jersey waters you need a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate, a certificate from your home state, a Coast Guard Captain’s License, or proof of an approved safety course. Students who finish certain approved Pennsylvania or New York courses can receive a temporary certificate (form S.P.421) from their instructor.
2. A boat endorsement on your license. The State Police explain that the driver’s license or ID endorsement allows you to operate a vessel on non-tidal waters, which includes Lake Hopatcong. The endorsement does not replace the safety certificate.

Plan ahead: you cannot usually earn a certificate the morning of your rental. If you are short on time, book a captained pontoon, take a cruise, or paddle a kayak, which needs neither.

When is boat rental season on Lake Hopatcong?

Rentals run in the warm months, with the heaviest demand on summer weekends. The marinas above do not post fixed opening and closing dates, so check each site or call for spring and fall availability. NJDEP’s info sheet lists Hopatcong State Park launch fees for the spring and fall shoulder seasons; check with the park for summer launch details. Late September and October can be a beautiful time on the water as the hillsides change color, if your marina is still renting; pair it with our fall foliage hikes in Sussex County.

Know before you go

• Bring the paperwork. Your boating safety certificate, your driver’s license with the boat endorsement, and a credit card for the deposit.
• Check the age rule. Bridge Marina requires the renter and driver to be at least 30.
• Book early for weekends. Summer weekends are the busiest time on the lake, and some rental windows are listed as limited.
• Count heads. Pontoons listed here seat 10 to 12. Plan your group around the boat’s posted capacity.
• Know where you are. The rental marinas are in Jefferson Township, Morris County. Hopatcong Borough, Sussex County, covers much of the western shore.
• Make a day of it. See our guide on where to eat in Hopatcong for lunch or dinner near the lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license to rent a boat on Lake Hopatcong?

To drive a powered rental yourself, yes. The marinas require a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate (or accepted equivalent) and a boat endorsement on your driver’s license. You can skip both by hiring a captain, taking a cruise or renting a kayak.

Can you rent jet skis on Lake Hopatcong?

Bridge Marina states it does not rent jet skis, and Lake Hopatcong Boat Club & Charters lists pontoons only. Our team did not confirm a jet ski rental on the lake through a business’s own website, so call ahead if that is what you want.

How much does a pontoon rental cost on Lake Hopatcong?

As of fall 2026, Bridge Marina’s posted Lake Hopatcong rates start at $199 for a weekday Build-Your-Own block and $399 for a weekday full day, with fuel included and fees and tax extra. Weekend rates are higher. LH Charters quotes prices through its booking system.

Where can I launch a kayak on Lake Hopatcong for free?

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation lists Roland-May Eves Mountain Inlet Sanctuary on Lakeside Avenue in Hopatcong as a public launch with no fees. Parking is limited and there are no restrooms.

Is Lake Hopatcong in Sussex or Morris County?

Both. Hopatcong Borough is in Sussex County, while Jefferson Township, Roxbury Township and Mount Arlington are in Morris County.

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Want more ideas for this season? Browse our list of things to do in Sussex County in October.

Primary sources for this guide: Bridge Marina boat rentals, Lake Hopatcong Boat Club & Charters, Lake Hopatcong Cruises, NJ State Police Boating Safety Certificate FAQ, NJDEP boat launch information sheet, Lake Hopatcong Foundation Inlets and Aisles Water Trail, and Morris County.

Featured photo: stock image of pontoon boats, for illustration only (not Lake Hopatcong). Photo by Tümay Hasret via Pexels.