Sam Rayburn Reservoir doesn’t get the attention it deserves outside of the fishing world. At 114,000 acres it’s the largest man-made lake located entirely within Texas — bigger than Lake Fork, bigger than Richland-Chambers, bigger than anything in the state that doesn’t cross a border. It sits in the heart of the East Texas Piney Woods, surrounded by the Angelina National Forest, with 750 miles of shoreline and a largemouth bass fishery that draws tournament anglers from across the country.
For Southeast Texas campers, it’s also right in our backyard. Jasper is the closest town — about 12 miles south of the lake — and for anyone driving from Beaumont or the Houston area, Sam Rayburn is well under two hours.
This guide covers every campground around the lake — all six Corps of Engineers parks, the five leased private parks, and the boat-ramp-only areas — with real details on sites, fees, what each park is good for, and what the fishing actually looks like by season.
The Lake — What Makes Sam Rayburn Special
The reservoir was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1965, originally known as McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir, and renamed for longtime U.S. House Speaker Sam Rayburn from Bonham, Texas. The dam sits on the Angelina River in Jasper County, and the lake spreads across parts of Jasper, Angelina, San Augustine, and Nacogdoches counties.
The lower lake — south of US-96 — is relatively clear with depths up to 80 feet and excellent bass habitat around hydrilla beds, vegetation edges, and submerged structure. The upper lake runs shallower and more tannic, with standing timber and creek channels that hold crappie and catfish year-round.
What people don’t expect when they first see Sam Rayburn is how wild the surroundings feel. The Angelina National Forest hugs the northern and eastern shoreline, and the Sabine and Davy Crockett National Forests sit just beyond the horizon on multiple sides. On weekday mornings in the fall you can launch a kayak from Hanks Creek and not see another person for hours. That’s a rare thing for a lake this size.
Before You Camp — Things to Know
Reservations: All Corps campgrounds at Sam Rayburn book through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Spring and fall weekends fill up weeks in advance. Screened shelters at Twin Dikes and Hanks Creek go especially fast.
No cash: The Sam Rayburn Project Office no longer accepts cash payments at any Corps campground or boat ramp. Card only.
Site rules across all Corps parks:
- 2 vehicles per site (plus the sleeping unit); extra vehicles are $5/night each
- Maximum 10 people per site
- Boat ramp fee: $4 for non-campers; free for registered campers and annual pass holders
- Day Use Annual Pass: $40 (covers boat launch, swim beach, other day-use fees)
- America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes: 50% discount on fees
- Quiet hours: 10pm
Project Office: 7696 RR 255 West, Jasper, TX 75951 | (409) 384-5716 | Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm
The 6 Corps Campgrounds — Complete Guide
Ebenezer Park
Location: South shore, off Recreational Road 255, approximately 23 miles northwest of Jasper Coordinates: N 31°04’10” W 94°07’31” Reservations: Recreation.gov #233790
Ebenezer is the most specialized park on Sam Rayburn — the only one that allows horses, which makes it the destination for equestrian campers in the entire region.
Equestrian area: 13 campsites, all with water hookups. Seven have 30-amp electric service, six have 50-amp. Every site includes a hardened RV pullout, picnic table, fire ring, hitching posts, and a corral placed nearby. Each site must have at least one horse and no more than four. The equestrian trails cover 1.5 miles on Corps land with access to 20+ miles of additional trail through the Angelina National Forest. The terrain is soft and sandy — horseshoes are not required. Equestrian sites are open year-round.
Standard camping: 17 additional primitive campsites without water or electric hookups, most suitable for tents or small travel trailers. Open March 1 through Labor Day.
Other facilities: Designated swimming beach (seasonal April 1–Labor Day, $5/vehicle), drinking water, waterborne restroom with showers, trailer dump station, and Ebenezer Hall — an enclosed group event building with a full kitchen, A/C, and heating that can be reserved for $150/day plus a security deposit.
What it’s NOT: There is no boat ramp at Ebenezer. The nearest Corps ramp is 4 miles away at Twin Dikes Park. This park is built for equestrian camping, swimming, and tent camping — not fishing tournaments.
What it’s good for: Horse camping, families who want a swim beach without tournament crowds, tent campers who don’t need hookups, wildflower viewing in spring (the park has a particularly good display of native wildflowers).
Fees: 50-amp $28/night | 30-amp $26/night | Non-electric $14/night
Twin Dikes Park
Location: South shore, Recreational Road 255, approximately 20 miles north of Jasper Coordinates: N 31°04’15” W 94°03’19” Reservations: Recreation.gov #232726 Season: March 1 through Labor Day; boat ramps open year-round
Twin Dikes is the tournament hub of Sam Rayburn. It hosts more bass fishing tournaments than any other park on the lake, and the adjacent Sam Rayburn Marina Resort is where most of the tournament action is based. If you’re coming to fish a tournament or want to be close to the marina action, this is your park. If you want quiet mornings and empty boat ramps, plan accordingly or go mid-week.
Sites: 43 total. Six sites with 30-amp electric and water. Six sites with 30-amp electric, water, and sewer. Four sites with 50-amp electric and water. Twenty-four sites without any hookups. Three screened shelters with 30-amp electric, water, and sewer — these are the most comfortable non-RV option on the south shore.
Facilities: Two boat ramps with 8 combined launching lanes (largest ramp setup on the lake), two waterborne restrooms with showers, one additional waterborne restroom, one group shelter, dump station, and new hiking and interpretive trails added in 2011.
Note: No swim beach at Twin Dikes.
What it’s good for: Fishing tournaments, RV campers who want the best boat ramp access on Sam Rayburn, anglers targeting the south lake structure.
Fees: 30-amp $26 | 50-amp $28 | Non-electric $14 | Sewer hookup $28 | Screened shelter $38 | Group shelter $50/day
Mill Creek Park
Location: Sabine County, northeastern shore Coordinates: N 31°09’03” W 94°00’12” Reservations: Recreation.gov (search Mill Creek Sam Rayburn) Season: Sites 47–110 open year-round | Sites 1–46 open March 1 through November 30
Mill Creek is the biggest and most developed Corps campground on Sam Rayburn — 110 sites across a highly developed facility in Sabine County on the northeastern shore. It’s the best all-around family camping option on the lake, with the most complete amenity package.
Sites: 110 total. Fifty-nine sites with 30-amp electric and water. Fifty-one sites with 50-amp electric and water. No primitive sites — everything here has hookups.
Facilities: Four waterborne restroom and shower buildings, one group shelter, one designated swimming beach ($5/vehicle), two playgrounds, volleyball court, horseshoe court, two dump stations, and one boat ramp with two launching lanes.
What it’s good for: Families who want full hookups, a swim beach, and multiple amenities within the campground. The year-round section keeps it accessible for fall and winter fishing trips when other parks have closed.
Fees: 30-amp $26 | 50-amp $28 | Swim beach $5/vehicle
San Augustine Park
Location: San Augustine County, 10 miles northwest of Pineland, northeastern shore Coordinates: N 31°12’10” W 94°04’17” Reservations: Recreation.gov #232698 Season: Sites 29–33, 50–70, 87–100 open year-round | Sites 1–28, 34–46, 72–85 open March 1 through Labor Day
San Augustine is the sleeper pick among Sam Rayburn campgrounds — consistently well-reviewed but less crowded than Mill Creek because it’s a longer drive from Jasper. The setting is excellent: grassy sites slope toward the reservoir, and sites numbered below 90 have direct lake access with some of the best water views of any camp on the lake. One reviewer described site 63 as having lake views on three sides. The sand beach here is notably long and flat.
Sites: 100 total, all with 30-amp electric and water. Five are designated tent-only at $16/night.
Facilities: Three waterborne restroom and shower buildings (push-button showers — bring quarters or plan for frequent resets), one group shelter, dump station, one playground, designated swim beach (April–September, $5/vehicle), courtesy dock, interpretive trail, two volleyball courts, basketball court, horseshoe court, one boat ramp with four launching lanes.
Note on leveling: Multiple reviewers note the grassy sites slope toward the water, which means significant leveling blocks may be needed for RVs. Check this before you back in.
What it’s good for: The best lake views of any Corps camp on Sam Rayburn, families who want a full amenity park with less tournament traffic than Twin Dikes, spring birding (neotropical migrants pass through in April and May), and anyone targeting the northeastern lake arms.
Fees: Tent-only $16 | 30-amp $26 | Swim beach $5/vehicle
Rayburn Park
Location: North shore, Farm Market Road 3127, approximately 23 miles southwest of Pineland Coordinates: N 31°06’40” W 94°06’28” Reservations: Recreation.gov #232685 (reservable March–July) Season: Sites 26–50 open year-round | Sites 1–10 and 55–65 open March 1 through Labor Day
Rayburn Park sits on the north shore and offers the most mix of site types of any Corps park on the lake — pull-through sites, back-ins, and non-electric sites all in one campground.
Sites: 49 total, though a significant number are currently closed. Eight pull-through sites with 50-amp electric and water. Sixteen back-in sites with 30-amp electric and water. Twenty-five sites without any hookups. One double non-electric site. Important: Sites 11–25 and 66–79 have been permanently closed due to budget constraints. Check site availability carefully when booking.
Facilities: Four day-use picnic sites, one playground, one waterborne shower and restroom, two vault restrooms, dump station, three separate boat launches.
Note: No swim beach. The three boat ramps make this the best launch setup for anglers targeting the north and middle lake sections.
What it’s good for: Anglers, specifically. Three boat ramps plus a no-frills campground. The north lake section holds excellent crappie habitat in the standing timber and creek channels. Bald eagles are reported regularly over the upper lake in winter months.
Fees: 30-amp $26 | 50-amp $28
Hanks Creek Park
Location: Northwest shore, near Zavalla, Nacogdoches County Reservations: Recreation.gov #232594 Directions: From Zavalla, take State Hwy 147 northeast 1/4 mile, turn north on FM 2109 for 8 miles to FM 2801, turn right (east) 2 miles to park entrance
Hanks Creek is the quietest and most nature-focused Corps park on Sam Rayburn. Located on the northwest shore deep in the Angelina National Forest, it draws a different crowd than the south shore tournament parks — kayakers, birders, mountain bikers, and campers who want the full East Texas Piney Woods experience.
Sites: 43 sites with 30-amp electric and water. Six sites with 50-amp electric and water. Eight screened shelters with adjacent RV sites (50-amp electric and water) — these are the best screened shelter setup on the lake, with electric lights and outlets inside the shelter plus a paved RV pad adjacent. Group camping area with five RV sites and an open group shelter.
Facilities: Playground, boat ramp (outside the camping area, which keeps the campground quieter), hot showers, volleyball court, mountain bike trails.
Wildlife: Hanks Creek sits within habitat for the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker, which nests by pecking cavities in large living pine trees. Bald eagles, river otters, and deer are regularly spotted. This is the best park on Sam Rayburn for wildlife watching.
Note on the boat ramp: The ramp is located outside the main camping area, which is a thoughtful design decision that keeps boat traffic noise away from campsites. Some reviewers mention the dock has occasionally been unusable — verify current conditions if dock access matters for your trip.
What it’s good for: Kayaking, birding, mountain biking, screened shelter camping, anyone who wants the Angelina National Forest experience with campground amenities, bald eagle viewing in winter. Closest park to the free Angelina National Forest dispersed camping areas if you want to day-trip to both.
Fees: See Recreation.gov for current rates
Leased Parks — Private Operators on Corps Land
These parks are operated by private entities on land leased from the Corps. They offer facilities and experiences that differ from the Corps campgrounds — generally more amenity-focused with cabins, marinas, and on-site fuel.
Cassells-Boykin Park (Angelina County) Contact: 936-632-5531 | angelinacounty.net RV and tent camping, boat ramps, restrooms. County-operated, generally lower rates than private marinas.
Sam Rayburn Marina Resort Contact: 409-698-2696 | samrayburn.com Cabins, RV and tent camping, boat docks, fishing dock, fuel, restrooms, swim beach, fish cleaning station. Adjacent to Twin Dikes with its own boat ramps nearby. This is the main tournament weigh-in and social hub on the south lake.
Powell Park Marina Contact: 409-584-2624 | powellpark.com Cabins, RV and tent camping, restaurant, boat docks, fuel, day use. One of the better options if you want a cabin with on-site food.
Jackson Hill Marina Contact: 936-872-9266 | jacksonhill.us Cabins, RV and tent camping, picnic sites, boat ramp, swim beach.
Shirley Creek Marina Contact: 936-854-2233 | shirleycreek.com Cabins, RV and tent camping, boat docks, fuel, restrooms, courtesy dock, fish cleaning station.
Fishing Sam Rayburn — The Real Guide
Sam Rayburn hosts more than 500 bass tournaments annually. That number alone tells you what kind of fishery this is. Here’s what TPWD data and local guides actually say about fishing it:
Largemouth Bass Sam Rayburn’s bass population ranks among the best in the country for both numbers and size. The lake regularly produces double-digit fish. Special regulations apply: 16-inch minimum, 5-fish daily bag, only 1 fish over 24 inches may be kept per day. These slot limits protect breeding-size bass while allowing harvest of abundant smaller fish.
The prespawn period — January through early April — is the best window for trophy fish. Big females come off deep structure and push toward spawning areas in the main lake drains. Tournament guide Gary Reehm, who has fished Sam Rayburn for decades, notes the fish “simply doesn’t have down cycles” because of the lake’s consistent hydrilla base and enormous threadfin shad population.
During summer, the bite concentrates in early morning and late evening. Topwater lures at dawn along vegetation edges, then switch to plastic worms and jigs around brush piles and creek channels as the sun rises. Rarely need to go deeper than 30 feet.
Fall and winter: crankbaits and spinnerbaits in shallow water produce consistent action during longer daily windows of activity.
Crappie Excellent year-round. Twenty-five fish daily, no minimum size. Crappie jigs and minnows are the standard presentation. During spring spawn, target shallow areas around vegetation. Summer and winter, electronics help locate suspended schools in open water. The lake has more crappie guides than bass guides — the crappie fishing here is that good and that consistent.
Catfish Excellent year-round. Channel catfish (25/day), blue catfish (5/day), and flathead catfish (5/day) all present. Night fishing in summer around creek channels and deep holes with cut bait produces the most consistent results. One of the more underrated catfishing lakes in SETX given how much attention the bass get.
White Bass Limited numbers but productive spring runs up major creek arms. Worth targeting in March and April when they push shallow.
Bluegill and Redear Sunfish High numbers throughout the lake. The best beginner and family fishing on Sam Rayburn — easy to catch, great table fare.
Key Fishing Areas:
- Ayish Bayou, Black Fork, and Angelina River arms for creek arm fishing
- Dam area for deep-water species in summer
- Lower lake hydrilla flats for bass (clearer water, vegetation-focused)
- Upper lake standing timber for crappie year-round
- GPS-marked man-made brush piles throughout — your electronics will find them
Fishing License: Required. Texas freshwater license. Available at Walmart in Jasper, local tackle shops, or online at tpwd.texas.gov.
Local tackle: Needmore Tackle on the south end of the lake. Walmart in Jasper for basics.
Wildlife at Sam Rayburn
The combination of 114,000 acres of water and the surrounding national forest creates exceptional wildlife habitat. Here’s what you’ll actually see:
Bald Eagles — Winter residents, most visible November through February over the upper lake near Rayburn Park and Hanks Creek. The north lake is the best area. Multiple sightings are nearly guaranteed on a winter morning.
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker — Endangered species present in the old-growth pines around Hanks Creek Park. One of the few places in SETX where you have a genuine chance to see this bird.
Neotropical Migrants — San Augustine Park on the northeast shore sees excellent spring migration activity in April and May. Warblers, vireos, and tanagers coming through on their way north from the Gulf Coast.
White-Tailed Deer — Common throughout. Dawn and dusk near any forested edge.
Alligators — Present but less abundant here than at B.A. Steinhagen to the south. Primarily found in the Angelina River below the dam and in backwater sloughs. Standard SETX water rules apply.
Feral Hogs — Present in forested areas surrounding the lake. Keep food secured overnight.
River Otters — Occasionally spotted near the water’s edge, especially at Hanks Creek.
Getting There and Nearby Supplies
Jasper (south of lake): Twelve miles south of the dam on US-96. Brookshire Brothers grocery, Walmart, several restaurants, hardware stores (Lowe’s, Parker Bros, Harbor Freight, Tractor Supply), two coffee shops. For tackle: Needmore Tackle on the south lake shore is the local specialist option. The Stump restaurant and Hamburger Depot near the lake are the most-mentioned local spots.
Huntington (northwest): On the northwest end of the lake, smaller than Jasper but has food and gas.
San Augustine (northeast): On the northeast end, food and gas options for campers at Mill Creek and San Augustine Parks.
From Beaumont: US-96 North to Jasper, approximately 60–70 minutes. From Houston: US-59 North to Livingston, then US-190 East to Jasper, approximately 2 hours. Or US-69 to Lufkin, then south to the north end of the lake.
Best Time to Camp at Sam Rayburn
Fall (October–November): My pick for the best camping. Crowds drop sharply after Labor Day, temperatures moderate, the fishing is excellent, and the Piney Woods starts showing fall color. Bass are active throughout the day. Crappie are stacking up around structure before winter.
Spring (March–May): Peak season. Best bass fishing coincides with peak campground demand — book well ahead for spring weekends. The swim beaches open April 1. Wildflower displays at Ebenezer Park in March and April are worth seeing specifically.
Winter (December–February): Light crowds, excellent bald eagle viewing, bass fishing can be outstanding in prespawn from January forward. Year-round sections at Mill Creek, San Augustine, and Rayburn Park stay open. Bring real cold-weather gear — East Texas winter nights with wind off the water can be legitimately cold.
Summer (June–September): Hot and humid. Swim beaches are open and crowded on weekends. Tournament activity is high on the south lake. Fishing slows during midday — launch early and be off the water by noon if you’re not used to SETX summer heat. The north lake parks (Hanks Creek, Rayburn) are quieter than the south shore in summer.
FAQ
What is the largest campground at Sam Rayburn Reservoir? Mill Creek Park with 110 sites is the largest Corps campground. San Augustine Park at 100 sites is close behind and offers some of the best lake-view sites.
Can you camp with horses at Sam Rayburn? Yes — but only at Ebenezer Park, which is the only park on Sam Rayburn that allows equestrian camping. Thirteen equestrian sites with water and electric hookups, hitching posts, corrals, and access to 20+ miles of Angelina National Forest trails.
Do I need a reservation at Sam Rayburn campgrounds? Strongly recommended for spring and fall weekends. Sites can be reserved months in advance at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Some sites are first-come, first-served during slower periods.
Are there screened shelters at Sam Rayburn? Yes — Twin Dikes Park has three screened shelters ($38/night, with 30-amp electric, water, and sewer). Hanks Creek Park has eight screened shelters with adjacent 50-amp RV sites.
What fish can you catch at Sam Rayburn Reservoir? Largemouth bass (rated excellent, minimum 16 inches), crappie (excellent year-round), catfish (excellent), white bass (good in spring), bluegill and redear sunfish (high numbers).
How far is Sam Rayburn Reservoir from Beaumont? Approximately 60–70 miles via US-96 North, about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes depending on starting point.
Are there alligators at Sam Rayburn? Yes, though less commonly seen than at nearby B.A. Steinhagen Lake. Alligators are primarily found in the Angelina River below the dam and in backwater sloughs. Standard precautions apply near any waterway.
Is Sam Rayburn good for family camping? Mill Creek Park and San Augustine Park are the best family options — both have swim beaches, playgrounds, full hookups, and multiple amenities. Hanks Creek is good for families interested in wildlife viewing and the Angelina National Forest experience.
Sam Rayburn doesn’t show up on most Texas camping lists the way Big Bend or Garner State Park does. That’s fine by me — it means the campgrounds are manageable on weekdays, the fishing pressure is mostly concentrated at tournaments rather than spread across the whole lake, and you can still find stretches of 750 miles of shoreline where the only sound is the wood ducks working the flooded timber at dawn.
For the full picture on camping across Southeast Texas, see our complete guide to the best campgrounds in Southeast Texas. And if you’re pairing a Sam Rayburn trip with camping at the nearby B.A. Steinhagen Lake primitive sites on the Neches River, our Steinhagen primitive camping guide covers everything you need.
Before you head out, grab the free Ultimate Family Camping Checklist — 82 items across 7 categories, built for camping in Southeast Texas.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting SETX Camping!
