\n Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the Grand Canyon of Texas | Image by Texas Parks and Wildlife\/website <\/p>\n
Texas state parks attracted more than 9.2 million visitors in 2025, with one North Texas park drawing nearly a million guests alone, according to newly released data from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.<\/p>\n
The numbers<\/a> reveal where Texans prefer to spend their outdoor time, with the Prairies & Lakes region leading with over 3 million visits.<\/p>\n Ray Roberts State Park<\/a>, located an hour from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, claimed the top spot for attendance. The park\u2019s nine units around Ray Roberts Lake offer camping, hiking, and swimming.<\/p>\n Garner State Park<\/a> ranked second, drawing visitors to its three miles of the Frio River cutting through 1,700 acres. The Hill Country destination sits about 90 minutes west of San Antonio.<\/p>\n Cedar Hill State Park<\/a>, less than 30 minutes from Dallas, took third place. The park on Joe Pool Lake provides an escape that \u201cstill feels like you\u2019re a world away from the city,\u201d according to TPWD.<\/p>\n Palo Duro Canyon State Park<\/a>, often called the Grand Canyon of Texas, ranked fourth overall. The second-largest canyon in the country offers more than 30 miles of hiking trails in the Texas Panhandle.<\/p>\n Enchanted Rock State Natural Area<\/a> rounded out the top five. The massive pink granite dome near Austin has drawn visitors for thousands of years.<\/p>\n Other popular destinations included McKinney Falls State Park<\/a>, just 13 miles from the state capitol, and Galveston Island State Park,<\/a> which offers coastal swimming and bird watching. Dinosaur Valley State Park<\/a> near Fort Worth features genuine dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River bed.<\/p>\n The data shows Texans gravitate toward parks with water access and those within driving distance of major cities. Six of the top 10 parks sit within 90 minutes of Dallas, Houston, Austin, or San Antonio. Texas Parks and Wildlife maintains 92 parks<\/a> across the state\u2019s seven regions.<\/p>\n