Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Sam Rayburn Reservoir is the biggest lake that sits entirely inside Texas, a 114,500-acre sweep of water in the Piney Woods north of Jasper and southeast of Lufkin. Locals just call it “Rayburn,” and most people know it as a bass fishing capital. Spend a day out there with a surf boat or a few Sea-Doos and you find the other side of it: wide-open water, sandy points, quiet creek arms and pine forest on every shoreline.

The lake is about two and a half hours from Houston and a little over three hours from Dallas, which makes it a natural long-weekend trip. Plenty of groups rent a cabin or a campsite and stay right on the water for two or three days.

Sam Rayburn Reservoir Quick Facts

Where to Launch and Meet Up

The Corps of Engineers and local marinas run a long list of parks around the lake, and nearly every one has a ramp. These are the spots most groups use:

• Rayburn Park (north shore): Corps campground with ramps and a swim beach on the San Augustine County side.
• Twin Dikes and the Jasper side: big ramps and parking close to the dam and the town of Jasper.
• Hanks Creek and Caney Creek (west side): good launches if you are coming in from Lufkin or Zavalla.
• Marinas around the lake: full-service marinas with fuel and supplies are spread along both shores.

Where to Ride, Surf and Tube

Pick a protected creek arm. Rayburn is long and wide, so the main lake can kick up a chop on windy afternoons. Creek arms and the coves behind points give you calmer water for surfing and tubing.

The lower lake near the dam. The deeper, open water toward the dam is the go-to area for surf sets early in the day.

Watch the upper lake. Standing timber and stumps fill parts of the upper lake and the creek ends. Cruise those areas slowly or skip them.

Find a sandy point for lunch. Many points have sandy shallows that make a great place to anchor, swim and take a break.

Rentals That Fit Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Rayburn has room for everything, so a mixed group works best here. A MasterCraft surf boat rental carries 12 to 18 people and throws a clean wave in the sheltered coves, while a couple of Sea-Doo jet skis and waverunners let riders explore the creek arms. Add tubes, wakeboards and a floating lily pad for the sandbars, or book a captained charter if nobody wants to drive on a lake this size. Everything is ready at the lake, and life jackets are available for everyone on board.

Tips for a Smoother Lake Day

• Plan around the wind. Mornings are usually calmer. Save the open-water crossings for early, and tuck into a cove when the afternoon breeze picks up.
• Make it a weekend. The lake is a long drive from the big cities, so a cabin, campsite or lake house turns it into a much better trip.
• Give anglers room. Rayburn hosts big bass tournaments. Slow down and keep your wake away from fishing boats.
• Know your cove. Pick a meeting spot on the map before the group splits between the boat and the jet skis.

Rules on the Water

• Jet skis must be off the water between sunset and sunrise, and everyone riding wears a life jacket with the safety lanyard clipped to the driver.
• Stay at least 50 feet from other boats, swimmers, docks and the shoreline unless you are at idle speed.
• Children under 13 must wear a life jacket whenever the boat is moving.
• When towing a rider, keep an observer on board watching them, and finish towing by a half hour after sunset.
• Slow to idle in marina coves and swim areas at the Corps parks, and watch for standing timber in the upper lake.

More East Texas Lakes

Lake Livingston is about 90 minutes southwest, and Lake Conroe is an easy stop on the way back to Houston. To the east, Toledo Bend Reservoir is even bigger and sits on the Louisiana line. See every lake we serve on our destinations page.

Find Sam Rayburn Reservoir on the Map