A boat launch, also called a boat ramp or slipway, is a ramp where you back a trailer into the water.
- Public launches: usually run by a state wildlife or natural resources agency, a state park, a city or a county.
- Private launches: run by marinas, campgrounds or other businesses, often for a fee.
Rules on fees, permits and hours are set state by state and site by site. This page sums up what several state agencies say on their own websites. Sources were checked on October 25, 2026.
Public launches: what state agencies say
Minnesota
Minnesota's public water accesses:
- are open 24 hours a day unless posted otherwise
- can be used with a trailer or for carry-in boats
- can launch 12- to 18-foot boats at most ramps, and some can handle larger boats
- charge no launch fee, unless the access is inside a park that requires a vehicle permit
Minnesota DNR: Public water accesses
Connecticut
- Fees: state boat launches are free unless they're in a state park. If the park has an entrance fee, you must pay it to reach the launch.
- Permits: no permit or sticker is needed, except for organized events.
- Hours: launches are open 24/7, except those in state parks, which keep park hours.
- Overnight parking: allowed at your own risk for up to two days.
Connecticut DEEP: Boat launch FAQs
Florida
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says that since the mid-1950s it has built boat ramps that are free to the boating public. It says most sites are open 24 hours a day and that it maintains over 200 access sites. Its Boat Ramp Finder gives information, maps and photos for hundreds of public ramps. FWC: Boat ramps and access
Michigan
Michigan's Recreation Passport gives motorized vehicle entry to state parks, state forest campgrounds and "nearly 1,000 boating access sites."
- Michigan vehicles: the passport costs $15 when bought with your license plate renewal, or $29 for two years.
- Out-of-state vehicles: the DNR sells a separate nonresident passport.
Michigan DNR: Recreation Passport
Pennsylvania
Unpowered boats, like kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, rowboats and sailboats without motors, need one of these to use Fish and Boat Commission lakes and access areas, or state park and forest access areas:
- a boat registration
- a Fish and Boat Commission launch permit
- a state parks launch permit
You need one, not both. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: Launch permit vs. unpowered boat registration
Wisconsin
- Who can charge: municipalities, lake districts and other approved access providers may charge "reasonable" launch fees.
- Fee cap: fees above $13 a day need DNR approval.
- Parking: must be included in the launch fee, not charged separately.
- Private facilities: the DNR "does not regulate launch fees collected by privately-owned facilities."
Wisconsin DNR: Allowable boat launch fees
Private launches
A private launch is one owned by a business or individual rather than a government agency. What state agencies say about them:
- Fees aren't state-regulated in Wisconsin: as noted above, the DNR does not regulate fees at privately owned facilities. Wisconsin DNR
- Agencies may avoid competing with them: Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources says it "prefers not to compete with private launch-for-fee ramps if they can meet the public demand." Virginia DWR: Building boat ramps
- Access may be limited: in OpenStreetMap, the open map our boat ramp pages use, mappers tag who may use a ramp with
access(for exampleyesorprivate) and whether there's a charge withfee. OpenStreetMap Wiki: leisure=slipway
Private launches at marinas or campgrounds may be open to anyone for a fee, or only to customers. Ask the operator.
Quick comparison
| | Public (state agency) | Private | | --- | --- | --- | | Who runs it | State, park, city or county | Marina, campground or business | | Fee | Often free; some charge or need a park pass | Set by the owner | | Permits | Vary by state, e.g. PA for unpowered boats, MI Recreation Passport | Set by the owner | | Hours | Often 24 hours unless posted or in a park | Set by the owner |
Sources: the agency pages linked above.
Parking your trailer
Launch parking is sized for a vehicle plus a trailer. Virginia DWR says a vehicle-and-trailer parking space should be at least 10 feet wide and 40 feet long, and it plans about 30 to 35 of these spaces per launching lane. Virginia DWR: Building boat ramps
Long-term trailer parking is usually not what launches are for. Connecticut, for example, allows overnight parking for up to two days. If you need somewhere to keep the boat and trailer between trips, see our storage search.
Finding a launch
Our boat ramps pages map ramps near each city we cover, from OpenStreetMap data, along with boat rentals where they're mapped. Examples include:
Many states also run their own ramp finders, like Florida's Boat Ramp Finder. Check the agency's page for closures and fees before you go.
Related guides
FAQ
Are public boat launches free?
Often, but not always. Minnesota and Connecticut launches are free unless they're in a park with a vehicle or entrance fee. Florida's FWC ramps are free. Michigan's Recreation Passport covers vehicle entry to nearly 1,000 boating access sites. Minnesota DNR, CT DEEP, FWC, Michigan DNR
What is a private boat launch?
A ramp owned by a business or individual. Fees and rules are set by the owner, and Wisconsin's DNR, for example, doesn't regulate private launch fees. Wisconsin DNR
Do I need a permit to launch a kayak?
In Pennsylvania, an unpowered boat needs a registration or a launch permit at Fish and Boat Commission and state park and forest access areas. Rules differ in other states. PA Fish and Boat Commission
Can I leave my truck and trailer overnight at a launch?
Some states allow it. Connecticut allows overnight parking at state launches at your own risk for up to two days. Check posted signs. CT DEEP
Are boat launches open at night?
Minnesota's public accesses and most Florida FWC sites are open 24 hours. Connecticut's are open 24/7 unless they're in a state park. Minnesota DNR, FWC, CT DEEP