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
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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
Ken H
VerifiedDecember 2, 2020 • Stayed at: 033, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Sites could stand to be releveled and graveled.
Bathrooms were spotless. Grounds in great shape.
For those without reservations the fee post is to far from the campground.
Steven V
VerifiedDecember 1, 2020 • Stayed at: 044, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
The area is beautiful in the fall, with lots of trees having leaves changing. The lake is very nice as well. bathrooms were heated and very clean. A definite must stay.
Steven V
VerifiedDecember 1, 2020 • Stayed at: 044, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
The area is beautiful in the fall, with lots of trees having leaves changing. The lake is very nice as well. bathrooms were heated and very clean. A definite must stay.
Rachel H
November 30, 2020
Camping area was very open and spacious. Bathrooms were clean and close by our site. Overall was a great place for families with kids.
Rachel H
November 30, 2020
Camping area was very open and spacious. Bathrooms were clean and close by our site. Overall was a great place for families with kids.
David I
November 29, 2020
2 Bathrooms were out of order, the ones that were open were filthy.
Patricia L
November 29, 2020
We like to get outdoors. And, were this review written on the nice grounds and beautiful hike, then I would give much greater review. It is the humans at the park that made our trip here unpleasant. Went on Sat/Sun nights. Sat night was crowded beyond crowded. Nearby traffic noise was difficult to ignore, thankfully this was just Sat. Night. Bathrooms - by mid day they were all out of TP and there was no refilling until close to noon on Sunday. Bathroom crew also didn't come until nearly noon on Monday, so that meant TP was out Monday morning. On busy weekends, is it too much to ask to have a check mid day for a TP renewal? I say this because, the park hosts were sure were in our business. Sat, after noon, we're told we have to move a car because, "We don't know where the water pipes are." So we get permission to move the car over one site. The next day a different set told us, "You need to have your car back at your site." You all need to get your regulations straight! Also, Sunday Night, midnight, some teen decided it was time to chop wood. LOUDEST noise ever. Waited waited waited... finally couldn't take it any more... got out of the tent, walked to the bathroom to find a number to contact a park host, and couldn't find a number. Thankfully, someone made him stop. We were also asked by someone on a ATV to not walk where we were, which was odd considering the reason we were there was to be in nature. It was a wide open field, others were playing catch nearby, I'm not really sure why we were told to move along. If you can drive by on your cart and tell us to not be in a developed area, don't you think you can put more TP in the bathrooms?! Pretty park, maybe it's great for a day trip, but bring extra TP and stay away from the people hosting there.
David I
November 29, 2020
2 Bathrooms were out of order, the ones that were open were filthy.
Patricia L
November 29, 2020
We like to get outdoors. And, were this review written on the nice grounds and beautiful hike, then I would give much greater review. It is the humans at the park that made our trip here unpleasant. Went on Sat/Sun nights. Sat night was crowded beyond crowded. Nearby traffic noise was difficult to ignore, thankfully this was just Sat. Night. Bathrooms - by mid day they were all out of TP and there was no refilling until close to noon on Sunday. Bathroom crew also didn't come until nearly noon on Monday, so that meant TP was out Monday morning. On busy weekends, is it too much to ask to have a check mid day for a TP renewal? I say this because, the park hosts were sure were in our business. Sat, after noon, we're told we have to move a car because, "We don't know where the water pipes are." So we get permission to move the car over one site. The next day a different set told us, "You need to have your car back at your site." You all need to get your regulations straight! Also, Sunday Night, midnight, some teen decided it was time to chop wood. LOUDEST noise ever. Waited waited waited... finally couldn't take it any more... got out of the tent, walked to the bathroom to find a number to contact a park host, and couldn't find a number. Thankfully, someone made him stop. We were also asked by someone on a ATV to not walk where we were, which was odd considering the reason we were there was to be in nature. It was a wide open field, others were playing catch nearby, I'm not really sure why we were told to move along. If you can drive by on your cart and tell us to not be in a developed area, don't you think you can put more TP in the bathrooms?! Pretty park, maybe it's great for a day trip, but bring extra TP and stay away from the people hosting there.
Eugena V
VerifiedNovember 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 046, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
This is a well maintained, beautiful little park. The tent sites are spacious and most are right on the lake. The bathrooms were clean and in good shape. Plenty of access to potable water. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is the noise. The road noise from Highway 7 is awful, and nearly constant. Also, there is not much, if any, enforcement of quiet hours and no information about who to contact after business hours. Essentially, if you are looking for peace and quiet, especially at night, this is not the place.
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.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
