Boating and the Marina in Aquia Harbour
What is boating from Aquia Harbour like: the marina, the creek and the Potomac?
Aquia Harbour's marina has 136 rebuilt floating slips on Aquia Creek, a boat ramp and fuel, and it's about 4 miles by boat to the Potomac River, past Government Island and Widewater State Park. Residents can also store a kayak or canoe and launch from the platforms for free.
Sources: AHPOA, Marina (2026); AHPOA, New Members (2026).
How does the marina work: 136 slips, fees, and is there a waitlist?
The marina has 136 slips on floating docks rebuilt with 30/50-amp power and water, plus a boat ramp and fuel. Fees are in the marina's FY27 fee schedule, and the marina office (1415 Washington Drive, (540) 659-4232, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday) handles availability.
- Slips
- 136Floating docks, 30/50-amp power, water
- Ramp and fuel
- Listed 24/7
- Extras
- Free pump-out, showers, Wi-FiCamera-monitored docks
- Yacht club
- Residents; non-residents with a sponsor
Sources: AHPOA, Marina (2026).
Can residents launch a kayak or boat without a slip?
Yes. Residents can store a kayak or canoe at the marina or at 2027 Delaware Drive, and launching from the designated platforms is free.
- Kayak storage
- 90 spacesMarina and 2027 Delaware Dr
- Launching
- FreeFrom the platforms
Sources: AHPOA, Marina (2026); AHPOA, New Members (2026).
How far is it by boat to the Potomac, and what size boat works?
It's about 4 miles from the marina to the Potomac River, past Government Island and Widewater State Park. The POA says the channels are regularly dredged and marked, averaging about 5 feet deep at mean low tide, so draft matters more than length.
- To the Potomac
- ~4 milesPast Government Island and Widewater
- Channel depth
- ~5 ft at mean low tideDredged and marked
Sources: AHPOA, Marina (2026).
Is Aquia Creek brackish, and is it safe to swim?
There's no permanent advisory, but in August 2023 the Virginia Department of Health told people not to swim, wade or paddleboard in Aquia Creek from the Aquia Drive crossing to Government Island after a nearby sewer line broke; it was lifted five days later.
Whether the creek is brackish is still being checked against a state source.
- Aug 2023 advisory
- Aquia Drive crossing → Government IslandSewer force-main break; lifted 30 Aug 2023
Tides, depth and private docks at low tide
Aquia Creek's tides are small: NOAA's Aquia Creek station (8634858) shows an average daily range of about 1.2 feet this month. With channels averaging about 5 feet at low tide, a private dock's depth at low water is the thing to check before buying.
- Tide station
- NOAA 8634858Aquia Creek
- Daily range
- ~1.2 ftOctober 2026 average
Sources: NOAA station 8634858 via USHarbors, Oct 2026; AHPOA, Marina (2026).
What's the trade-off?
The marina is inside the gate and the creek is sheltered, but it's a 4-mile run to open water and the channel averages about 5 feet at low tide, so bigger, deeper boats have to watch the tide.
Sources: AHPOA, Marina (2026).