About Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 33
Campground Amenities
-
Dump Station
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Sites & Availability
33 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
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.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
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 (444)
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
Katharine C
VerifiedDecember 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 042, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
Great campsite and well maintained campground
Mayumy F
November 30, 2025
Our happy place, best for camping if you live in Houston area, we have been there 3 times already and is so perfect! We have never had any issue and the place is pretty safe, very good too that is close to a walmart
Twyla W
VerifiedNovember 29, 2025 • Stayed at: 038, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
What a gorgeous recreational area. A true hidden gem in the piney woods. We loved the distance between RV campsites and the spacious area around the site. Although we didn't use the on site bath facilities, we did peek in and they were extremely clean and well maintained. Looking forward to our next trip!
Jonathan B
VerifiedNovember 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
great showers and had cell reception - need to put physical address on the website
Kay R
VerifiedNovember 24, 2025 • Stayed at: 037, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Clean campground and level lots. Not every site has water.
Lorena R
VerifiedNovember 23, 2025 • Stayed at: A Group, Loop: LAKESIDE LOOP
First time visitor and I fell in love. Definitely my favorite place to camp. We did two nights and seriously thinking of staying an extra night. It was a really nice set-up, clean and peaceful.
Darren A
VerifiedNovember 22, 2025 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Beautiful place to stay, however, the fact there is no sewer hookup was a huge negative for us. And the shower house was a mud slop 😣
Joy S
VerifiedNovember 18, 2025 • Stayed at: 028, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Very nice
Eliot F
VerifiedNovember 10, 2025 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: FS 520
2nd times in this same campsite, still love it with space surrounding and all beautiful tall pine trees. One thing I didn’t like and didn’t know is the parking spot is 25 yards away from picnic table and fire pit which I didn’t like with carry camping stuff and food back and forth. But I did enjoy it there. First time there used to be no tall bulrushes along the edge of the lake but now it is which I can’t go fishing closest to my camp site.
Kenneth J
VerifiedNovember 9, 2025 • Stayed at: 044, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
Very clean park. Bathrooms are in good condition. Lots of space for each camp site.
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 31.3883 / -95.155
Elevation: 100 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
This facility has first-come, first-served sites |
| General |
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. |
| General |
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. |
| General |
No gas motors allowed on the lake |
| General |
ATVs or ORVs are not allowed on the ground in the recreation area or any other location on the Davy Crocket National Forest. |
| General |
Picnic shelter is for day use only; no overnight camping allowed |
| General |
Amphitheater site has no tables or grills |
| General |
Click here for information about National Forests and Grasslands in Texas |
| General |
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. |
