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Rockin Thunder River Tours
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Rockin Thunder River Tours

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See all things to do
Rockin Thunder River Tours
5
#1 of 5 Outdoor Activities in Madison
Historical & Heritage ToursBoat ToursSightseeing ToursNature & Wildlife ToursSpeed Boats Tours
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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About
Experience the most unique boat tours in the Midwest. Based in Madison Indiana, these are the only tours of both the Ohio River and Kentucky River. 3 unique adventures to choose from. A 2 hour 40 mile SCENIC tour, a 5 hour 75 mile Weekday Lunch Excursion, and a 155 mile 2 Day Kentucky River Adventure. WE GO FARTHER, SEE MORE AND HAVE FUN US Coast Guard Licensed and Inspected
Madison, Indiana
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions
5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles852 reviews
Excellent
825
Very good
21
Average
2
Poor
3
Terrible
1
tallbill2017
Auburn, IN2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Excellent rip on the Ohio River
Jul 2020
My wife and I took the five-hour midweek trip on the Ohio River. Before the cruise, you check in at the office located on a hill near the river. There you meet the three extremely friendly crew members and they give you an idea of what will happen on the trip. After everyone had arrived, we went down to the private dock and boarded the jet boat. Most of the seats have an overhead covering although there are four seats in the back where you can bask in the sunshine. After a short safety briefing, we started the cruise. As we traveled down the river, the Captain of the boat told us many stories of what has happened along certain spots in the river. My wife and I learned about painter and adventurer Harlan Hubbard, about pirates on the river in the early 1800’s and a story of a future president who got in a bit of legal trouble on the river. One of the stops that fascinated me was where a company has dredged for sand over the last 30 years. I had no idea there was such a market for sand! Halfway through the trip, the boat stops for lunch at a restaurant located in a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky. The staff at the restaurant knew the crew well and had our place on a deck overlooking the river all prepared for us. As we traveled back to Madison, Indiana, we spotted 6 bald eagles making their home along the river. It was a wonderful and relaxing day. We plan to go back for their two-day tour but if you plan to go, book early. The Captain told us the 2-day trip for this year was booked up by the end of January. This a wonderful cruise and I strongly recommended it.
Written July 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ahut58
Terre Haute, IN1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Trip to Madison, In.
Aug 2021
A wonderful adventure when visiting Madison, indiana. We stayed at Cliffty Falls and visited the city, Rock n Thunder tours was well worth it. We saw 3 bald eagles on the tours and learned some great history of the area.
Written August 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Makahla C
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Wonderful River Tour
Jul 2020 • Couples
My bf and I had an absolute wonderful time on this boat tour. Paul the guide was a super funny friendly guy and definitely a great people person. He would stop and talk about the surroundings areas on the water, make jokes, take questions. We saw about 8 eagles which was the whole reason I wanted to take the boat tour anyway so I was completely thrilled by that. I recommend doing this if you are vacationing in Madison.
Written July 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Inspire39022997844
The Cincinnati Region1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Beautiful day on the Ohio River
Jul 2021 • Couples
I found this excursion by happenstance and decided to book it for my husband and me. We took the five hour trip down to Louisville where we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch on the river. Captain Paul and his staff were very accommodating as they stopped the boat periodically throughout our trip to view wildlife or explain a bit of history about the area. We thoroughly enjoyed the day as well as meeting other guests. As a side note, the back seats have a great view, but the engine is loud so take ear plugs with you. Also, you may want to pack bottled water, a jacket and binoculars to make your trip more enjoyable. This was a hidden gem that we would highly recommend.
Written July 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlie B.
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Madison, IN Ohio River Trip
Aug 2020
Awesome 10:00 AM two hour tour with the fog just clearing off the river that morning. Friendly and personable crew with great knowledge of the local history. We had five bald eagle sitings in the first hour so be sure you've got your cameras ready! This boat is kept in tip top shape, provides a smooth, powerful ride and every seat has a good vantage point. We found Madison, IN in a list of top 10 small towns in America. The river tour combined with some lunch at one of the local restaurants makes for a great combination!
Written August 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracey O
Minster, OH6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Different and fun!
Jul 2020 • Couples
We planned a trip to Madison around this boat excursion for a group. Twelve of us made the trip and we were not disappointed! My husband wants to take the longer excursion now! Capt. Paul was pleasant and professional with all details and multiple emails/contacts pre and during Covid to schedule and execute this event. We were very pleased and enjoyed this. Seeing a bald eagle was probably the highlight. All staff were friendly.
Written July 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margo M
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Locks, Shantyboat, Stories, and More
Sep 2022
My husband and I had a great time with Capt Paul and Capt.Janet on this 2 day tour. Paul skillfully hurtled us through debris piles and flotsam where the Kentucky meets the Ohio- remains of the July flooding, and answered every question I had about locks and dams....giving history and background in his interesting answers. I had a lot of questions. The locks were my favorite part of the trip.

Our stay overnight in Frankfurt was so nice. Just the right amount of time, evening and morning, with close restaurants available near the hotel. Day 2 was the Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour which was fascinating as you stood among the barrels, smelled the fermentation aromas, and tasted the bourbons, Back on the river for more stories, anecdotes from the Captains' time in Antarctica, and honks and waves at a shantyboat. We had a super time, my second with Rockin' Thunder, the first time three years ago on a 2 hour tour. Both, fabulous! The people on the boat were also fun to be with, and from a variety of places. Go on any of the tours, but this 2 day one was the best!
Written September 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gina G
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mid Week Excursion
Jul 2020
Took the mid-week excursion trip to Louisville on Wednesday July 15, 2020 with several family members (from 44 - 75 years of age). We had a great time with Captain Paul Deck Crew Steve! During the trip we seen 7 bald eagles. Paul and Steve make several stops along the way and share some history with you about the river, towns, people and more. Great time and would highly recommend!
Written July 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GPollyJordan
Indianapolis, IN1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Returned for a second river excursion
Sep 2023
I originally took the two-hour tour and was enthralled by the river stories, scenery and wildlife. I vowed to return with notebook and camera to record the details so I could continue reading about all the fascinating stories I learned about the river. Having just completed the five-hour lunch tour, I know I must write a book to share these stories. As you cruise by what looks to be a vacant piece of land, Captain Paul makes the river come alive with mesmerizing stories of the past and interesting facts about the river present. The comfort of the boat, the humor of the captain and his concern for safety makes this one of the most enjoyable river excursions.
Written September 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
melroysw
Newark, OH1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Day on the Ohio
Sep 2022
The day on the river was even better than advertised! We were greeted and seated on schedule and, before leaving the dock, we were told how the 5-hour tour would unfold. We stopped and drifted on the Ohio several times, going and coming, as the Captain shared information and his experiences. Lunch at the riverfront bar/grill was a real treat. Yes, we saw several bald eagles. We had a great day and we hope to return soon.
Written October 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Rockin Thunder River Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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