The easiest way to rent a paddle board at Tempe Town Lake is Northshore Watersport Rentals, a self-service locker by the north shore marina, or Boats4Rent at Tempe Beach Park on the south shore. Riverbound Sports, near ASU, rents boards to take away if you’d rather pick up gear and choose your own launch.
We checked each shop’s own website for its address, what it rents and how pickup works, and checked the lake rules against the City of Tempe and Tempe Tourism. We haven’t rented from every shop ourselves. Prices and hours change by season, so check current prices with the shop before you go.
Our picks at a glance
- Northshore Watersport Rentals: best for paddling on your own schedule, with 24/7 self-service lockers on the north shore.
- Boats4Rent (Boat Rentals of America): best for a staffed rental on the south shore, next to Tempe Beach Park and Mill Avenue.
- Riverbound Sports: best if you want gear to take to other lakes too, with hard boards, inflatables and roof racks.
Northshore Watersport Rentals
Northshore Watersport Rentals is a family-owned shop next to the Tempe Town Lake Marina on the north shore, running since 2016. You book online, get a door code, and collect your board, paddle and life jacket from a locker, so you’re not tied to a shop’s opening hours.
Who it suits: early risers and sunset paddlers, and anyone who wants a quick, no-fuss hour on the water.
| Address | 555 N College Ave, Unit 1030, Tempe, AZ 85288 |
| Rents | Stand-up paddle boards, single and double kayaks, bikes |
| How it works | Book online, then collect from a code-entry locker (24/7) |
| Included | Life jacket with every water rental |
Pros
- Self-service, so you can rent outside normal shop hours
- Right next to the water at the marina
- Bikes too, if you want to ride the lake path afterward
Cons
- No staff on hand to give a first-timer a lesson
- You still have to stick to the lake’s own opening hours
Boats4Rent (Boat Rentals of America)
Boats4Rent, run by Boat Rentals of America, rents paddle boards, kayaks and boats from Tempe Beach Park on the south shore, near the Mill Avenue bridges. It’s a good fit if you’re already downtown on Mill Avenue or want a staffed counter.
Who it suits: visitors staying downtown, and groups mixing paddle boards with a boat or kayak.
| Address | 72 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85282 (Tempe Beach Park) |
| Rents | Stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, boats |
| Booking | Online or by phone; reserve at least 24 hours ahead |
| Included | Life vest and paddle |
| Hours | Afternoons on weekdays, from mid-morning at weekends (check current hours) |
Pros
- Staffed, so you can ask questions before you launch
- Walking distance from Mill Avenue and downtown Tempe
- Boats and kayaks too, for mixed groups
Cons
- Reservations needed a day ahead, so not ideal for a spur-of-the-moment paddle
- Weekday hours start at midday, which misses the cooler summer mornings
Riverbound Sports
Riverbound Sports is a paddle shop near Arizona State University that rents boards, kayaks, packrafts and river tubes to take away. You pick up and drop off at the shop rather than at the lake, which means you can use the same rental at Tempe Town Lake, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake or the Salt River.
Who it suits: paddlers planning more than one spot, or anyone who wants a hard (solid) board rather than an inflatable.
| Address | 1425 E University Dr, Suite B-102, Tempe, AZ 85281 |
| Rents | Inflatable and hard paddle boards, kayaks, packrafts, river tubes |
| Included | Board, paddle, leash and life jacket (inflatables also come with a pump) |
| Extras | Temporary roof racks for hard boards, dog life jackets, multi-day rates |
| Hours | Tuesday to Saturday (check current hours) |
Riverbound also runs a weekly Tuesday-evening group paddle on Tempe Town Lake, with rental boards available by reservation. You’ll need a Tempe lake pass to join.
Pros
- Widest range of gear, including hard boards
- Leash and life jacket included
- One rental works for several Phoenix-area lakes
Cons
- Not on the water: you’ll need a car and a way to carry the board
- Closed sundays and mondays
- Taking your own rental to Tempe Town Lake means sorting out a lake permit (ask the shop)
