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Hop On, Hop Off: Discover Cleveland’s Waterfront with the Harbor Hopper Water Taxi

Two women standing in front of a yellow water taxi in Cleveland, Ohio.

If you ask long-time Clevelanders about the local waterfront, chances are they’ll recall fond memories of cruising down the Cuyahoga River on a water taxi back in the ’80s and ’90s. Today, a fresh era of waterfront entertainment has arrived—and the Cleveland Water Taxi is back to make exploring the Flats easier, more affordable, and more fun than ever.

Inspired by vibrant waterfront cities like Tampa and Miami, local entrepreneur Brittany Orlando (in collaboration with the nonprofit Flats Forward) has officially revived this nostalgic staple—giving it a modern twist called the Harbor Hopper.

Whether you’re looking for an effortless weekend bar crawl, a clever way to skip event-day traffic, or a scenic ride down the river, here is everything you need to know about riding the Cleveland Water Taxi.

How It Works: Your $20 All-Day Pass to the Flats

Think of the Harbor Hopper as Cleveland’s favorite hop-on, hop-off bus—just in the form of a boat!

  • All-Day Access: For $20, you get an All-Day Pass that lets you hop on and off as many times as you like throughout the day.

  • 7 Waterfront Stops: We service 7 main stops throughout the Flats and surrounding waterways, including North Coast Harbor, Hart Crane Park, and our primary West Bank Hub (1180 Main Ave).

  • Real-Time GPS Tracking: No guessing when the next boat arrives. Every stop features a yellow Cleveland Water Taxi flag and a QR code. Simply scan the code with your smartphone to purchase tickets instantly and view our live taxi tracker map to see exactly where the boat is.

Exclusive Perks & Discounts at Every Stop

Your All-Day Pass does more than just get you from Point A to Point B—it unlocks exclusive deals and discounts at local partner venues along the river:

  • Channel Park Marina: Take 10% off food at the marina store.

  • Collision Bend Brewing Company: Grab a $8 shot & beer combo.

  • Forward Day & Nightclub: Save 10% off event tickets.

  • BrewDog: Pick up a custom souvenir cup from Triton at the Flats Apartments, bring it to the bar at BrewDog, and score 50% off your first signature cocktail (and you keep the cup!).

Take your time finishing lunch or drinks—when you’re ready to move on, check the live map and meet us at the dock!

The Ultimate Event Parking & Concert Hack

Downtown parking fees during major concerts, festivals, or games at Huntington Bank Field can quickly ruin a night out—not to mention the bottleneck traffic when leaving.

The Cleveland Water Taxi offers the ultimate hassle-free alternative:

  1. Park Free of Stress: Park your car at our spacious West Bank Hub (1180 Main Avenue).

  2. Take the $25 Concert Round-Trip: Hop aboard our shuttle 1 hour before the show.

  3. 5-Minute Walk to the Venue: We dock at North Coast Harbor, placing you just a 5-minute walk from the stadium.

  4. Skip the Traffic: We pick you up 30 minutes after the show finishes and bring you back to your car on the West Bank, letting you pull straight onto the freeway without sitting in gridlock.

Private Charters & Wedding Transportation

Looking to bring Florida-style fun to a special event? The Cleveland Water Taxi is also available for private bookings and wedding party transportation.

Popular options include shuttling wedding parties and guests across the river from ceremony or reception spaces on the West Bank (such as Windows on the River) directly to hotel blocks like Aloft Cleveland Downtown.

Book Your Ride Today!

Ready to experience Lake Erie, the Cuyahoga River, and the reborn Flats from a whole new perspective?

Scan the QR code at any yellow Cleveland Water Taxi flag, or book your passes online ahead of time. We’ll see you on the water!

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