What Is the Most Popular State Park in Texas?
Ray Roberts Lake State Park, north of Dallas and Fort Worth, was the most visited Texas state park in 2025, with 863,184 visitors. That’s according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) visitation data, as reported by KXAN. Visits there rose 25.5% from 2024.
For years before that, the answer was Garner State Park on the Frio River. Garner topped the 2023 and 2024 rankings and still came second in 2025, with 455,606 visitors.
The 10 most visited Texas state parks in 2025
Texas state parks had more than 9.2 million visitors in 2025, up 0.5% from 2024. These parks drew the most of them:
| Rank | Park | 2025 visitors | Change from 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray Roberts Lake State Park | 863,184 | +25.5% |
| 2 | Garner State Park | 455,606 | −6.5% |
| 3 | Cedar Hill State Park | Not reported | |
| 4 | Palo Duro Canyon State Park | 373,945 | +1.5% |
| 5 | Enchanted Rock State Natural Area | 306,302 | −3.8% |
| 6 | McKinney Falls State Park | 283,523 | −9.3% |
| 9 | Brazos Bend State Park | 227,417 | +10.8% |
Galveston Island State Park had 234,810 visitors in 2025, up 19.1%. Inks Lake and Dinosaur Valley also appear in the 2025 top 10. Figures for the remaining spots weren’t published in the reports we could check.
Why Ray Roberts Lake comes out on top
Ray Roberts Lake isn’t one compact park. It’s counted as one park but spread around a 29,000-acre lake, about an hour north of Dallas and Fort Worth. The Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch units have the beaches, campgrounds and trails. The Greenbelt Corridor, a 20-mile multiuse trail, runs south along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River to Lake Lewisville.
It’s also close to a lot of people. Fort Worth is about 67 minutes away by car and Dallas about 78. People come to swim at the beaches (there are no lifeguards), fish for bass, crappie and catfish, and ride horses or bikes on the trails. Its busy season runs from March through November.
Why Garner is still the one people mean
If you ask Texans which state park is the most popular, many will say Garner, and it was number one before 2025. Garner is much smaller, at 1,774 acres, and about two hours west of San Antonio, so its crowds are concentrated in one place.
Most summer visitors come for the Frio River: 2.9 miles of it run through the park, and people swim and float it on inner tubes. There are also 16 miles of trails, including the steep climb up Old Baldy. Summer evening dances to jukebox music are a Garner tradition. The busy season runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
Other ways to measure “most popular”
Total visitors is only one measure. TPWD’s seasonal numbers tell a slightly different story. KXAN’s spring countdown, based on five years of TPWD data, also puts Ray Roberts Lake first in spring.
The parks near big cities rack up visits because people go often. Cedar Hill is about half an hour from downtown Dallas, and McKinney Falls is inside Austin’s city limits. Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the country, made the top five despite being about half an hour from Amarillo, far from the biggest metro areas.
How to visit the busiest parks
Popular parks fill up. TPWD says Ray Roberts Lake, Garner, Cedar Hill, Palo Duro Canyon, Brazos Bend and Galveston Island often reach capacity, and recommends a day pass for Enchanted Rock.
- Reserve a day pass. Book online at Texas State Parks reservations before you drive out, especially on weekends and holidays. Without one, you can be turned away at the gate when a park is full.
- Go on a weekday or off-season. Garner’s busy season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, so spring and fall weekdays are quieter.
- Look at nearby parks. Every park page on this site lists the closest other parks, which are often quieter.
Entry fees at these parks run from $5 to $8 per adult per day. Check the official TPWD page for each park before you go, since fees, hours and rules change.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most visited state park in Texas?
Ray Roberts Lake State Park, with 863,184 visitors in 2025. Garner State Park was second with 455,606.
What was the most visited Texas state park before 2025?
Garner State Park. It led the rankings in 2023 and 2024.
How many people visit Texas state parks each year?
More than 9.2 million people visited Texas state parks in 2025.
Do I need a reservation for popular Texas state parks?
Not always, but it’s a good idea. Busy parks often reach capacity, and a day pass reserved ahead is the surest way to get in.
Fees, hours and rules change. Check the park's official TPWD page before you go.