Texas State Parks for Families

1. Abilene State Park

Abilene State Park is a 529.4-acre park near Lake Abilene in Taylor County that features a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including a swimming pool, picnic shelters, camping with trailer facilities, and many hiking and mountain biking trails. Located southwest of Abilene, Abilene State Park is set within a low range of hills called the Callahan Divide and boasts wooded stream valleys, short prairie grass, brushland, and wildflowers. The region is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, armadillos, raccoons, and foxes as well as a large variety of birds, which make for excellent birdwatching, wildlife observation, and photographic opportunities.

Abilene State Park, 150 Park Rd 32, Tuscola, TX 79562, Phone: 800-792-1112

2. Acton State Park

Acton State Park is a state park in Hood County dedicated to the burial site of Elizabeth Crockett, second wife of Davy Crockett. The park, also known as the Acton State Historic Site, is situated six miles east of Granbury and contains the grave of Elizabeth Crockett as well as those of her son Robert and Robert's wife, Matilda. The park features a monument over the burial place that was erected in 1913 and is known as Texas’ smallest state park or historic site, measuring only 12 feet wide by 21 feet long, or 0.006 acres.

Acton State Park, Granbury, TX 76049, Phone: 512-463-7948

3. Balmorhea State Park

Balmorhea State Park is a 46-acre state park located around the San Solomon Springs in Reeves County. Established in 1968, the park is open year round and features a 1.75-acre, 3.5-million-gallon freshwater pool constructed around some natural hot springs, which constantly flow and have a temperature of between 72°F to 76°F. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1936 and 1941, the pool is 30 feet deep and attracts people who come to enjoy swimming and scuba diving in the warm waters. The park is also home to San Solomon Springs Courts, which offers overnight accommodation and camping.

Balmorhea State Park, 9207 TX-17, Toyahvale, TX 79786, Phone: 432-375-2370

4. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park

Located south of the city of Mission in Hidalgo County, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is a 764-acre park and the current headquarters of the World Birding Center. Established in 1944 by Senator Lloyd Bentsen and his family, who donated 586 acres of land to the State Parks Board as a natural habitat, the park has grown to encompass 764 acres and is a prime area for birdwatching and butterfly watching. The park is home to over 325 species of birds and more than 250 species of butterflies, and the National Butterfly Center is located next to the park.

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, 2800 S Bentsen Palm Dr, Mission, TX 78572, Phone: 956-584-9156

5. Big Spring State Park

Big Spring State Park is located in Big Spring, Howard County, and is named for the natural spring that was once situated on the site. Today, the natural spring has been replaced by an artificial one, however, the 381.99-acre park still attracts crowds of visitors who come to enjoy other recreational activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, wildlife observation, and stargazing. A lighted group pavilion is available for special events for up to 50 people, and a seasonal interpretative center displays a selection of Native American artifacts and fossils found in the area.

Big Spring State Park, 1 State Park Rd 8, Big Spring, TX 79720, Phone: 432-263-4931

6. Davis Mountains State Park

Set high in the Davis Mountains in Jeff Davis County, Davis Mountains State Park is a 2,709-acre state park with an elevation of between 5,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level. The park is situated next to the Fort Davis National Historic Site and is connected by a 4-mile network of hiking and mountain biking trails. The park features an adobe motel known as the Indian Lodge, which was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s and offers comfortable overnight accommodations. Other activities in Davis Mountains State Park include excellent birdwatching, wildlife observation, and horseback riding, with several equestrian trails in the Limpia Canyon Primitive Area.

Davis Mountains State Park, TX-118, Fort Davis, TX 79734, Phone: 432-426-3337

7. Eisenhower State Park

Eisenhower State Park is a 423.1-acre state park on the shores of Lake Texoma in Grayson County. Located northwest of Denison, Eisenhower State Park was opened in 1958 and is named after the 34th U.S. president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was born in the nearby town of Denison.

The park offers a wealth of recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, boating, waterskiing, picnicking, and camping. Several nature programs are offered throughout the year, and there are excellent birdwatching and wildlife observation around the lake. Public facilities in the Eisenhower State Park include picnic sites, campsites, children’s playgrounds, a recreation hall, an amphitheater and open-air pavilion for special events, a boat dock and lighted fishing pier, a 10-acre ATV/mini bike area, and more than 4 miles of hiking and biking trails. The park is also home to the private Eisenhower Yacht Club.

50 Park Rd 20, Denison, TX 75020, Phone: 903-465-1956

8. Fort Parker State Park

Fort Parker State Park is a Texas state park near Mexia and close to the Limestone County seat in Groesbeck. Established in 1935 when three local landowners donated the land to the city of Mexia, the park features a 423-foot dam across the Navasota River that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps Company, who also made the park’s roads, recreational facilities, and current concession building. Fort Parker State Park boasts three popular hiking and biking trails – the 1.5-mile Springfield trail, the 5-mile Navasota River Trail, and the 2.5-mile Baines Creek Trail. The Bur Oak Trail is a 5-mile loop nature trail with an interpretive guide pamphlet available, and the Fort Parker Nature Center is open every weekend and displays information about the wildlife in the park.

Fort Parker State Park, 194 Park Rd, Mexia, TX, Phone: 254-562-5751

9. Kerrville-Schreiner Park

Situated on the Guadalupe River, 5 miles southeast of downtown Kerrville in Kerr County, Kerrville-Schreiner Park is a 517.2-acre developed recreational area that is home to an abundance of birds, butterflies, and wildlife. Once a state park that was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, the park was handed over to the City of Kerrville in 2004 and became a recreational area. The park features typical Hill Country landscapes, with acres of juniper, live oak, and Spanish oak populating the hills and arroyos, as well as several varieties of wildflowers. The Texas bluebonnet is one of the most plentiful and colorful of the native plants.

Kerrville-Schreiner Park, 2385 Bandera Hwy, Kerrville, TX 78028, Phone: 830-257-5392

10. Lake Brownwood State Park

Set on the shores of Lake Brownwood in Brown County, Lake Brownwood State Park is a state park administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is home to a diverse array of birds and wildlife. The 537.5-acre tract was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s and opened to the public in 1938, with the dam being used to control flooding along the Pecan Bayou. During the Second World War, the park was used as a recreational site for soldiers based at Camp Bowie, and today, the park features a recreation hall, picnic areas with tables and benches, fire pits, culverts, and cabins for overnight stays.

Lake Brownwood State Park, 200 State Hwy Park Rd 15, Brownwood, TX 76801, Phone: 325-784-5223