Reviews: Peoria City Dock

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Paula Adams, Wicked Good, on Sep 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 3

What to expect - the docks look like they've not been maintained by the city in quite some time. They're abandoned and are heavily used by birds and there's poop everywhere. However, you can still use them. We are a 48' trawler with 5.5' draft. There was one spot on the southern set of docks that could fit us and we took it. We were the only boat there. Plenty of water. Know there are NO amenities here - no bathrooms, trash removal, security, power, or water. What you do get is access to some great museums, restaurants and bars all within a few blocks. Lots of folks walking along the river and the public can access the docks. Two other boats joined us and we all spent 2-3 nights without any issue and for FREE. Favorite places are the Caterpillar Museum right across the street; the River Museum and Planetarium right across the street; Ardor's Restaurant for the most amazing breakfast and pastries ever; the Rhythm Cafe for jazz and dinner. Lots of fun things to do right there! I would go back.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: William Denison on Feb 3, 2024
LOA: 42'

Rating: 1

Docks are run down and most power pedestals do not work and are a safety hazard being loose or broken. Seems like city has not invested any funds in the facility recently. No cleats on face dock at north end of docks which makes it impossible to tie up a boat.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: God’s Grace on Feb 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Wooden floating dock. One large area for 55ft. Three slips for 35 ft. And many slips for smaller boats . Free power. Not all power pedestals work so check with voltage meter before all tied and secured. Nice location downtown in a riverfront park where the Catapiller Museum is. No security problems. Nice friendly locals , joggers and families out for a stroll. Saturday farmers market is right there. Walmart can be seen across the river. The marina is separated from boardwalk by a high wall and accessed thru a gate, not locked .Live music from bar on Friday and Saturday nights. We stayed 3 nights for free. Great stop!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac Rubel, Contributing Editor on Feb 3, 2024
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

Peoria City Dock is listed as a marina and there is even a dockmaster who answers the phone and gives you information but does not take reservations. It is also a free dock as there is no charge for the use of the municipal facilities and is first come, first served. Listing it as a marina is appropriate because there is much more here than you would expect for a free dock even though the marina is lacking in many amenities.

Peoria City Dock sits in the middle of downtown Peoria. The dock is floating and in good shape with a one hundred foot long side tie for larger vessels, six thirty foot finger piers and over twenty piers to accommodate twenty foot boats. You cannot tie up on the outer edge of the dock so space for larger vessels is very limited. A forty foot boat can (and did) fit crosswise in the well between two thirty foot fingers but maneuvering in the fairway designed for smaller boats is really tight. Power is available. There are a few pylons with 30 amp service but the majority of the outlets in the marina are household 15 amp. There is no water or bathrooms. Although the marina is just off the channel and in Peoria Lake the marina was quite calm. With strong winds from the north or south it might be different.

There is no security at the marina. You descend ten feet to the dock so you are separated from the public but people are just above you. When we were there (Friday Night) discussions continued into the evening and were sometimes loud. There is music Friday and Saturday Nights and a good farmers market on Saturday morning right above the dock. Several good restaurants, the Museum of the River and the Caterpillar Visitors Center are nearby.

If you want to get off the boat in town this is the place to be if you can get an appropriate space. The problem is that the city dock is five miles further that the closest marina that accommodates through boats (IVY) and there is no other marinas downriver. If you gamble on the City Dock and lose your option is to anchor in 10 feet of water on the other side of the river just south of the Murry Baker (I-74) Bridge with pretty good protection and access to town by using your dinghy and landing at the City Dock.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Tom Wille on Feb 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 41'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 2

This "marina" has real potential. However, and for whatever reason, it is not well kept. A hosing of the docks would go a long way. It is downtown, with lots of things to see and do. It is missing cleats on the long docks on the north end, has broken cleats on the south end. Limited room for larger boats and only a couple of 30 amp pedestals, the rest are 110. Has no staff and directions to help those who don't know the program. It turns out to be a nice stop, as long as you don't mind figuring out.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Rob Dare, Liberty Call , on Feb 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Floating docks in downtown Peoria. 100 foot face dock to support larger boats. Lots of slips that are 25 and 30 foot long. 100 foot face dock only has 2 30 amp outlets. Everything else is 110V. There are public bathrooms that are open during the day. Great farmers market on Saturday. Lots of parks and paths to walk a dog.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Timothy Lee Smith, Paragon, on Feb 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 4

Great little spot for FREE! So, can't ask for much. There are not a lot of spots that a 6' draft can fit into in the area. I even hit bottom twice in Peoria Lake (inside the markers). I saw 7' going into the Free Dock. Plenty of restaurants within walking distance and nice park for the dog as well. It is open to anyone so use good judgement with valuables. Electric pedestals worked as well.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Peoria gage 12.3 feet.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Mark Felling on Feb 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 75'
Draft: 4.3'

Rating: 5

We backed in on the inside wall, while some power poles didn't work it's phenomenal that for a courtesy dock there are some that are working! Outside face dock will work for larger vessels just not sure if it's desired or allowed as the pilings are to the outside so be ready with Fender boards if planning message to dock on the outside. I don't see why not. October 23rd we were the only ones here. Thank you city of Peoria for providing such wonderful facilities to boaters free of charge. Might suggest a donation box for at will contributions as long as they go 100% towards maintenance of power poles and electricity.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer, Do It Now, on Feb 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 2

This comes across as a great city project that was, for some reason, abandoned. The marina is mostly slips for smaller boats -- 30 feet and shorter. There are power pedestals at each slip but few of them seem to work. We started in a spot with no power marked for 30 foot boats and had a long walk on a bird poop covered dock to get out. Longer boats must tie up on a dock along the wall or the wall itself. (If you tie up on the wall, you'd better have a very tall boat because you won't have access to the dock and will have to climb out over the walkway rail above.) We moved to one of the long dock spots when someone left and were able to get a 110v connection to power with our adapter. That area is cleaner but there's little privacy as people walking in the park up above like to stop and stare down at boaters.

The marina has a long list of rules -- including overnight stays -- that no one seems to pay attention to. We did not see any security at all, although there is a marine fire station at the entrance to the dock. We were there on a weekend and there was some smaller boat traffic for day trippers. There are a few very good restaurants within walking distance, as well as a bakery and a place with live music. Uber is spotty. There's a Walmart and other big shopping right across the river, but it's about a mile to walk or ride a bike over the bridge.

I'd give this place a 3-star review except for the fact that my BBQ grill was stolen right off my boat the last night there. Frankly, I'm amazed they took that since they could have taken 2 self-inflating life jackets worth far more. Another boater we were with reported that someone had boarded at night and snooped around in a deck cabinet but nothing was missing. My advice to anyone staying there is to secure all loose items you want to keep.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Melissa, Ruthie, on Feb 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 35'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

10/21/23 Extremely tight squeeze for a 35 sailboat but we did it! Depth read 12ft pulling in. We did not attempt to use power. We were not the smallest boat at the docks. Cute little artsy side of town. Free art museum at the top of the hill with a movie theater and gift shop.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Peoria City Dock

Reviewed by: Melissa, Ruthie, on Feb 3, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 35'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

10/21/23 Extremely tight squeeze for a 35 sailboat but we did it! Depth read 12ft pulling in. We did not attempt to use power. We were not the smallest boat at the docks. Cute little artsy side of town. Free art museum at the top of the hill with a movie theater and gift shop.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer