The best lakes in Texas: A guide to some of Texas’s top swimming spots.
Summer in Texas can mean staying indoors to avoid the unbearable heat, or jumping into one of the best nearby lakes for some splashy fun with the whole family. Choose one of the best lakes in the Lone Star State to visit with the family, and have fun!
While Texas is not known to have many beaches, it does have some beautiful lakes to enjoy!
The Best Lakes in the Lone Star State
Here are some of the best lakes in Texas for swimming, fishing, and kayaking. So, if you’re looking for a summer adventure or want to escape the heat, check out one of these lakes!
Best North Texas Lakes
Lake Lewisville
It is the perfect spot for fishing, swimming, and kayaking. Lake Lewisville is in Denton County, off I-35, and has over 26,000 acres of water!
Lake Ray Roberts
It is a popular fishing destination for largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. Swimmers and kayakers can also hike and bike around the Lake when they tire from the many water sports available. Some parks around the lake have picnic areas. Be sure to check out Ray Roberts State Park.
White Rock Lake
It is a Dallas lake and is a favorite spot for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and walking. The lake has a public area and many other spots to enjoy the lakeside view. The northeast part of the lake has a walking and biking trail that goes all the way around it!
Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma is the largest lake in Texas and borders the state with Oklahoma! It’s an excellent spot for fishing, swimming, and kayaking. The Lake has over 89,000 acres of water to explore and is known for its largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. The Lake also has many parks with picnic areas, playgrounds, and great places to stay for short weekends, all of which offer direct access to the Lake.
Joe Pool Lake
A reservoir located in Grand Prairie, close to Cedar Hill State Park. There are many facilities in the park to keep you busy and entertained, including a lakeside picnic area, a swimming area, campsites, boat ramps, and fishing piers.
Cedar Creek Lake
Cedar Creek Lake is located about 60 miles southeast of Dallas. It’s a huge weekend destination with Dallasites. Its eight marinas make a boat launch easy from any part of the Lake. I grew up on this lake on weekends. It was my family’s lake house for fifty years. Sad to see it go.
Lake Lavon
It’s a beautiful lake just north of Dallas in Collin County, with fishing, camping, parks, and hiking trails. Check out Collin Park Marina for all outdoor activities and boat launches in the water. If you don’t have a boat, no problem – boat rentals are available around the lake.
Some of the best lakes are within driving distance of Dallas / Fort Worth.
Top Lakes in the Texas Hill Country
Inks Lake State Park
This lake is great for a day trip or a weekend getaway. There are plenty of rentals around the area. Because the lake’s level usually stays constant, it doesn’t go up and down as most lakes do, so you can play here year-round as long as the weather cooperates. Camping, hiking, geocaching, volleyball, picnicking, and nature are what you will find here. Inks Lake is in Burnet, TX.
Lake Marble Falls
Hotels and restaurants line the shores of Lake Marble Falls, as does a park. It’s the perfect getaway for playing in the water. Golfers and boaters love this area because of the nice golf courses; people can bring their boats out on the water. The lake is also within walking distance of many boutiques, coffee shops, ice cream shops, and restaurants on Main Street. It’s one of my favorites.
Lake Buchanan
The reservoir is excellent for fishing, swimming, and kayaking north of Austin on the Colorado River. With over 32,000 acres of water and 154 miles of shoreline, there’s plenty of room for everyone to find their spot on the Lake.
Lakes in Central Texas
Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake, named after Lady Bird Johnson, is a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River in Austin. Public Lake Access and Launch Areas IH 35 and East Avenue. Watercraft rentals are available.
Lake Travis
The large reservoir is close to Austin, with 68,000 acres of water and over 700 miles of shoreline. It’s popular for fishing, swimming, boating, and watersports.
Also close to Austin, Bastrop State Park is home to two lakes: Lake Bastrop and Lake Mina. Both lakes are great for fishing, swimming, and kayaking.
Lake Austin
Lake Austin is located in the heart of the city and has over 18 miles of shoreline. It is an excellent choice for a day of water sports, fun, hiking, and biking.
East Texas Lakes
Lake Tyler At Tyler State Park
A natural swimming hole, a 64-acre spring-fed lake nestled among 100-foot-tall pine trees. By far, it is one of the best places to beat the heat. There are picnic areas, pavilions, playgrounds, 13-mile nature trails through pine and hardwood forests, and cabins and campsites to stay for a night or 2. What more could you ask for?
Lake Livingston
Lake Livingston is one of the largest lakes in Texas, located in the East Texas Piney Woods, 80 miles north of Houston and 175 miles southeast of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Caddo Lake State Park
Some of the most beautiful East Texas lakes are only miles from Dallas, including Caddo Lake. Caddo Lake, located in Caddo Lake State Park, is the only natural lake in Texas. There are many Cypress trees all around the lake
Cypress trees, alligators, scary movies, scary boat tours at night, lily pads, camping, and all sorts of fun here! There are plenty of lakes with cabins around them and in the area.
Lake Conroe
Lake Conroe is a large reservoir popular for fishing, swimming, boating, and watersports. The Margaritaville Lake Conroe Resort shares the water and is an excellent resort for couples and families.
South Texas Lakes
Lake Houston
Lake Houston is probably the largest and best-known lake in this region. It’s located on the San Jacinto River and is a great place to fish, swim, and boat, with plenty of other activities to keep you busy. Perfect for day trips from downtown Houston.
The largest Lake in Texas is Toledo Bend Reservoir.
It’s also Texas’s largest man-made lake. So there you go!
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