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
Hunte R
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2021 • Stayed at: 044, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
What a great and peaceful camping experience on the Lake! Large camping spaces, great firepits and very clean restrooms! Very friendly staff. Ratcliff is a great getaway to the Piney Woods!
Mark E
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2021 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Very clean and well run campground. Great trail system with a few areas in need of attention...but still usable.
Morgan H
January 25, 2021
We loved it here! This was our first time here and our first trip in our new trailer. We were late to book at didn’t get a spot with water hookup but that was no issue they had water everywhere. We packed up a little and refilled no problem! The host drove around multiple times and I saw them clean the restrooms very often. Each space had plenty of distance from the next. Ratcliff is definitely on the list to return!
Jennifer R
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 040, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Beautiful park! Sites are not too close together, and the trails are really nice. Park hosts and Nat’l Forest people were great. This should be registered as a “Dark Sky” park. Unbelievable night sky. Water spigot is more than 25’ from camper in some sites.
Lisa H
January 24, 2021
Beautiful grounds, and bathrooms so clean!
MAHMOOD R
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 050, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
A very well managed camp but we had an event at our camp (50) .. a 7/8 ft long and real thick branch fell from one of the the tree just 6 feet from our tent. This event made our stay a scary one.
Jennifer R
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 040, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Beautiful park! Sites are not too close together, and the trails are really nice. Park hosts and Nat’l Forest people were great. This should be registered as a “Dark Sky” park. Unbelievable night sky. Water spigot is more than 25’ from camper in some sites.
Lisa H
January 24, 2021
Beautiful grounds, and bathrooms so clean!
MAHMOOD R
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 050, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
A very well managed camp but we had an event at our camp (50) .. a 7/8 ft long and real thick branch fell from one of the the tree just 6 feet from our tent. This event made our stay a scary one.
Douglas G
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2021 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: LAKESIDE LOOP
We were a Boy Scout troop that needed more than one campsite and the ranger helped us find 2 next to each other. Very good service. You should have a couple sites designated for scout troops.
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
