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A Boston Duck Tour lasts about 80 minutes: roughly an hour driving past downtown landmarks and about 20 minutes on the Charles River, with no stops along the way. There is only one Boston Duck Tours route, sold by one operator, so the real choice is where you board: the Museum of Science, the Prudential Center or the New England Aquarium. All three give the same 80-minute tour at essentially the same price. Choose the departure point closest to your hotel, or the Museum of Science if you are driving.
Older comparison guides, including a previous version of this page, described a sunset duck tour and an off-the-beaten-path duck tour. Boston Duck Tours does not sell either. What follows is based on the operator's own pages, checked on October 1, 2026.
How long is the Boston Duck Tour?
Boston Duck Tours says every tour runs approximately an hour and 20 minutes: an hour on land and about 20 minutes in the water. Traffic and construction can stretch that, so do not book anything tight right afterward. You cannot get on and off along the route; it is one continuous narrated ride from the departure point and back. The vehicles are World War II-style amphibious DUCKs, and the narrator, called a ConDUCKtor, talks the whole way. Source: the Boston Duck Tours FAQ.
What will you see?
The operator's route map takes in the gold-domed Massachusetts State House, Boston Common and the Public Garden, the North End, Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, the Old State House and the Prudential Tower. The finale is the splash: the driver takes the DUCK straight into the Charles River for views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines. You will not get soaked, though wind can bring a light spray, and the driver may let passengers, often children, take a turn steering on the river.
Which departure point is best?
The tour is the same from all three, so decide on logistics.
| Departure point | Best for | Getting there | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Science, 1 Science Park | Drivers, families pairing it with the museum | Science Park station, Green Line | On-site museum garage; the operator calls it the best parking rate of the three |
| Prudential Center, 53 Huntington Avenue | Back Bay hotels, shoppers | Copley station, Green Line | Prudential Center garage, discounted with validation if you enter after 9:30 a.m. |
| New England Aquarium, Central Wharf | Downtown and waterfront hotels, cruise passengers | A short walk from South Station, says the operator | No aquarium garage; several garages within 0.3 miles |
Museum of Science. DUCKs board in front of the Museum of Science, beside the life-size T. rex. Tours leave every hour from 10 a.m. until one hour before sunset, seven days a week, and the garage on site makes this the easy choice by car. Pair it with the museum's exhibits or planetarium on the same day.
Prudential Center. The booth is outside the Star Market at 53 Huntington Avenue in Back Bay, and tours leave every hour from 10 a.m. until an hour before sunset. It is the natural pick if you are staying in Back Bay, and the Prudential Center has plenty of places to eat while you wait.
New England Aquarium. DUCKs leave from the aquarium driveway in front of the whale watch booth on Central Wharf, close to Faneuil Hall and the North End. The operator recommends it for cruise passengers as the closest boarding point to the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal. It is also an easy pairing with the New England Aquarium itself. The operator's page for this location does not publish a fixed schedule, so check times when you book.
How much does it cost, and when does it run?
The 2026 rates on the operator rate page are $57 for adults, $48 for seniors and active military, $42 for children 3 to 11 and $11 for children 2 and under, before a 5% Convention Center Fee and a $2 per-ticket online fee. Every passenger needs a ticket, including babies, because of Coast Guard passenger limits. Tours are seasonal, running from late March into November; event listings for 2026 show the last tours on November 11. Our post on the real cost of a Boston Duck Tour breaks the price down further.
How to book without missing out
Tickets go on sale 30 days ahead for a specific date, time and departure point, and the operator warns that weekend and summer tours often sell out by noon, so buy online in advance rather than at the booth. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged; if weather cancels the river portion, half the ticket price is refunded on request. Tours run rain or shine, and the DUCKs are heated and can be enclosed. You can also book the same tour through Viator, which listed departures from the aquarium today.
Practical tips
Arrive early enough to check in at the Duck Stop; seats are assigned automatically to keep parties together. The ride is breezy on the river, so bring a layer even in summer. Strollers are stored by staff during the tour, alcohol is not allowed and only service animals may board. Guests who use a wheelchair should call 617-450-0068 before the day so seats can be removed and the lift set up. A GPS-triggered app narrates the tour in nine other languages, including Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese; bring headphones. For more ways to get on the water, see our guide to things to do on the water in Boston, or start with our top 10 things to do in Boston.