If you are looking for state parks in Dallas, or even state parks near Dallas, then you are in the right place!
The great state of Texas is home to 80 state parks! Each of these state parks has its own unique geography filled with flora, fauna, and wildlife native to the Lone Star State.
Texas state parks offer visitor the opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors.
Whether you are visiting these state parks near Dallas as a weekend getaway or part of adding it to your Texas road trip itinerary, these parks near Dallas won’t disappoint.
These north Texas state parks are great for hiking, camping, swimming, stargazing, fishing, and more.
Each of these state parks offer a fun and unique experience and you can ensure that all are well maintained thanks to the Texas state parks services.
State parks are great to visit any time of year, and many make great Dallas date ideas.
The spring brings the beautiful Texas wildflowers while the winter months could find the parks covered in snow.
No matter when you choose to visit, the state parks in Dallas are always ready to welcome you to the great outdoors! These are truly some of the best places to visit in Texas!
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Entrance To State Parks In Dallas
Texas state parks do charge an admission fee. This fee varies depending on the park that you are visiting.
If you love the state parks of Texas and plan on visiting several, then you should consider purchasing an annual park pass from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
An annual pass give you unlimited access to 89 state parks throughout the year. At the time of publication, a pass costs $70.
State Parks Near Dallas Within a 2 Hour Drive
Cedar Hill State Park- 30 min
Head about half an hour south of Dallas as you will find the closest of the state parks in Dallas to the city.
Cedar Hill State Park sits on the edge of Joe Pool Lake, one of the lakes in Dallas that we love!
This is one of the Dallas State Parks that offer visitors so many different activities to enjoy!
Offering 350 campsites and nearly 600 acres of land to explore, it is easy to find your own little spot in paradise when visiting Cedar Hill State Park.
One of the top things to do at Cedar Hill State Park is to enjoy the direct access to Joe Pool Lake. This offers visitors the perfect opportunity to enjoy fishing, boating, and, of course, swimming at the swimming beach, one of the Dallas beaches!
There are also numerous hiking and biking trails to explore at Cedar Hill State Park.
You can also take a self-guided tour of Penn Farm Agricultural Center during your time at Cedar Hill Park.
Cedar Hill State Park should definitely be on your list of parks to visit!
Entry fees are $7 per adult for a day pass and $5 for overnight. Children 12 and under are free.
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Cleburne State Park- 1 hour
Cleburne State Park is located about an hour from downtown Dallas, making it an easy day trip out of the city.
This Texas state park is fabulous to visit during the springtime as the park is often covered in beautiful Texas bluebonnets.
Of course, a visit to Cleburne State Park is great any time of year.
You can enjoy hiking, fishing, or bird watching at this state park.
A unique offering at Cleburne State Park is the 6-mile mountain biking loop!
Lake Ray Roberts State Park- 1 hour
Head about an hour north of downtown Dallas to find Lake Ray Roberts State Park.
Ray Roberts Lake popular weekend escape allows visitors to enjoy time fishing, hiking, and horseback riding.
One of the best things to do at Lake Ray Roberts is to enjoy the great swimming area that is offered here. Honestly, this feel more like a day at one of the great beaches in Texas rather than stuck in North Texas.
Ray Roberts Lake is also one of the parks near Dallas that is great for spotting wildlife. The abundant wildlife here is thanks to the diverse ecosystems and terrain that are found in the area.
Be on the lookout for bald eagles in the winter months, and roadrunners and armadillos during the summer months when visiting Ray Roberts Lake!
The park charges $7 per adult for a day pass. Children 12 and under are free.
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Purtis Creek State Park- 1 hour
Angles love visiting Purtis Creek State Park as this state park is huge on catch-and-release fishing.
The fact that you don’t need a fishing license to fish here is a nice draw as are the facilities available for cleaning the fish you choose to keep.
Located about an hour from Dallas, you can easily visit this state park for a quick and easy getaway from the city.
Entrance to this park costs $5 per adult for a day pass. Children 12 and under are free.
Eisenhower State Park- 1 hour
Another of the state parks near Dallas, Eisenhower State Park is located about an hour north of downtown Dallas near the Oklahoma border.
This state park offers families a fun day outdoors. Bring your own fishing equipment or rent some from the park to enjoy a day of fishing.
Fishing isn’t the only recreational activity offered here though, Eisenhower State Park is home to miles of trails for you to explore as well.
The unique feature of this park is the backcountry land where you can drive dirt bikes or ATV vehicles. Now, that’s some true outdoor fun!
The park rangers here also host several fun events throughout the year. These outdoor activities keep people returning again and again.
The park entrance fee is $5 per adult, with children 12 and under get free entrance.
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Lake Tawakoni State Park- 1 hour
You can definitely get your nature fix when you visit Lake Tawakoni State Park. Animals spotter here include foxes, bobcats, and cougars.
Of course, fishing is popular here also. So popular that it has been dubbed a “fisherman’s paradise.”
Anglers have been known to catch largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, catfish, and more. So, grab your tackle boxes and head to this park for some fun outdoor adventure.
And remember, you don’t need a fishing license when fishing from the land or a fishing pier on state park property.
In addition to the fishing and wildlife spotting, Lake Tawakoni State Park also offers mountain biking trails, geocaching, and more than 376 acres of land to explore.
You can enjoy a primitive campsite or campsites with amenities here if you want to include an overnight stay during your visit.
The natural beauty of the lake allows you to enjoy some time on the water or the more than four miles of shoreline.
Driving distance to this state park is about an hour from downtown Dallas, Texas.
Fees are $5 per adult. Children 12 and under are free.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park- 1 hour
Another of the state parks near Dallas, Lake Mineral Wells State Park is the ultimate park near Dallas for adventure seekers.
People flock to Lake Mineral Wells to try their hand at rock climbing! Boasting one of the only natural rock climbing sites in the area, this is an outdoor paradise.
Even the trails here are a geared toward a little more active crowd as these trails range in difficulty and have a diverse terrain.
Located about 45 minutes west of Fort Worth, Lake Mineral Wells State Park also has a 640-acre lake with boat ramp access.
It is important to note that this lake does not allow skiing, tubing, or jet skis though.
If you want to turn this into a weekend trip near Dallas, then consider staying at one of their campsites or equestrian campsites.
The cost to visit is $7 per adult for a day pass. Children 12 and under are free.
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Cooper Lake State Park- 1.5 hours
Cooper Lake State Park is located about 1.5 hours from Dallas and offers a great getaway from the city.
The creeks that run alongside of Cooper Lake offer great opportunities for fishing, hiking, biking, and more.
Other popular activities here include riding the equestrian trails and geocaching.
Entrance fees are $5 per adult for a day pass. Children 12 and under get in free.
Dinosaur Valley State Park – 1.5 hours
Driving distance from Downtown Dallas. Texas to Dinosaur Valley State Park is 80 miles, or about 1.5 hours.
Dinosaur Valley State Park is one of the most unique, and best state parks near Dallas thanks to the dinosaur tracks that have been frozen in time here!
People flock to Dinosaur Valley State Park to see first hand the dinosaur tracks that are fossilized in the Paluxy River.
In addition to the tracks, the Paluxy River offers visitors a way to escape the Texas heat as you can swim or kayak in the river.
During times of heavy rain, be sure to take the trailhead marked Wildcat Hollow Waterfall to one of the nice waterfalls in Texas.
Of all the state parks, this North Texas park is probably the best one for horseback riding. There are equestrian campsites and miles of trails to explore horseback.
If you don’t have your own horse, don’t worry, there is a private equestrian company on site that will gladly take you on a guided horseback ride.
Entrance is $7 per adult. Children 12 and under are free.
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Fort Richardson State Park- 1.5 hours
Fort Richardson State Park is a great state park to visit if you are a history lover thanks to the historic buildings that are on site.
Here you can visit the historic building of Fort Richardson, a Civil-war era fort, build in 1867. The buildings on the property include a hospital, an officer’s quarters, a guard house, and bakery.
Located within driving distance from both Dallas and Fort Worth, this state park not only has a rich history, but it also offers numerous outdoor activities to enjoy.
There are miles of hike, bike, and equestrian trails along with areas to enjoy swimming and fishing.
If you want to spend the night here, you can stay in the cabins or campsites that are on site.
There is a $4 per person entry fee for adults, but children 12 and under get in free.
Tyler State Park – 1.5 hours
Tyler State Park is a great state park located near Dallas.
Offering a 64-acre lake surrounded by gorgeous pine trees, Tyler State Park is a fabulous state park to visit.
Lake Tyler offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a day on the water. Here, you can enjoy a day of fishing or just lounging in the sun.
If you don’t have a boat, don’t worry. You can rent a boat on site!
In addition, there is a great picnic area, screened shelters, cabins, and campsites to enjoy.
Of course, you can also explore the 13 miles of trails the are intertwined throughout the property.
The entrance fee is $6 per adult. Children 12 and under are free.
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Lake Texoma State Park
Head north of Dallas toward Oklahoma, and you will find Lake Texoma bordering the two states.
As the second largest lake in the state, Lake Texoma offers plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy a day out on the water.
Lake recreational activities are popular here. You will see people skiing, swimming, wakeboarding, and just boat riding.
Of course, like most Texas lakes, fishing is also popular here, especially fishing for striped bass.
No matter what you choose to do, a day out at Texoma is a great day for sure!
Dallas State Parks Within a 2-3 Hour Drive
Possum Kingdom State Park- 2 hours 15 min
Located about 2 hours west of Dallas-Fort Worth, Possum Kingdom State Park is a great place to visit for a day outdoors.
The biggest draw to Possum Kingdom is the lake! Beautiful Possum Kingdom lake is the perfect lake to try your hand at some water sports.
People flock to Possum Kingdom to wakeboard, ski, jet ski, and fish. If you don’t own your own water toys, don’t worry as all of these are available to rent!
In addition to primitive campsites, there are some great lakeside cabins (complete with air conditioning) at this state park.
Possum Kingdom is also a popular location for people to scuba dive and snorkel thanks to the clear water found here.
Be on the lookout for wildlife in the area during your visit as well. There are deer all over in this area!
Possum Kingdom State Park charges $4 per adult for day passes, and children 12 and under get to visit for free.
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Caddo Lake State Park- 2.5 hours
A visit to Caddo Lake State Park makes you feel like you have been transported far from Texas.
The area is covered with bald cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss that looks as if you are in the bayou of Louisiana, not Texas.
Located about 2.5 hours east of Dallas-Fort Worth, Caddo Lake is the perfect place to spend a weekend out in nature.
Popular activities here include fishing, kayaking, and hiking. Do take note that there are designated swimming areas here as alligators are known to be in this lake.
If you want to take a tour of the lake (and possibly see an alligator or two), then be sure to book one of the tours offered of the lake.
Facilities at Caddo Lake include historic cabins, screened shelters, campsites, and a group hall that is available for rent.
After you have had your fill of exploring the lake, be sure to hike the forest land that surrounds the lake.
Admission is $4 per adult. Children 12 and under are free.
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About The Author
Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures. Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through her informative writing style on her blogs, That Texas Couple and Totally Texas Travel. Her practical tips and suggestions help make travel dreams a reality while immersing her readers in the history, culture, and food of a region. She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.
Alex
Saturday 4th of June 2022
Texas is such a beautiful state! You showcase it so well. Thank you for sharing these state parks!