PUMP OUT NOT AVAILABLE
Pump out services are NOT available at the dock. Gas, diesel, electricity and water are available. Fuel will be limited beginning November 3 due to the project described below.
GANGWAY NOT ACCESSIBLE AND LIMITED FUELING BEGINNING NOVEMBER 3, 2025
Beginning November 3, 2025, crews will be removing sections of decking on the gangway to access the piping underneath. The piping will be replaced, and then the decking will be reinstalled. During this time, the gangway will be restricted to crews and City staff only.
Contact Info and Notes
Contact There is no attendant on site. Call 270-538-9849 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. seven days a week for reservation and fuel information and to find out about docking conditions. Fueling is available until 2 p.m.
No Mailing Address This is a transient dock. Packages cannot be delivered here. The Parks and Recreation Department office is not located near the dock.
Reservations To reserve space on the dock, visit Dockwa.
CONSTRUCTION CAUTION When docking riverside, please avoid the marked construction area near power pedestal No. 5.
About the Transient Boat Dock
Paducah is uniquely situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. In 2017, the City of Paducah opened its 340-foot transient boat dock adjacent to a newly constructed park area that extends into the Ohio River. The park provides a harbor area for the transient dock and creates the potential for the development of a future marina.
The dock, located downstream from the heart of historic downtown Paducah, provides space for transient boaters to enjoy Paducah by spending a few hours or spending several nights. Amenities include fuel (diesel and marine grade gasoline), water, power pedestals, and a sewer pumpout station (seasonal for water and sewer amenities). Note: To launch a boat, visit the Ohio River Boat Launch at North 6th and Burnett Streets.
Winterizing the Dock The dock is winterized in the late fall with water and sewer pump-out amenities drained and winterized to prevent damage to the pipes. The dock remains open during the winter with fuel and power available for boaters. If the Ohio River is near 39 feet or above, all amenities (power, fuel, sewer, and water) are disconnected.
- Dock Location, Information, and Rules
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- Due to a downstream shoal, vessels are advised to approach the dock perpendicular from the navigation channel to avoid grounding.
- Dock is located at Ohio River mile marker 935 (Tennessee River mile marker 0). Dock is upstream from Brookport Lock & Dam 52.
- Docking is allowed on the river and shore sides of the dock.
- Mooring is available to transient boaters and their guests. The dock is not for commercial or charter purposes.
- Daytime temporary moorage is allowed at no charge between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. based on availability.
- Dock does not provide a security gate.
- The dock does NOT have showers, laundry, or restroom facilities on site. There is a public restroom facility downtown at the corner of Jefferson and Water Streets, but it doesn’t have showers.
- Fishing and swimming are not allowed from the dock.
- Smoking is prohibited on the dock and within the marked fueling area.
- Pets in dock area must be controlled on a leash.
- Bicycles, skates, skateboards, scooters, mopeds, and other motorized vehicles shall not be used on the dock. Motorized wheelchairs are allowed.
- Camping is not allowed in the adjacent park area.
- Full List of Paducah Transient Dock Rules & Regulations for the cancellation and no-show policies.
- Reservations
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- Overnight reservations can be requested online using Dockwa. (No discounts). The price is per foot of boat ($1.25 per foot) in addition to the cost for electrical needs. Reservations by credit card only through Dockwa (no cash transactions).
- View Paducah's Docking Profile on Marinas.com
- Call 270-538-9849 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. seven days a week for reservation information.
- Reservation check-in is 3 p.m. Check-out is 11 a.m.
- Nine (9) electrical/water mooring pedestals are available (cost is per day): 30 AMP-120v - $5.00; Dual 30 AMP-120v - $10.00; 50 AMP-240v - $10.00; Dual 50 AMP–240v - $20.00.
- There is no charge for water.
- Boaters are permitted to stay a maximum of 14 consecutive days and then must vacate the facility for a 48 hour minimum.
- Visit the Paducah Transient Dock Rules & Regulations for the cancellation and no-show policies.
- Fuel
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- Call 270-538-9849 between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. seven days a week to request a fueling attendant and to find out about fuel prices. (No discounts)
- Fuel by credit card only (no cash transactions).
- Fueling facility (located on shore side of dock) has Valvetech products, diesel and 90 octane non-ethanol unleaded gasoline.
- Free pump out with purchase of twenty-five (25) gallons of fuel or more.
- Water and sewer operations are seasonally based.
Enjoy Paducah
The dock is in a perfect location to enjoy Paducah's historic downtown and LowerTown neighborhood, a nationally-known neighborhood that is full of art galleries and beautifully renovated historic homes. Within one to two blocks of the dock are the seasonal Farmers' Market, the National Quilt Museum of the United States, the Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront, and Paducah's Convention Centers. With just a four block walk, you will encounter the heart of downtown Paducah with numerous shops, restaurants, galleries, museums, and the Dafford Floodwall Murals.
- Visit the Things to Do page to learn more. Plus, if you need a map or help planning your perfect stay, the staff at the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau located at 128 Broadway are eager to help.
- Read the blog posted on Dockwa titled Why Great Loop Cruisers Love Paducah's Transient Boat Dock.
- Read the 2018 article in Waterway Explorer Magazine titled Paducah Offers New Stop on the Great Loop.
Boaters' Choice Awards
Paducah’s Transient Boat Dock is a recipient of the 2025 Boaters’ Choice Award through Marinas.com. This is the ninth consecutive year for Paducah to receive the award which honors marinas and docks that consistently provide an excellent home for the boating community and received the most praise throughout the year from boaters. The Boaters’ Choice Award is based on reviews by boaters. To be recognized, each facility had to receive at least three reviews averaging a rating of four or more stars out of five stars.
Below are a few of the five-star reviews posted by boaters who enjoyed Paducah’s amenities in 2025.
- Encountered very friendly people working on the dock and in town. Very clean nice docking area.
- We loved this place. After three nights of long travel and anchorages, it was great to tie up to a quiet rock and have access to electricity and water (pump out was inop). The dock is in excellent shape and all power pedestals had both 50 and 30-amp hookups. No bathrooms or showers. Minimal wakes. The dock is a 5 min walk into the very cute town with a wide selection of excellent restaurants, shops and bars. We would have stayed an extra night but needed to keep moving.
- Excellent docks and close to town.
- Great facility. Easy walk to downtown features. Beautiful town. Grocery and package stores require motorized transport.
- Relatively new, well maintained floating docks. Adjacent to large waterfront park and revitalized restaurant / business district. Reasonably priced.
- Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Paducah transient dock. The Dock Attendant and staff at the Parks department were terrific and the town was very welcoming.
- Excellent Docks. New, with easy access to power and water. Good deep water even when Ohio is lower. Very close to a historical part of Paducah with good restaurants and shops. Very good place to stop for a few days.
In 2025, Paducah's Dock had 388 reservations with boaters spending a total of 569 nights.
