TX State ParksAn independent field guide

Fort Parker State Park

State park in Limestone County, in the Prairies and Lakes region. Established 1941. 1,517 acres by TPWD boundary data.

Fort Parker State Park in Limestone County, Texas, United States.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fort Parker State Park is on the Navasota River and 750-acre Fort Parker Lake, about 90 miles south of the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the dam, buildings and roads. You can swim, fish without a license from shore or a boat on the lake, and paddle the 5.3-mile Limestone Bluffs Paddling Trail with rented canoes or kayaks.

Things to do

Paddle

The Limestone Bluffs Paddling Trail covers both the lake and the Navasota River. Rentals are available, weather permitting.

Fish

Fish Fort Parker Lake, three-acre Lake Springfield or the Navasota for catfish, bass and crappie. You need a license only to fish from a boat on the river.

Springfield Trail

This 2-mile walk passes the Springfield Cemetery, the springs that feed the Navasota, the CCC dam and spring-fed Lake Springfield.

Trails

Trails listed by TPWD, with its own distances and ratings.

TrailDistanceDifficultyTime
Bur Oak Trail0.5 miEasy20 min.
Springfield Trail1.8 miEasy45 min.
Navasota River Trail1.9 miEasy45 min.
Navasota River Loop0.9 miEasy30 min.
Baines Creek Trail2.5 miModerate2 hrs.
Limestone Bluffs Paddling Trail10.8 miEasy6 hrs.

Source: TPWD trail list. TPWD doesn’t list trail surfaces. Printable trail map (PDF).

Camping

Campsites line the lake, most near restrooms with showers. There are also screened shelters and cabins; cabins have air conditioning but no beds or bathrooms. Pets aren't allowed in the shelter or cabin areas.

Site typeSitesSleepsPer night
Campsites with ElectricityWater and electric248$20
Campsite with Electricity (Tent Only)Water and electric18$20
Campsites with Water (Tents Only)Tent sites with water108$12
Group Camp (Scout Camping Wilderness)Group50$50
Screened SheltersScreened shelters88$30
CabinsCabins28$45

Nightly rates are on top of the daily entrance fee. Book a site with Texas State Parks reservations, or call (512) 389-8900.

Visiting with dogs

Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Like every Texas state park, they can't go into park buildings or designated swimming areas.

Review our rules for pets.

Pets are not allowed in the screened shelter or cabin areas.

Pets are not allowed in the barracks complex or recreation hall.

Park rules as stated by TPWD

Swimming

Swimming is allowed in designated areas. There are no lifeguards at Texas state parks.

Best time to go

Busy season
Weekends in spring, early summer and fall
January low
34°F
July high
95°F
Night sky
Bortle 4.5

TPWD lists weekends in spring, early summer and fall as the busy times. May and September are the wettest months.

Averages and busy season from TPWD. The Bortle scale runs from 1 (darkest sky) to 9 (inner city).

Getting there

194 Park Road 28
Mexia, TX 76667
(254) 562-5751

Open in OpenStreetMap (31.5923, -96.5267)

From the nearest cities in this guide
FromApprox. driveStraight line
Waco1 hr 11 min39 mi
Dallas1 hr 47 min84 mi
Tyler2 hr 12 min87 mi
Fort Worth2 hr 13 min95 mi
The Woodlands2 hr 43 min115 mi
Austin2 hr 45 min115 mi
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Nearby parks

  1. Fort Boggy State Park43 miles away. $3 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  2. Lake Whitney State Park54 miles away. $5 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  3. Mother Neff State Park58 miles away. $2 per adult, kids 12 and under free.
  4. Purtis Creek State Park61 miles away. $5 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  5. Meridian State Park72 miles away. $5 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.

Straight-line distance. See every park in the Prairies and Lakes.

Questions people ask

Do the cabins at Fort Parker have beds?

No. They have air conditioning but no beds or bathrooms.

Can you rent kayaks at Fort Parker State Park?

Yes, weather permitting.

Photo credits

Sources

Last checked October 14, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change; the official TPWD page for Fort Parker has current alerts and closures.

  1. TPWD: Fort Parker State Park, retrieved October 14, 2026
  2. TPWD state parks map (amenities, contact), retrieved October 14, 2026
  3. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Public Areas, retrieved October 14, 2026
  4. TPWD: Bortle ratings by region, retrieved October 14, 2026
  5. TPWD: Fort Parker State Park campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
  6. TPWD: Fort Parker State Park screened shelters, retrieved October 14, 2026
  7. TPWD: Fort Parker State Park cabins and lodging, retrieved October 14, 2026
  8. TPWD: Fort Parker State Park trails, retrieved October 14, 2026
  9. TPWD: Fort Parker State Park history, retrieved October 14, 2026
  10. TPWD: state park rules (pets, swimming), retrieved October 14, 2026
  11. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Boundaries (area computed from boundary), retrieved October 14, 2026
  12. Wikipedia: List of Texas state parks, retrieved October 14, 2026
  13. OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (approximate drive times), retrieved October 14, 2026
  14. Wikimedia Commons (photos), retrieved October 14, 2026