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
Francis P
VerifiedJanuary 30, 2020 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Love this place!
Carolina D
VerifiedJanuary 29, 2020 • Stayed at: 036, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
My niece and I showed up in the early afternoon on a Saturday and there was no park ranger to be found. There is no ticket booth or an attendee to take in credit/debit cards, checks, or cash. For entry, there is an envelope you fill with the cash for all the recreational amenities you'll be partaking in, for however many nights, and then you fill out the attached form to place on your rear-view mirror.
**Please note: Bring the exact cash and bring a pen!**
If all else fails, there is a close by gas station that can make change out of your $20's, in addition to your munchies or supplies that you may have forgotten. However, it is a small gas station, so please do not expect a whole lot.
After we successfully completed the entry requirements, we set up camp and enjoyed our evening and morning together at the beautiful park. It was very quiet and peaceful at night. It was in the middle of winter, so my niece and I made sure we were supplied with a lot of things that helped us stay warm. The bathrooms were clean, trails were well-maintained. I would definitely go to Ratcliff Recreation Area again.
Carolina D
VerifiedJanuary 29, 2020 • Stayed at: 036, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
My niece and I showed up in the early afternoon on a Saturday and there was no park ranger to be found. There is no ticket booth or an attendee to take in credit/debit cards, checks, or cash. For entry, there is an envelope you fill with the cash for all the recreational amenities you'll be partaking in, for however many nights, and then you fill out the attached form to place on your rear-view mirror.
**Please note: Bring the exact cash and bring a pen!**
If all else fails, there is a close by gas station that can make change out of your $20's, in addition to your munchies or supplies that you may have forgotten. However, it is a small gas station, so please do not expect a whole lot.
After we successfully completed the entry requirements, we set up camp and enjoyed our evening and morning together at the beautiful park. It was very quiet and peaceful at night. It was in the middle of winter, so my niece and I made sure we were supplied with a lot of things that helped us stay warm. The bathrooms were clean, trails were well-maintained. I would definitely go to Ratcliff Recreation Area again.
Ronnie H
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Site was very clean when we arrived. The staff was very helpful and friendly.
Ronnie H
VerifiedJanuary 26, 2020 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Site was very clean when we arrived. The staff was very helpful and friendly.
Rocky B
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 036, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Ratcliff lake park is great place to unwind and relax.
Dee S
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Camp hosts friendly and helpful, Verizon cell reception good, TV over the air reception poor. Beautiful, quiet environment, park well-kept but needs modernizing. Only 30 amp electric.
Joel B
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 027, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
Light traffic and ample, cleared campsites. Disappointed that the RV sites had no water. This should be rectified or made entirely clear on the website. I suspect the one bathroom in the RV site that also serves the tent sites would be awfully crowded during peak times.
Alan D
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: DOGWOOD LOOP
This is my wife's favorite park and one of my top five.
Dan B
VerifiedJanuary 25, 2020 • Stayed at: 047, Loop: LOBLOLLY LOOP
I've gone to Ratcliff since I was a child. It is beautiful and serene. No noisy motors allowed on the small lake.
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
