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Fish one of the state’s largest lakes, hike quiet trails through the forest, or camp under the stars. This rejuvenating escape from city life is only an hour north of Houston.
Swim, fish, boat, hike, bird, camp, picnic, mountain bike, geocache, and study nature at Lake Livingston State Park. We have activities for everyone in the family!
We have a variety of camping options, ranging from tent sites with nearby water to campsites with full hookups. Rent one of the ten screened shelters, some of which are ADA accessible. Alternatively, reserve one of our group sites for your next reunion.
Souvenirs, drinks, snacks, ice, camping and fishing supplies, and much more are available at our park store. Wednesday through Sunday, the park store is open (hours vary by season).
There are alligators in the area; read our alligator safety tips.
Lake Livingston is one of the state’s largest lakes, famous for its white bass population. Catfish, crappie, bass, and perch are all possibilities. Three boat ramps, two fish cleaning stations, a fishing pier, and bank fishing are available at the park.
Tips & Tactics:
Early spring is the best time to catch white bass in the many creeks that feed Lake Livingston. Trolling and vertical jigging spoons or live shad can be used to catch striped bass near the 190 bridge. Largemouth bass are most commonly caught in bays and creeks north of the Kickapoo/Penwaugh area. Spring and fall are the most productive seasons for largemouth bass. Most of the year, channel and blue catfish can be caught on a variety of organic and live baits in the main river channel and in off-channel tributaries and creeks.
One of the best ways to beat the Texas summer heat is to cool off in Lake Livingston State Park’s main attraction: the 83,000-acre Lake Livingston. The lake is a Trinity River impoundment and one of the state’s largest reservoirs, supplying water to Houston and other East Texas cities. Lake Livingston is a swimmer’s paradise, with acres of cool water to play in and explore.
Lake Livingston State Park makes lake adventure accessible by renting canoes, single and double kayaks, and paddleboards from the park store. Whatever type of paddling you prefer, get in your favourite boat and enjoy the beauty of the Piney Woods region from the water—there is no better way to get a sense of what this park is all about. Those looking for an even bigger adventure can paddle out to Pine Island, which is about three miles from the park’s shore.
Visitors looking to learn or experience something new during their visit should look into the park’s many free ranger programmes, which provide visitors with unique opportunities all year. Kayaking or fishing with a ranger, taking a guided walk to learn about the park’s wildlife, learning about the moon and stars, or attending a craft workshop are among the programmes available. The park offers these ranger programmes all year, so visitors looking for a one-of-a-kind experience should check the park’s event calendar.
Lake Livingston State Park has several miles of hiking trails for visitors who want to stretch their legs and explore the park on land. Hikers of all skill levels will be able to find a trail that suits them. Those looking for a quick stroll can take the half-mile Oak Flat Trail, which is one of the park’s easiest hikes. RV visitors looking for a longer hike can take the nearly two-mile Trinity Trace Trail, which provides some of the best wildlife viewing in the park. You should stop at the observation tower for the best view of Pine Island, the lake’s largest island. On your night walk, make sure to stop at the frog pond to listen to a frog symphony!
Lake Livingston State Park is located along the Central North American Flyway and on the western edge of the Mississippi Flyway, making it an excellent location for bird watching. The park’s diverse habitats allow it to host a unique combination of birds all year, so you can expect to see interesting birds no matter when you visit. Look for the downy woodpecker, tufted titmouse, and red-shouldered hawk in the forest. A black-crowned night heron, great egret, or double-crested cormorant may be found closer to the shore.
The Lake Livingston/Onalaska KOA is located on the beautiful shores of Lake Livingston, about an hour from Houston. Lake Livingston/Onalaska KOA offers a relaxing atmosphere ideal for a vacation getaway, as well as easy access to the beautiful natural areas that surround the lakefront and the Texas Piney Woods region. The Lake Livingston/Onalaska KOA has a private beach, a marina, lakefront campsites, cable TV, fishing, a swimming pool and hot tub, and a clubhouse with a full kitchen. Large pull-through sites can accommodate rigs of up to 100 feet in length.
On the park’s southern end, in the pet-friendly Hercules Club Loop, there are 26 sites with water and electricity, numbered 72-97. These sites have water and electric hookups, as well as quick access to restrooms with showers and a dump station just up the road from the loop entrance. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern post, and can accommodate rigs up to 62 feet long. Many of these locations are near the water, and the sunset views are spectacular! This loop also provides easy access to the Trinity Trace Trail and the lake.
More RV sites are available in Lake Livingston State Park’s Pin Oak Loop, which offers seven full hookup sites and 43 water and electricity sites at the park’s northern end. Full hookup sites provide 50-amp electric, water, and sewer hookups. This loop’s sites all have a picnic table, a lantern post, a fire ring with grill, and restrooms with showers nearby. The water and electric sites are close to a dump station at the loop’s entrance, and all sites are close to Trinity Trace Trail. The Pin Oak Loop can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 61 feet long, and pets are welcome.
The campsites are close together and well shaded at this campground. Visitors who book at least three campsites in this campground can also reserve the open-air pavilion. The pavilion has picnic tables, an outdoor grill, and electricity for up to 50 people.
Sites 1-37 are on the Yaupon Loop, which is close to the Red Oak Loop along the park road. These pet-friendly campsites have easy access to restrooms and showers, as well as a picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring with grill. There are also sewer, water, and 50-amp electric hookups. The Yaupon Loop is a little further away from the lake, and the campsites are large and spread out, providing privacy. This loop also provides easy access to Trinity Trace Trail, so visitors looking for a quick two-mile hike can hop on this nearby trail. This is the loop for you if you have a larger rig because vehicles up to 75 feet long can be accommodated.
The pet-friendly Red Oak loop has 12 full hookup sites available for reservation. Each site has water, sewer, and 50-amp electrical hookups. There’s also a lantern post and a fire ring with a grill, as well as restrooms with showers nearby. These 12 sites, numbered 38-49, can accommodate rigs up to 61 feet long and are located on the west side of the Piney Shores Loop. Those looking to get some exercise can take the nearby Trinity Trace Trail, which leads hikers through the forest and provides excellent wildlife viewing. These sites, like Piney Shores, provide easy access to one of the park’s boat ramps and a fish cleaning station.
The Piney Shores loop has some of the best RV sites in the park, with 22 full-hookup sites overlooking Lake Livingston. These lakefront sites include a picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring with a grill, in addition to their prime location. Water, sewer, and 20-, 30-, and 50-amp hookups are available at these sites, which are numbered 50-71. They are very large, with level concrete slabs and nearby restrooms and showers. In addition, the Piney Shores Loop can accommodate rigs up to 61 feet long, and pets are welcome.
For those looking to get some exercise while staying here, these sites provide easy access to Trinity Trace Trail, a two-mile trail that connects all of the campsites and provides some of the best wildlife viewing in the park. Best of all, these locations are only a few steps away from a boat ramp and a fish cleaning station. You can make reservations for specific sites in this loop, so plan ahead of time if you want one of these premium sites.
The park has ten screened shelters and is located right on the water’s edge next to Piney Shores Campground. These simple screened huts with wooden floors are ideal for visitors who have their own equipment and want to camp out but not in a tent. Each site can accommodate eight people, and reservations must be made for a minimum of two nights. A ladder leads to a loft area, where there is more than enough space for all eight visitors. The screened shelters are equipped with electricity, and restrooms and water are nearby. The majority of the shelters are on the waterfront and provide beautiful sunrise and sunset views, while those that are not directly on the lake provide a quiet place to relax under the trees. Except for one, all of the shelters have wheelchair ramps and are ADA-compliant.
The Briar Loop has 16 campsites that are centrally located in the park and not far from the lake. They are also close to many of the park’s trails, making this a great place to camp if you plan on doing a lot of walking. These campsites, while not suitable for RVs, can accommodate up to eight tent campers and each has its own picnic table. The restrooms are a short walk away from the campsites and have communal water spigots.
Lake Livingston State Park, located seven miles south of Livingston off US Highway 59 and about 70 miles north of Houston, is easily accessible by RV. There are no restrictions on RV and trailer driving along any of the numerous routes in this area. The park has paved roads that are simple to navigate in your RV, so getting to the park and to your campsite should be a breeze. Many of the campsites are back-in, so plan accordingly when you arrive.
Visitors can stop by the park store for small necessities such as souvenirs, drinks, snacks, ice, and camping and fishing supplies. The nearest gas station is approximately five miles away, in the direction of Livingston. Visitors can visit the restaurants, grocery stores, and shops in Livingston, which is seven miles away, for more extensive food and supply needs.
Parking is simple within the park, with parking available at each campsite and in designated areas throughout. Parking is available near the boat ramp by the Piney Shores loop, near the recreation hall and playground, and in several locations near Briar Loop.
Lake Livingston State Park is located near the southern end of the East Texas Timber Belt. Lake Livingston’s trees The timber belt’s gently rolling sandy soils meet the Post Oak Savanna’s nearly level clay lowlands here.
This region receives nearly 50 inches of rain per year. Temperatures average 51 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 81 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Summertime highs can reach 100 degrees. But don’t worry; Lake Livingston will keep you cool!
The park is one mile south of Livingston on US Highway 59, four miles west on FM 1988, and half a mile north on FM 3126 to Park Road 65, 75 miles north of Houston.
Note: This is not the official Park website. However, it is an easy-to-use site, with everything you need to plan a trip.
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