Texas, the second-largest state in the United States, is home to numerous prominent cities, such as Houston, Austin and Dallas, countless attractions and historic locations, including the Alamo in San Antonio. Tourists and locals alike can also enjoy a variety of fun outdoors activities, such as boating, fishing and swimming, by visiting one of more than 100 scenic lakes scattered across the state.
The Highland Lakes consist of six lakes--Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis and Lake Austin--all within 100 miles of Austin. Surrounding each of the lake areas are numerous resorts, motels, bed and breakfast inns, cabins, campgrounds, restaurants, RV parks and vineyards. At select times of the year, visitors can also enjoy boat race competitions and fishing tournaments at several of the lakes.
Highland Lakes
highlandlakes.com
Toledo Bend Lake, the largest man-made lake in the South, features 1,200 miles of shoreline that stretches from Texas to Louisiana. It is a migration spot for many species of birds and home to a variety of wildlife such as deer, foxes and beavers. Marinas along the lake can provide visitors with boat rentals, jet skis and guided fishing tours.
Toledo Bend Lake
toledo-bend.com
Cedar Creek Lake, 55 south of Dallas, has 320 miles of shoreline, including a lakeside park with picnic areas and boat ramps, and is a popular location for fishermen and boaters. Boats can be rented at local marinas along the lake or storage rental spaces are available for personal watercraft.
Cedar Creek Lake
cedarcreeklake.com
Proctor Lake, 100 miles south of Forth Worth, features only 38 miles of shoreline but offers visitors four large federal parks and an 18-hole golf course. The lakeside parks all feature roped-off swimming areas, covered picnic tables, playgrounds and fishing piers.
Proctor Lake
texas-lakes.net/proctor-lake
Caddo Lake, on the border of Texas and Louisiana, features more than 25,000 acres of cypress swamps, with a variety of wildlife, including more than 200 species of birds. Visitors can also enjoy Caddo Lake State Park, which offers horseback riding, boating, camping and fishing.
Caddo Lake
caddolake.com
Lady Bird Lake in Austin is six miles long and features a jogging trail that runs around the lake, which is named for Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady. It is popular for canoeing, but swimming and motorized boats are prohibited. Numerous hotels located around the lake offer scenic lakefront rooms.
Lady Bird Lake
texas-lakes.net
Lewisville Lake, just north of Dallas, has 233 miles of shoreline and features several marinas, a waterfront sports bar and restaurant. It also offers water activities such as boating, parasailing, water skiing and a 9,000-acre nature reserve with hiking trails and plentiful wildlife.
Lewisville Lake
visitlewisville.com
Sam Rayburn Lake, 70 miles from Beaumont, is the largest reservoir in Texas and has 600 miles of shoreline. The area surrounding the lake offers lodging, dining, nature trails, local historic towns, craft shows, antiques and art festivals.
Sam Rayburn Lake
sam-rayburn-lake.com
Lake Texoma, one hour from Dallas, has 1,000 miles of shoreline and features sandy beaches, rock cliffs, numerous campgrounds, two state parks and wildlife refuges. The lake is popular with sailing enthusiasts because of ideal boating conditions such as lake size and vast shoreline. Several marinas are located along the lake for boat rental and storage.
Lake Texoma
laketexoma.com
