Outdoors
Lakes, rivers and beaches near Richardson where swimming is allowed on public land.
Good to know: Most natural swimming areas have no lifeguard; check water-quality advisories and current conditions before swimming.
13 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers
Hackberry Pavilion is an excellent place for visitors to spend the day at Lavon Lake, enjoying the beach, picnicking and boating. Recreation Lavon Lake's most common fish include the largemouth bass, white bass, blue catfish and crappie.
16 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers
Lavonia Campground is a scenic Texas getaway just beyond the Dallas metropolitan area. Visitors can camp, swim, fish, boat or use the day use area.
18 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Lakeland Pavilion is a pleasant picnic pavilion and large group campground accommodating up to 500 visitors for picnicking, boating and fishing on Lavon Lake.
Map of 10 places loads as you scroll.
Hackberry Pavilion is an excellent place for visitors to spend the day at Lavon Lake, enjoying the beach, picnicking and boating. Recreation Lavon Lake's most common fish include the largemouth bass, white bass, blue catfish and crappie.
Lavonia Campground is a scenic Texas getaway just beyond the Dallas metropolitan area. Visitors can camp, swim, fish, boat or use the day use area.
Lakeland Pavilion is a pleasant picnic pavilion and large group campground accommodating up to 500 visitors for picnicking, boating and fishing on Lavon Lake.
Westlake features four group shelters on Lewisville Lake, where visitors can spend a day picnicking or boating on the almost 30,000-acre reservoir, just outside the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
High View Park is on a long peninsula on the western shore of Bardwell Lake, less than an hour south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in north-central Texas.
Mott Park is located on the western shore of Bardwell Lake, less than an hour south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in north-central Texas.
Holiday Park dayuse area (North Holiday Park) is on the west side of Benbrook Lake in north central Texas, accessible from US Hwy 377.
Mustang Park is a spacious dayuse area on the south side of Benbrook Lake in north-central Texas, accessible from WInscott Plover Road. Swimming, picnicking, fishing, boat launching, and wildlife viewing are available.
Navarro Mills Lake holds the state record white crappie at 4lbs 9 ounces.
Springs, streams, lakes - whatever its form, water is the attraction at Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Richardson. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Drone views of UT Dallas, CityLine, Breckinridge Park, Spring Creek Nature Area and more. A film shared by Severance Skies.
Watch on YouTube ↗
A WALK AROUND TOWN
A short walk around Point North Park on a windy spring day. A film shared by made to xplore.
Watch on YouTube ↗Hackberry Pavilion (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 13 miles east of Richardson as the crow flies. Next are Lavonia (16 mi) and Lakeland Pavilion (18 mi).
Based on Richardson’s average highs, April–October. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.