Exploring the Best National and State Parks in Texas

Discover > Best Of Texas > The Best National and State Parks in Texas: Best Times to Visit

Across Texas, there are many state and national parks that contain geological, topographical, and hydrological features, unique ecosystems, and prehistoric and historic sites.

Technically Texas has only two national parks; Big Bend National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and are located in west Texas. However, inside Texas are 16 national park properties that are being managed by the National Park Service. These 16 properties are considered as national monuments, national recreation areas, and national seashore.

Meanwhile, there are about 89 state parks, historic sites, and natural areas which are managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department covering an area of 640,000 acres.

State parks are differentiated from national parks as state parks are operated by the State Government while national parks are established by the US Congress and managed by the federal government through the National Park Service.

National monuments though managed by the National Park Service or other Federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish, and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Defense, and the Bureau of Land Management vary in the sense that these sites have objects of historical, cultural, and scientific interest.

National Parks are protected and preserved due to their scenic, recreational, educational, and inspirational value. Also, the US Congress designates National Parks while National Monuments are established thru Presidential Proclamations.

The Best National and State Parks

Texas would have a little over a hundred national parks and state parks so we came up with a list of our favorite state and national parks which you can visit.

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Built in 1854, Fort Davis was a former Indian Wars frontier military post. The fort was used to protect emigrants, valuable mail poaches, and freight wagons on the Chihuahua and the San Antonio- El Paso Trails. The fort also served to control Indian activities on the southern part of the Great Comanche War Trail and the Mescalero Apache War Trails.

African-American regiments such as the 24th and 25th U.S. Infantry and the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry were stationed in the frontier post and the fort is an important place to learn and understand the presence of African-Americans in the Western frontier.

The fort has an area of 523 acres. It was established as a United States National Historic Site in 1961. It has 24 restored buildings and 100 ruins and foundations. Five of these buildings have been refurbished, faithful to their design in the 1880s. Visitors will get to see what the site looks like back in the 1800s.

The Fort Davis National Historic Site is located in Jeff Davis County, in the western part of Texas. The best times to visit the fort are in the months of April, September, and October.

Big Bend Ranch National Park

One of two national parks in Texas, the Big Bend Ranch National Park is located in the western edge of Texas near the border with Mexico. It was named after the large bend in the Rio Grande.

The National Park features the protected area of the Chihuahuan Desert and is the largest national park in Texas with a land area of 801,603 acres. The Chihuahuan desert's unique topography and ecology is a worthy visit for any explorer. The trails lead you to arid desert, high rocky peaks, and magnificent river valleys. The national park is so expansive that you can find the entirety of the Chisos mountain range within the park's protected area.

The park's rich ecosystem includes 1,200 species of plants, 450 bird species, 75 species of mammals, and 55 reptile species. Also, dinosaur bones in the park make Big Bend National Park a paleontological paradise. Over 90 dinosaur species, including some previously not known to science, have been unearthed at the Big Bend National Park. One of the noted discoveries is the bones of the giant pterosaur, one of the largest flying creatures of all time with a 36-feet wingspan. Fossils are also found scattered in the park.

The fall and Spring seasons are the best time to visit the Big Bend as temperatures are mild during the day and cool at night.

Enchanted Rock Natural Area

The Enchanted Rock is a 425 feet pink dome-shaped mountain located in Fredericksburg that has drawn many visitors every year. There are many things to do in this 1,664-acre natural area which is part of the Texas state park system.

The summit of this 1,825 feet granite mountain offers spectacular views of the Hill Country. There are 11 miles of trails where one can hike and explore. There are rock climbing spots and caves that one can explore. It has campgrounds and picnic sites for visitors. In 2017 it was voted the best campsite in Texas.

One must make a reservation before going to Enchanted Rock. Though the best time to visit is Spring, it is also the season when the park is fully booked.

Eisenhower State Park

This state park located in Denison Country is situated on the shores of Lake Texoma, a body of water between Oklahoma and Texas. It has an area of 423 acres where one can go camping, hiking, picnicking, biking, boating, water skiing, and swimming.

One can go hiking or nature study in its 4-mile hiking trail where the scenery is characterized by different ecosystems ranging from grassy uplands to thick woodlands populated by oak, elm, cedar, and dogwood trees. This is also a great area to bird-watch where one can find Bald Eagle, White Pelican, and other waterfowl.

The park is open to the public all year round. If one would want to go hiking and camping then it is recommended to visit during spring and fall. If one would want to swim, go boating or enjoy the beach then summer is a perfect season to visit the park.

Inks Lake State Park

Located in Burnet County, an hour northwest of Austin. Inks Lake State Park is a perfect weekend destination for bonding with family or a getaway with friends. The 1,200-acre park along with the 803-acre Inks Lake hosts several fun and adventure-filled activities. One can go camping, picnicking, and hiking along its 9 miles of trails which feature woodlands and rocky hills. On the lake, you can do swimming, boating, water-skiing, fishing, and scuba diving.

The park has 200 campsites for those wanting to go camping or for those who want a little bit of comfort there are 22 cabins. Many of these camping sites are situated along the lake or accessible to the lake. Several camping loops have playgrounds.

This is a year-round destination as the lake level stays constant throughout the year. Summer though is the best time to visit.

South Llano River State Park

Turkeys and stargazing, this is what reminds me of South Llano River State Park. Located in the Hill Country, the park lies in the valley of the Llano River and covers an area of 2,600 acres (expanded to its present size in 2011). The State Park hosts the largest roost of wild turkeys in Central Texas. In the fall and winter, they gather at the park and make their way to the pecan forest.

The park is a perfect area for stargazing as night time sky over South Llano is one of the darkest skies in Texas and is an International Dark Sky Park. Based on the Bortle-Dark Sky Scale, the evening skies over South Llano River State Park have a rating of 3 with 1 being the highest ( the darkest skies on earth) to 9 as the lowest (light polluted, inner-city skies).

The river is family-friendly where visitors can swim, paddle and fish on the slow-moving river. During the colder season, there are 23 miles of trails that one can explore either by hiking or biking.

If you want to see the turkeys best time of the year to visit is October 1 through March 31, during that time the roosting area is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you want to escape the summer heat, the spring-fed, slow-moving South Llano River is an inviting destination for many people.

You might be asking yourself, where can I find fresh turkey near me? Get Your Thanksgiving Turkey From These Texan Farms!

Garner State Park

The spring-fed Frio River which snakes through the Hill Country is a popular summer retreat for many generations of Texans. A 2.9-mile stretch of the River is located in the 1,774 acres of the Garner State Park located in Uvalde Country and this stretch of the river makes the state park very popular, especially during summers.

Swimming and tubing or floating down the Frio River using an inner tube is a favorite water activity among visitors. For land activities, one can hike along the 16 miles of scenic Hill Country trails. One can go geocaching, play miniature golf, or nature study in the park.

The park has campgrounds, screened shelters, and cabins. You can check the visitors center for the other parks features and there is also a souvenir shop.

The park has a resident population of feral pigs so do not leave any food unattended. These hogs are known to be attracted to coolers and ice chests.

The best time to visit Garner State Park is during summer as the river provides a welcome respite from the heat.

Balmorhea State Park

Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it was the world's largest spring-fed swimming pool with a pool area measuring 1.3 acres. The project was aimed at providing jobs to people as part of the New Deal measures during the Great Depression.

The 3.5 million gallon spring water pool is used for swimming, snorkeling and diving. This man-made centerpiece of the Balmorhea State Park is still a popular destination for many Texans.

The 46-acre park located in San Salomon Springs, Reeves Country also features a restored Cienega (desert wetland) which is home to endangered fishes such as the Comanche Springs Pupfish.

Visitors can stay overnight at the 34 campsites or they can book a room at the retro motel-style San Salomon Springs Courts

The best time to visit Balmorhea State Park is during summer.

Big Spring State Park

This state park is located in Big Spring, Howard County, and was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It features a 200-foot bluff called the scenic mountain (the northern edge of Edwards Plateau), where one can see the vast west central Texas plains.

The park takes its name from a natural spring that was once located in the site. At 382 acres the park has a three-mile loop towards the top of the scenic mountain returning to the park entrance and is popular among hikers and bikers wanting to conquer its ascent.

There is also a nature trail that winds to the hillside where one gets to see desert flora like cacti, the trail leads to wonderful sceneries.

There is a group pavilion, picnic tables with a playground for kids, and restrooms for picnickers.

The best time for visiting Big Spring is during springtime when you will be greeted with blue skies, blooming flowers, and warm sunshine.

Padre Island National Seashore

Located in Corpus Christi, the Padre Island National Seashore or PINS protects 66 miles of coastline, tidal flats, dunes, and prairies.

Managed by the National Park Service, this barrier island (the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world) separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre, one of the few hypersaline lagoons in the world.

It is teeming with wildlife with over 380 bird species and is also the habitat of the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. On the beach you can go swimming, fish, bike, go beach driving, beach combing or participate in turtle releasing.

In the Laguna Madre one can go swimming, fishing, camping, bird watching, windsurfing, canoeing or kayaking. Best days to visit Padre Island are during winter to springtime.

The waters on the coast are cold during these seasons but on land the weather is perfect for a warm escape from the cold winter. Summers here are hot and humid.

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Located in Fitch county in the part of the state known as the Texas panhandle. The Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is an oasis in the middle of the dry grassland. The main attraction is the 10,000-acre Lake Meredith, which is a man-made reservoir created by the Sanford Dam on the Canadian River.

A destination for fishing enthusiasts as the lake is a habitat of several fishes such as the walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, white bass, white crappie, and channel catfish. Visitors can go sailing, canoeing, swimming, scuba diving, or waterskiing at the lake. On dry land one can go camping, hike along the numerous nature trails, go off-roading, and hunt (deer, turkeys, pheasants).

The park is open all year round, the months of May, October, and September are the most pleasant months to visit Lake Meredith National Recreation Area.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

The only UNESCO world heritage site in Texas, the San Antonio National Historical Park consists of four out of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio. Spanish missionaries established missions to convert the natives to Christianity during the 17th and 18th centuries.

These four Spanish missions are; Mission Concepcion established in 1716, Mission San Jose created in 1720, Mission San Juan Capistrano established in 1716 and Mission Espada established in 1690. The fifth mission is the Mission San Antonio Valera now called the Alamo though it is not part of the Historical Park, but the Alamo helps complete the mission story in San Antonio.

These missions tell the story of native people who were acculturated into the Spanish missions in the 1700s. A culture that still reverberates today in this part of Texas. The National Historical Park was created in 1975 and is a trail that connects 84 separate sites along the San Antonio River. The trails can be navigated either by walking/hiking, biking, or paddling.

The best time to visit the historic park is from November to April when the weather is comfortable in San Antonio. The visit to the national historical park will entail 3 to 4 hours of walking outdoors to the different missions.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

The Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park includes the historic LBJ Ranch where President Johnson would spend 20% of his office when he was still the US President.

This National Historical Park located in Central Texas (Blanco and Gillespie County) covers the birthplace, home, ranch, and resting place of the former President. The Park has two separate areas; the LBJ Ranch District and the Johnson City District. The LBJ Ranch District has the President's first school, his birthplace (reconstructed), The Texan White House, and the cemetery where he was buried. The Johnson City District can be found in LBJ's boyhood home and the house of his grandfather Samuel Ealy Johnson Sr.

The best time to visit the national historical park is early spring, late March, and April when the weather is pleasant.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Columbian mammoths which stood over 14 feet and weighed 20,00 pounds once roamed Texas thousands of years back. In 1978 fossils belonging to a herd of Columbian mammoths were found in Waco near the Bosque River. It was in 2015 when President Barack Obama designated the 5-acre discovery site as the Waco Mammoth National Monument.

The area holds utmost significance as this is where the only known remains of the Columbian mammoth can be found.

The best time to visit Waco, including the monument, is from early April to early June and mid-September to late October when the weather is pleasant and conducive for outdoor activities.

There are so many parks and other protected areas either managed by the Federal Government thru the National Park Service or the state of Texas under its Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. As so many places are outdoors, the best time to visit them is during spring when the weather is pleasant and conducive for outdoor activities. Other places which serve as protected recreational areas, particularly those which feature natural and manmade bodies of water are favorite summer destinations.

For more information and updates you can visit the website of the National Park Service for federal government-managed areas or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for areas under the State of Texas.

Looking for seafood markets for fresh fish, shrimps and more? Click here.

The Best National and State Parks in Texas: Best Times to Visit