About Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 33
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
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Rates, Sites & Availability
33 Sites Available
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Site Details
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33 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (891)
What Guests Are Saying
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area is praised for its beautiful scenery, spacious and quiet campgrounds, and well-maintained facilities, making it an ideal spot for relaxation and outdoor activities. Many visitors enjoyed the hiking trails, clean restrooms, and peaceful atmosphere, with some returning frequently. However, there were a few concerns regarding noise from neighbors, occasional maintenance issues, and a lack of sewer hookups, but overall, guests had a positive experience and expressed a desire to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area is praised for its beautiful scenery, spacious and quiet campgrounds, and well-maintained facilities, making it an ideal spot for relaxation and outdoor activities. Many visitors enjoyed the hiking trails, clean restrooms, and peaceful atmosphere, with some returning frequently. However, there were a few concerns regarding noise from neighbors, occasional maintenance issues, and a lack of sewer hookups, but overall, guests had a positive experience and expressed a desire to return.
Review Summary
John J
VerifiedMarch 2, 2025 • Stayed at: C Group, Loop: Sawmill
As usual, the Sawmill Loop Group site was in great shape. Our Scout Troop had a great time. Adverse weather simply challenged the youths skills in camping in drizzly cold. The only unfortunate part was the restrooms. 2 out of 4 were locked, and the other two had broken hinges on the toilet seats, We will be back again in the future as the young people count this as one of their favorite camping spots. Thanks!
Chris S
VerifiedFebruary 9, 2025 • Stayed at: 044, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
Love this place! Bathrooms are always clean and the camp grounds are well maintained. Normally never have any issues, this last visit only complaint was other campers showing up in the middle of the night making a bunch of noise. The same thing the following night, same group yelling and screaming at 2 in the morning.
Chris S
VerifiedFebruary 9, 2025 • Stayed at: 044, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
Love this place! Bathrooms are always clean and the camp grounds are well maintained. Normally never have any issues, this last visit only complaint was other campers showing up in the middle of the night making a bunch of noise. The same thing the following night, same group yelling and screaming at 2 in the morning.
Cristian T
VerifiedFebruary 1, 2025 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: LAKESIDE LOOP
Campsites were nice and clean. Thank you for our access to places like it.
Cristian T
VerifiedFebruary 1, 2025 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: LAKESIDE LOOP
Campsites were nice and clean. Thank you for our access to places like it.
Michelle d
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 034, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Very nice site. Water was a little far away but not too bad.
Michelle d
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 034, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Very nice site. Water was a little far away but not too bad.
Ryan P
VerifiedJanuary 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: LAKESIDE LOOP
Saw my first ever wild lions mane mushroom growing right out of a tree, and it was the size of my head! Super peaceful stay, we were about the only ones in the primitive camping, and that was fine by us!
Ryan P
VerifiedJanuary 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: LAKESIDE LOOP
Saw my first ever wild lions mane mushroom growing right out of a tree, and it was the size of my head! Super peaceful stay, we were about the only ones in the primitive camping, and that was fine by us!
Kevin D
VerifiedDecember 29, 2024 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Not all of the restroom/shower rooms were unlocked. Shower rooms had no heat in December. Many sites had no water hookup, many sites required more than one hose to reach the water hookup. Trails were well maintained. Sites were spacious and well shaded.
Location Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area
Address:
18551 State Highway 7 East
Kennard, TX, 75487
United States
From Crockett, take State Highway 7 east for 15 miles. The recreation area is on the left between the towns of Ratcliff and Kennard.
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area is accessible via State Highway 7, which connects to nearby towns and serves as the major road leading to the area.
Latitude & Longitude: 31.3883 / -95.155
Elevation: 100 feet
Policies & Rules
General
- This facility has first-come, first-served sites
- The Day-use fee at Ratcliff is $5.00 per vehicle and is required for all day-use activities including the Group Shelters and Amphitheater.
- Limit one RV unit (fifth-wheel, motorhome, trailer or pop-up) or two tents per site; each extra vehicle is charged $5 and may need to parked in an additional parking area away from the camping loop.
- No gas motors allowed on the lake
- ATVs or ORVs are not allowed on the ground in the recreation area or any other location on the Davy Crocket National Forest.
- Picnic shelter is for day use only; no overnight camping allowed
- Amphitheater site has no tables or grills
- Click here for information about National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
- Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
