TX State ParksAn independent field guide

Tyler State Park

State park in Smith County, in the Pineywoods region. Established 1939. 997 acres by TPWD boundary data.

A pine forest in Tyler State Park in Smith County in the Piney Woods region of East Texas, United States.
Photo: Danny S., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tyler State Park is a pine-forest park with a 64-acre spring-fed lake and a sandy swimming beach, about 25 minutes from downtown Tyler. You can rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats and johnboats at the park store, fish from the pier, and hike or ride more than 13 miles of trails, including a nature trail the Civilian Conservation Corps laid out more than 85 years ago.

Things to do

Swim and paddle the lake

Swim from the sandy beach area (no lifeguards). The park store rents canoes, paddleboats, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and johnboats daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays the rest of the year.

Fish

Fish for crappie, perch, catfish or bass from the pier or a boat. Motors are allowed at 5 mph. The park loans rods, reels and tackle.

Whispering Pines Nature Trail

The Civilian Conservation Corps laid out this trail more than 85 years ago. It is one of more than 13 miles of trails through the pines.

The new park headquarters in Tyler State Park in Smith County, Texas, United States. The building opened on October 18, 2024.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
A paddleboat on Tyler State Park Lake in Smith County, Texas, United States.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
A forest in Tyler State Park in Smith County, Texas, United States.
Photo: Danny S., CC BY-SA 3.0

Camping

Campsites range from water-only to full hookup (the Lakeview and Big Pine loops), plus 29 screened shelters and six cabins.

Site typeSitesSleepsPer night
Full Hookup Campsites (Lakeview)Full hookup188$32
Full Hookup Campsites (Big Pine)Full hookup398$28
Campsites with Electricity (Cedar Point)Water and electric128$24
Campsites with WaterTent sites with water308$18
Double Campsites (Cedar Point)Tent sites with water2$48
Screened SheltersScreened shelters298$32
CabinsCabins64$60

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.

Swimming

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

Best time to go

Busy season
March to Thanksgiving
January low
32°F
July high
97°F
Night sky
Bortle 4.5

TPWD lists March to Thanksgiving as the busy season and says the park often reaches capacity, so reserve ahead. The July average high is 97°F.

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

Getting there

789 Park Road 16
Tyler, TX 75706-9141
(903) 597-5338

Open in OpenStreetMap (32.4814, -95.2894)

From the nearest cities in this guide
FromApprox. driveStraight line
Tyler23 min11 mi
Dallas1 hr 42 min89 mi
Fort Worth2 hr 26 min122 mi
Waco2 hr 59 min128 mi
The Woodlands3 hr 50 min160 mi
Houston4 hr 19 min186 mi
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Nearby parks

  1. Lake Bob Sandlin State Park41 miles away. $5 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  2. Purtis Creek State Park42 miles away. $5 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  3. Martin Creek Lake State Park44 miles away. $4 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  4. Lake Tawakoni State Park48 miles away. $5 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  5. Daingerfield State Park51 miles away. $4 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.

Straight-line distance. See every park in the Pineywoods.

Questions people ask

Can you swim at Tyler State Park?

Yes, in the 64-acre spring-fed lake. There are no lifeguards.

Can you rent kayaks at Tyler State Park?

Yes. The park store rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, stand-up paddleboards and johnboats.

Does Tyler State Park have cabins?

Yes, six cabins, plus 29 screened shelters.

Photo credits

Sources

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

  1. TPWD: Tyler 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: Tyler State Park campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
  6. TPWD: Tyler State Park screened shelters, retrieved October 14, 2026
  7. TPWD: Tyler State Park cabins and lodging, retrieved October 14, 2026
  8. TPWD: Tyler State Park trails, retrieved October 14, 2026
  9. TPWD: Tyler 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