Dallas has exactly three state parks within 50 miles, and each sits on a big lake in a different direction. Cedar Hill, southwest on Joe Pool Lake, keeps limestone hills and rare pockets of prairie a short drive from downtown. Ray Roberts Lake, north near Pilot Point, has a 29,000-acre lake and a 20-mile greenbelt trail down to Lake Lewisville. Lake Tawakoni, east near Wills Point, has more than five miles of shoreline on a reservoir with striped bass. This is the outdoor half of the day. The eating half is at the end: one table on the way back from each park.
We run State Park Near Me, a directory of every state park in the country, and we are a guest here. Top of Dallas asked for the parks. They supplied the restaurants.
The day, in order
All three are Texas Parks and Wildlife parks, so the rules are the same: open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., children 12 and under free, and no fishing licence needed to fish from the shore or a pier. All three also say they often reach capacity, so reserve a day pass online for any weekend or holiday. Cedar Hill is the short trip, about 17 miles southwest. Ray Roberts and Lake Tawakoni are each a full day, north and east.
Cedar Hill
The park sits on the shore of Joe Pool Lake among limestone hills and rare prairie pockets, and the state says it feels a world away from the city. Swim, fish, boat or paddle on the lake; there are two four-lane boat ramps, lighted fishing jetties and a perch pond for children. The DORBA trail, named for the Dallas Off Road Biking Association, crosses 1,200 acres for hikers and bikers and closes when wet; as of October 10 all hiking trails are open. The Penn Farm Agricultural History Center has a self-guided tour of a family farm worked for over a century. Day use is $7 for adults. Joe Pool Marina is permanently closed, so ask at headquarters where to buy bait.
Ray Roberts Lake
The state calls it a natural playground an hour north of the Metroplex. Anglers come for largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish on the 29,000-acre lake, where the largemouth record is 15.18 pounds; there are beaches with no lifeguards, boat ramps, a fishing pier and fish cleaning stations. The 20-mile Greenbelt Corridor runs from the dam to Lake Lewisville along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, with 12 miles open to horses and 10 for hiking and biking. As of October 19 every trail is open. The main Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch units are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; adults pay $7.
Lake Tawakoni
The park covers 376 acres of oak forest and more than five miles of shore on a 37,879-acre reservoir. Fish for striped and hybrid striped bass, white bass, catfish, crappie and largemouth from shore or a boat; there is a four-lane ramp, a fish cleaning station and a kid fish pond. Nearly five miles of trails run through the woods, and kayaks rent at a self-service kiosk. Day use is $5 for adults. Check the date before you go: the park is closed to everyone but permitted hunters from noon October 30 to noon November 2.
The full list
Directions, maps and the official site for each of these are on our side. The state parks near Dallas page on State Park Near Me lists all three, closest first, with a page for every park.
Where to eat after
The parks sit in three directions, so here is one table on the way back from each, from three Top of Dallas lists: date night, Frisco and Mesquite. The scores are theirs, not ours.
Sam's Pizza & Pasta
Insider Score7.5
Pizza · Cedar Hill
After Cedar Hill, in Cedar Hill itself, a few minutes from the park. Locally owned and family friendly; the meat lovers pizza and homemade lasagna are the orders.
Hutchins BBQ
Insider Score8.7
Barbecue · Frisco
After Ray Roberts Lake, in Frisco on the drive back south. Brisket, ribs and sausage are the anchors, and the line forms early, before the lunch rush.
Yia Yia's House of Gyros
Insider Score8.2
Greek · Mesquite
After Lake Tawakoni, in Mesquite on the I-20 drive back west. The classic gyro is the reason to come, everything reads as made in-house, and the staff close the meal with a small sweet.
Scores are Top of Dallas Insider Scores. Restaurant photographs from Yelp.
Sources. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department pages and alerts for Cedar Hill, Ray Roberts Lake and Lake Tawakoni state parks, checked October 21, 2026. Distances are straight-line from the Dallas town center, from State Park Near Me. Restaurant scores and notes from the Top of Dallas date night, Frisco and Mesquite guides, October 2026. Top photo: Joe Pool Lake from Cedar Hill State Park by Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; park photo credits are under each photo.
State Park Near Me writes for State Park Near Me. State Park Near Me lists every state park, historic site, beach and recreation area in the United States, with directions and the nearest other parks. Every park page links to the park's official site. This piece was written for Top of Dallas.