Cleburne State Park, located just outside of the city of Cleburne, Texas, offers RVers, recreation seekers, and nature lovers plenty of scenic places for activities as well as a relaxing camping atmosphere.
The park is located on the northern edge of Texas hill country and is a short drive from the hustle and bustle of busy city life. In approximately 30 minutes, campers can transition from traffic and noise to silence and solitude. The hills, lined with Ashe Juniper, Bur Oaks, Pecan, Cedar Elm, Texas Oak, Sycamores, Hackberries, Cottonwoods, and Black Willow trees provide shade and comfort to a diverse species of birds and other animals. The habitat creates a scenic environment for guests hoping to spot some of Texas’s most beautiful birds.
The facility is home to Lake Carter, a small lake perfect for water activities like fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Guests can spend time outside along the water, or hiking and biking on the numerous trails, or if they want peace and isolation, they can forget everything and relax next to some of the scenic overlooks. Campers staying overnight will feel comfortable with the park’s amenities. If you forgot something, stop by the park store, and see if they have what you need. The store sells ice, firewood, charcoal, ice cream, and souvenirs.
Cleburne State Park is 13 miles southeast of Cleburne, Texas. Cleburne is the closest city to the park for gas and groceries. The park is easy to access, and it is only a short drive away from many locations in Texas. It is 44 miles southwest of Fort Worth, 65 miles southwest of Dallas, and 161 miles north of Austin.
Cleburne State Park assesses a daily park fee. The fee applies to people ages 13 and older.
The park gates are open from 7:00 am through 10:00 pm daily. Visitors arriving late must contact the park before 5:00 pm on the arrival date for late arrival instructions.
The Cedar Grove Campground is a pet-friendly campground offering guests 15 electric sites to choose from. Each site is paved and has 20 and 30 amp electricity available as well as a lantern pole, a fire ring with a grill, and a picnic table. The spaces in this campground are back in and allow RVs and campers up to 36 feet in length. This campground has hydrants, a playground, modern showers, and restrooms, and it is located near the swimming beach. Please respect the park’s posted quiet hours, and be aware that generator use is not permitted within this facility.
The Keyhole Campground is a pet-friendly campground that has seven reservable electric spaces for RV camping. The paved, back in driveways accommodate RVs and trailers up to 51 feet in length. Each site has 30 amp electrical service as well as a lantern pole, a fire ring with a grill, and a picnic table. This campground has water, modern showers, restrooms, and is located near the park’s dump station. Please respect the park’s posted quiet hours, and be aware that generator use is not permitted within this facility.
The North Creek Campground is an eight-site, pet-friendly, full-hookup campground. Each site has water, 30 amp electrical service, and sewer, as well as a lantern pole, a fire ring with a grill, and a picnic table. The paved, back in driveways accommodate RVs and trailers up to 61 feet in length. This campground is located within walking distance to the modern restrooms and shower facilities, hydrants, and is near the dump station. Please respect the park’s posted quiet hours, and be aware that generator use is not permitted within this facility.
The Poplar Point Campground is a pet-friendly, 11-space campground with full hookups. Each paved driveway is a back in site and has 50 amp electrical service, water, and sewer as well as a lantern pole, a fire ring with a grill, and a picnic table. The largest space accommodates RVs and trailers up to 62 feet in length. Some spaces in this campground have lake views, and hikers can access the Fossil Ridge Hiking Trail from the campground boundaries. There are modern restrooms and showers located within the campground. Please respect the park’s posted quiet hours, and be aware that generator use is not permitted within this facility.
Visitors who love the water have many opportunities to spend time in and around Lake Carter. If you don’t care about fishing, bring your beach chairs and swimsuits and plan to spend the day at the beach. Since the lake is relatively small, boats can only operate at a no-wake level or without a motor. The calm lake makes activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing more enjoyable. If you don’t have a kayak or boat, off-site rental facilities provide rentals, some of which will bring the boat to you at the park.
Hikers and mountain bikers will enjoy the variety of multi-use trails that weave throughout the different areas of the park. Many of the trails allow both bike and foot traffic. The fishing trails that lead to the lake do not allow bike access. Those trails have hiking-only markers, so bikers won't have to worry about taking the wrong route. Guests who want more information on trail specifics, such as length and difficulty, should pick up a park map. The longest trail, the Fossil Ridge Trail is a two and a half-mile path, and the shortest trail, the Perch Point Fishing Trail, is just .12-miles long.
Take part in one of the most exciting electronic treasure hunts in the world. Geocaching is an activity where people across the globe use handheld GPS devices to locate hidden treasure anywhere that allows caches. The geocaching website posts information regarding the sizes of the caches as well as the difficulty of each hunt. Cleburne State Park has many hidden treasures. Guests who want to participate in this exciting activity should bring their GPS units and geocaching supplies with them. As with any outdoor activity, always prepare for inclement weather, and ensure you have plenty of water before heading out on your hunt.
The Shady Springs Campground is a pet-friendly campground with six camping spaces for RVs and trailers. The paved, back in sites offer 50 amp electrical service and allows for RVs up to 45 feet in length. Each site has a lantern pole, a fire ring with a grill, and a picnic table. This campground provides campers with modern showers, restrooms, hydrants, and a dump station. Please respect the park’s posted quiet hours, and be aware that generator use is not permitted within this facility.
Enjoy Texas year-round at one of the park’s day use areas. The park has five-day use areas for recreation. Many of the areas are close to playgrounds, trails, fishing areas, scenic overlooks, restrooms, picnic areas, and even a swim beach. If you plan on hosting an event and want to reserve a day use area ahead of time, make your reservations online in the same place where you book your campsites. For more information regarding the day use facilities, pick up a park map.
Cedar Lake is a 116-acre lake that is known for its clear, blue water, and its excellent fishing. Anglers have many fishing opportunities along the shores of the lake. The short fishing trails take people right to the water’s edge allowing ample space for shoreline fishing. If fishing from higher ground is more your style, the fishing pier is an excellent place to cast your reel. The lake also allows motorless boats or boats operating at no-wake speed, so anglers who want a more isolated fishing experience can fish in the open water. The fish in Cedar Lake are abundant, and people often catch largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. If you don’t have fishing gear, the park loans out what you might need for a fun day fishing. Cleburne State Park does not require anglers to have a fishing license.
The park encourages people of all ages to become involved in the education and the preservation of Texas state parks. The park hosts many events throughout the year that inform and entertain people of many ages. The park wants to encourage kids to become involved. Kids can pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Journal and borrow an explorer pack to help complete the tasks needed to earn a Junior Ranger Badge. For information on the park’s events or for details on becoming a Junior Ranger, ask a member of the staff or visit the park’s website.
