Top Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Spots in Texas
Texas has 23,422 listed water destinations, including lakes and rivers. Browse them by type below, with ratings, photos and directions for each.
🏞️Top Lakes in Texas
6 locations
4.5(1,966)Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake
A 784-acre waterfront park with a white-sand beach & 2 boat ramps plus volleyball & picnic areas.
4.7(1,383)White Rock Lake
Large reservoir lake with hiking, boating, picnicking, bird-watching, a museum & a dog park.
4.6(612)Lady Bird Lake
Riverlike reservoir for kayaking & rowing, plus trails alongside for jogging & wildlife viewing.
4.7(531)Possum Kingdom Lake
18,000-acre lake surrounded by hills, cliffs & trails, offers swimming, boating & diving.
4.6(454)Grapevine Lake
8,000-acre reservoir offering fishing, boating (including rentals), hiking & camping plus cabins.
4.5(290)Lavon Lake
Freshwater lake with a dam used for recreational activities, including swimming, fishing & boating.
🌊Top Rivers in Texas
4 locations
4.5(936)Red River
At 1,290 miles long, the Red River forms the Texas-Oklahoma boundary for approximately half its length, rising in eastern New Mexico and flowing southeast through Texas and Louisiana to the Mississippi. Denison Dam creates Lake Texoma — one of the largest U.S. reservoirs covering 89,000 acres and attracting 6 million visitors annually. The river's distinctive red color comes from sediment carried during flood periods, and ancient salt deposits from a 250-million-year-old sea give the water high mineral content.
4.6(890)Guadalupe River
The 230-mile Guadalupe River is Texas Hill Country's premier tubing and rafting destination, with the stretch through New Braunfels offering rapids, boulders, and tube chutes. The popular Horseshoe Loop provides a one-hour float with manageable rapids, while longer sections offer 2-6 hour adventures. Flow is controlled by Canyon Lake dam releases. Tube rentals run $15-22 per person with shuttle. Alcohol allowed in non-disposable containers only within city limits; life jackets required when flow exceeds 750 cfs.
4.4(647)San Marcos River
Fed by natural springs from the Edwards Aquifer, the San Marcos River maintains crystal-clear water at a consistent 72-78°F year-round, with depths typically 2-8 feet. The 75-mile river is a premier tubing destination just 30 miles from Austin, with outfitters offering 45-minute downtown floats to 3-hour adventures. Swimming access is available at multiple city parks. The springs are ecologically unique, home to endangered species including the Texas blind salamander and fountain darter. Parks open 6 AM to 11 PM.
4.6(437)Comal River
The Comal River is the shortest navigable river in the state of Texas in the United States. Proclaimed the "longest shortest river in the world" by locals, it runs entirely within the city limits of New Braunfels in southeast Comal County. It is a tributary of the Guadalupe River.
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