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
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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 (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
Wayne V
VerifiedOctober 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: LAKESIDE LOOP
Ratcliff Lake is fast becoming one of my favorite places to camp. Not too close to any metropolitan areas, but close enough to a couple of towns in case anything needs to be picked up.
Kay Ann K
VerifiedOctober 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 033, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
This is such a beautiful park! We enjoyed hanging out & walking the roads & trails. We brought kayaks for the lake, but once we saw alligators, the kayaks docked & put away. :/ We had a nice visit into Crockett. Do check days the shops are open, because on Wed & Thurs, a couple of them were closed. The Davy Crockett Grill was yummy & fun.
Veronica K
VerifiedOctober 26, 2025 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Beautiful and peaceful
Ben H
VerifiedOctober 24, 2025 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Beautiful, relaxing, and well-maintained campground. The kids loved biking around the campground and we also made it onto the water in our kayak and spent some time in the swimming area. would love to come back when there's no burn ban.
Jason P
VerifiedOctober 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 047, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
It was closed, due to the Schumer shutdown. Hope I get a refund at some point.
larry p
October 16, 2025
This place has really changed for the better. The campgrounds are clean and everything looks so good. Whoever is doing the work good job. My only gripe would be the weeds grown up around the lake so it’s hard to fish around the most interesting spots. Besides that this is a great place to camp. Thank you
Linda M
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 040, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
We really like this park. It has what we need and is convenient on our travels. I was disappointed that i didn't see the trail map before I went hiking, and I ended up turning around, not realizing that I was almost at the other end of the trail. I didn't want to continue on the long 4C trail.
Eddie L
October 5, 2025
Staff nice, everything neat restrooms clean ( extra clean)
Brenda S
VerifiedSeptember 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 039, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Pretty area, well maintained campsites, road noise all night.
Brian H
VerifiedAugust 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: LAKESIDE LOOP
My campsite was marked reserved and was super clean.
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. |
