Lake Whitney State Park

Lake Whitney State Park sits on the east shore of Lake Whitney, about 3 miles west of the town of Whitney in Hill County, about 1.5 hours southwest of Dallas. It’s a lake park first: striper and bass fishing, a buoyed swim beach, a boat ramp and lakeside campsites, screened shelters and two cabins. The park often fills in the busy season, so reserve a campsite or day pass before driving out.

On This Page

• Fishing on Lake Whitney
• Swimming
• Boating and Paddling
• Hiking and Biking Trails
• Camping, Screened Shelters and Cabins
• Birds, Wildflowers and Night Skies
• The Old Airstrip
• Best Time to Visit
• What Visitors Say
• Getting There
• Know Before You Go
• Nearby Parks
• FAQ
• Sources and Official Links

Fishing on Lake Whitney

Fishing is the main draw at Lake Whitney State Park. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) lists largemouth, striped and white bass and blue catfish, and its lake page calls the striper fishing among the best in the state, best from March to May. No fishing license is needed inside the park, except at the swimming area, the boat ramp and the boat ramp’s courtesy dock.

• Other fish: TPWD also lists smallmouth bass, crappie, and channel and flathead catfish in the lake
• Bank fishing: visitors fish from many lakeside campsites and the point by the boat ramp. The rocky bottom snags lines
• Fish habitat: TPWD placed three fish-habitat reefs in coves along the park shore
• Gear: the park lends tackle through its loaner program and has a fish cleaning shelter. Visitors say staff hand out maps of good fishing spots
• Late-night fishing: the park sells a late-night fishing ticket for 10 p.m. to midnight, past the usual day-use closing
• Youth tournament: TPWD’s park page lists an annual youth fishing tournament on the first Saturday in June

Swimming

Swimming is allowed at Lake Whitney State Park at a buoyed swim beach in the Washita Day-Use Area. There’s no lifeguard, so visitors swim at their own risk, and children need an adult who can swim with them.

• Pets, fishing, boats and glass containers aren’t allowed in the swimming area
• The shoreline and lake bottom are rocky. It’s the tip visitors repeat most: wear water shoes
• Opinions on the beach are split. Some call it a good swim area, others say it isn’t much of a beach
• Visitors describe the water as clear and report free loaner life jackets at water entry points
• Wind can push up rough waves, and one 2026 reviewer saw snakes near the swim area

Boating and Paddling

Lake Whitney State Park has a boat ramp with a courtesy dock, and TPWD lists it as a two-lane ramp open all year. Lake Whitney is a 23,500-acre reservoir on the Brazos River, so boaters, anglers and water-skiers have plenty of room.

• Lake level: on Oct. 30, 2026, the lake was about 2.5 feet below normal and 90% full, per Water Data for Texas. No ramp closures were posted
• Rentals: TPWD lists no boat, kayak or paddleboard rentals at this park, so bring a boat
• Rules: boats can’t stay in the water or along the shore overnight. Clean, drain and dry boats to stop invasive species
• Wind: open water gets choppy on windy spring days, so paddlers should check the forecast

Hiking and Biking Trails

Lake Whitney State Park has two short, easy trails, about 2 miles in all, and both are open to hikers and bikers. It isn’t a hiking destination, and the short trail list is the most common complaint in reviews.

Miles as TPWD lists them on its trails page. The newer park map gives the Towash Forest Trail as 1.1 miles.

Trail Tips

A few things help on the trails at Lake Whitney.

• Favorite: reviewers like the shaded Two Bridges Trail best. The Towash Forest Trail is flat, wide and mostly open grassland
• Layout: the two trails sit at opposite ends of the park, so plan a short drive between them
• Shoreline: a 2025 hiker reported the lakeside bank eroding along the Towash Forest Trail. Stay back from the edge
• Bikes: the trails are short and easy for riders. Visitors also ride the paved park roads between loops
• Points of interest: the Big Oak at headquarters, Lake View Point and the old Towash settlement site

Camping, Screened Shelters and Cabins

Lake Whitney State Park has drive-in campsites with hookups, 27 screened shelters and two air-conditioned cabins, and many sites sit right on the lake. Every campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring with grill, with restrooms and showers nearby.

Campsite Types

Prices are TPWD’s per-night rates, plus the daily entry fee. Weekly rates apply November through February.

• Full hookup (43 sites, $24): water, sewer and 50-amp electric in the wooded Horseshoe loop. The reservation site books 41 of them, 33 pull-through, up to 105 feet long
• Water and electric (31 sites, $20): 50-amp electric in the Blue Bird, Road Runner and Sunset Ridge loops, including several of the lake-view points visitors rave about
• Water only (63 sites, $14): in the Horseshoe, White-Tail, Star View and Lake View loops. TPWD lists no separate tent-only or primitive area, so tent campers book these
• Screened shelters (27, $30): a roofed room with screen walls, electricity, a light and a picnic table inside. Up to 8 people; no pets; two-night minimum on weekends
• Cabins (2, $50): air conditioning and heat, bunks for 4 and an indoor table. No bathroom inside and no pets
• Group Hall ($125 a day): a hall with a full kitchen, air conditioning and a restroom, for up to 64 people by day or 15 overnight plus 40 in tents outside

Reservations and Camp Rules

Book early for holidays and spring weekends, when RV loops fill.

• Campsites, shelters and cabins open for booking 5 months ahead. The Group Hall books 12 months ahead by phone at (512) 389-8920
• Checkout is noon for campsites and shelters. Shelters check in at 3 p.m.; cabins check in at 2 p.m. and check out at 11 a.m.
• Up to 8 people per campsite, and an extra fee for more than two vehicles
• Late arrivals with a reservation find their name at the kiosk across from headquarters and register by 9 a.m. the next morning
• A dump station serves the sites without sewer
• Hill County is under an emerald ash borer quarantine, so don’t bring firewood. Buy it at the park store

Campers praise the lake-view sites in the Blue Bird and Sunset Ridge loops for sunrises and sunsets, but some waterfront sites are open, unshaded or not level. Horseshoe loop is shaded and out of the wind, about a mile from the lake. Shelter campers bring their own bedding, a fan and a tarp for storms.

Birds, Wildflowers and Night Skies

TPWD counts nearly 200 bird species at Lake Whitney State Park, including wild turkeys and bald eagles. The park sits on the Washita Prairie, with native grasses, oak mottes and more than 40 kinds of spring wildflowers, bluebonnets among them.

• Mammals: white-tailed deer, armadillos, raccoons and opossums, with occasional foxes, coyotes and bobcats, per TPWD
• What visitors report: deer and fawns crossing the roads, herons, ducks and geese on the lake, and owls at night. One reviewer met a rattlesnake near a campsite
• Stargazing: local astronomy clubs host star parties. A Star Party in the Park is on the events calendar for Nov. 14, 2026

The Old Airstrip

Lake Whitney State Park still has its old paved airstrip, about 2,000 feet long according to a 2007 TPWD page. TPWD’s current pages and park map no longer list it, and the aviation directory OurAirports lists it as closed.

A 2026 visitor reported signs asking pilots to contact the park before using the runway. Pilots should call the park first. A model aircraft flying field with plane stands and a covered pavilion sits beside the strip, and visitors report radio-control flyers using it.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall are the best seasons at Lake Whitney State Park, with mild weather, wildflowers in spring and the best striper fishing from March to May. TPWD calls March through October the busy season, and summer weekends fill with RV campers.

• Spring (March to May): bluebonnets, striper season and spring break crowds. Expect windy days
• Summer (June to August): July averages 86°F. Swimming season, and holiday weekends like July 4 sell out
• Fall (October to November): cooler camping weather and fewer people. Burn bans are common in dry falls
• Winter (December to February): January averages 46°F. Weekly camping rates, quiet loops and hunt closures in December and January

What Visitors Say

Lake Whitney State Park averages 4.7 stars across 429 Google reviews from November 2024 to October 2026 (4.6 stars across about 1,870 reviews all-time). Visitors call it a clean, quiet lake park, and the complaints are consistent.

• Lake views: sunrises and sunsets from the lakeside sites are the most praised feature
• Cleanliness: about 57 reviews call the park clean. Restrooms get mostly good marks, but the showers are open stalls with no curtains, and some report no hot water in the Towash loop
• Staff: rangers get frequent praise for fishing tips and geocaching help. A few 2026 reviews describe rude service at the front desk
• Trails: the most repeated downside is that there are only two short trails
• Check-in: the office doubles as the store and is small, and visitors report waits outside under a capacity limit
• Pests: fire ants, spiders at night and grass burrs, which dog owners say stick in fur and paws
• Recent changes: a September 2026 reviewer reported some lakeside sites in the Blue Bird and Sunset Ridge loops closed. Check the reservation site for current sites

Getting There

Lake Whitney State Park is at 433 FM 1244, Whitney. From I-35 at Hillsboro, take SH 22 west to Whitney, then follow the signs west on FM 1244 for about 3 miles.

Drive times to the park:

• Waco: about 1 hour
• Fort Worth: about 1 hour 25 minutes
• Dallas: about 1.5 hours
• Austin: about 2 hours 45 minutes
• San Antonio: about 4 hours 10 minutes
• Houston: about 4 hours 15 minutes

A few things to know before driving out:

• Supplies: Whitney, about 3 miles away, has groceries, gas and restaurants
• In the park: visitors say signs inside the park are sparse. Pick up a map at headquarters
• Lake name: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers calls the reservoir Whitney Lake and runs most other parks on it, so check that GPS points to the state park

Know Before You Go

These fees, rules and tips matter most at Lake Whitney State Park.

• Fees and passes: $5 a day for adults 13 and older; children 12 and under get in free. The Texas State Parks Pass covers entry for the holder and guests. Confirm current fees on the TPWD fees page
• Booking: TPWD says the park often reaches capacity and recommends reserving day passes and campsites. Day passes open 1 month ahead; campsites 5 months ahead. A 2026 visitor was charged the weekend entry fee for a short drive-through
• Hours: TPWD lists the park as open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the office 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The reservation site gives 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., so call ahead for an early or late arrival
• Dogs: leashed (6 feet or shorter) and never left alone. No pets in the swim area, buildings, screened shelters or cabins
• Alcohol: public drinking or displaying alcohol is against park rules
• Fires: fires only in fire rings and grills, and no gathering wood. Hill County issued burn bans in August and September 2026; ask the park before planning a campfire
• Hunts: the park closes to everyone but permitted hunters from 5 p.m. Dec. 6 to 3 p.m. Dec. 11 and from 5 p.m. Jan. 15 to 3 p.m. Jan. 22 (2026 to 2027 season)
• What to bring: water shoes, insect and ant protection, a flashlight for snakes at night, bedding for shelters and cabins, and a bike for the Horseshoe loop

Nearby Parks

Three other TrekTexas guides are within about 2 hours of Lake Whitney State Park.

• Dinosaur Valley State Park: about 56 miles northwest near Glen Rose, with dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River
• Cedar Hill State Park: about 72 miles northeast on Joe Pool Lake, with camping close to Dallas
• Lake Mineral Wells State Park: about 113 miles north, known for rock climbing at Penitentiary Hollow
• More parks within reach of Dallas: Parks Near Dallas

FAQ

Where is Lake Whitney State Park?

It is on the east shore of Lake Whitney in Hill County, about 3 miles west of Whitney on FM 1244, between Waco and Fort Worth.

How much does it cost to get into Lake Whitney State Park?

Entry is $5 per adult 13 and older; children 12 and under are free. Camping fees are extra.

What other parks are on Lake Whitney?

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs most of the other public parks on the lake, including McCown Valley, Lofers Bend, Walling Bend and Soldiers Bluff. They have their own fees and rules.

Is a fishing license needed at Lake Whitney State Park?

Not inside the park boundary. The exceptions are the swimming area, the boat ramp and the ramp’s courtesy dock, where a license is required.

Are dogs allowed at Lake Whitney State Park?

Yes, on a leash of 6 feet or shorter. Dogs can’t go in the swim area, shelters or cabins.

Sources and Official Links

Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.

• Lake Whitney State Park (TPWD)
• Entrance fees, campsites, screened shelters and cabins (TPWD)
• Trails and park map (PDF) (TPWD)
• Park alerts and events (TPWD)
• Lake Whitney fishing (TPWD Inland Fisheries)
• Lake Whitney level (Water Data for Texas)
• Texas State Parks reservations

Featured photo: Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)