The 100 Biggest Lakes in Texas (Ranking them all)

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biggest lakes in Texas

Every wonder about the biggest lakes in Texas?

Call me a geek, but I know I sure have!

If you’re just looking for the definitive list of the largest lakes in Texas, you can use the table of contents below to jump to the bottom of the page where the 100 biggest lakes are ranked by surface area.

But if you’re interested in learning more about some of the major lakes in Texas, including how to take advantage of them via recreation, then read on!

The Five Biggest Lakes in Texas

In order, these are the five biggest lakes in Texas.

1. Toledo Bend Reservoir (182,490 acres)

The Toledo Bend Reservoir is the biggest lake in Texas—and it’s actually the largest manmade lake in the southern United States. Located halfway between Texas and Louisiana, Toledo Bend’s 1,200 miles of shoreline make it an absolutely massive lake with plenty of amenities.

Fishing is by far the biggest attraction at Toledo Bend; it hosts several fishing tournaments throughout the year. You can catch bass, crappie, carp, white bass, striped bass, and catfish here.

But if you aren’t big on fishing, the lake is also great for jet skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing. Outside of the water, you can enjoy Toledo Bend’s hiking trails—it even allows you to enjoy the trails on horseback!

Toledo Bend Stats:

  • Surface area: 182,490 acres
  • Length: 65 miles
  • Width: 10 miles
  • Max depth: 110 feet
  • Average depth: 24 feet

More info:

2. Sam Rayburn Reservoir (112,590 acres)

Sam Rayburn is the second-largest lake in Texas at 112,590 total acres. It’s located in east Texas, just over an hour away from the city of Beaumont. If there’s one thing you should take away about the Sam Rayburn Reservoir, it’s the fishing. This lake was ranked number one in the country for having the best bass. Stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, white bass, and more, Sam Rayburn hosts hundreds of fishing tournaments every year. If you want pro-level bass fishing, this is the spot.

Sam Rayburn Reservoir Stats:

  • Surface area: 112,590 acres
  • Length: 36.4 miles
  • Width: 4.3 miles
  • Max depth: 80 feet

More info:

3. Falcon Reservoir (85,195 acres)

Falcon Reservoir is large lake located on the Rio Grande between Texas and Mexico. It’s about half an hour from Laredo and is the third-largest lake in the state of Texas. Because it’s so huge, there’s so much to do at Falcon Reservoir! Go bird-watching, geocache, water ski, or enjoy a day out on your boat.

Falcon Reservoir is another great destination for amateur anglers. If you’ve never caught an alligator gar before, this is your chance! Keep in mind that, if your boat goes into Mexican waters, you’ll need a Mexican fishing license. Monitor your GPS carefully if you don’t have the right paperwork.

Falcon Reservoir Stats:

  • Surface area: 112,590 acres
  • Max depth: 110 feet

More info:

  • Address: Falcon State Park, 146 Park Rd 46, Roma, TX 78584
  • Website: Falcon Reservoir

4. Lake Texoma (78,420 acres)

I spent many summers frolicking on the shores of Lake Texoma at the Rocky Point Girl Scout Camp. I can say from firsthand experience that Lake Texoma is the quintessential American lake: it has something for everybody. You won’t find perfect azure water here for swimming, but Lake Texoma has plenty of decent beaches that are perfect for a family outing.

If you want horse trails, they’ve got it. If you want campsites or cabins, they’ve got it. Heck, you can even charter a cruise to travel around the lake if you want.

One of the more unique features of Lake Texoma is that you can visit casinos on the Oklahoma side. Some folks like to shuttle from Texas to Oklahoma to make a day of it—give gambling a go if you need a break from the hot sun!

Lake Texoma Stats:

  • Surface area: 78,420 acres
  • Max depth: 98 feet

More info:

  • Address: 87426 Preston Bend Rd, Pottsboro, TX 75076
  • Website: Lake Texoma

5. Lake Amistad (66,465 acres)

Feel like a trip to the border? Lake Amistad is one of the largest and most unique lakes in Texas. Perched on the Rio Grande River, two-thirds of the lake is located in the US while another third is in Mexico (FYI, “amistad” means “friendship” in Spanish). Lake Amistad is free to access if you just want to hang out and swim, but if you plan on boating, camping, or hunting, you’ll need to pay for a special pass.

And yes, I said hunting! Lake Amistad is unique because it actually allows hunting. You can find deer, javelina, turkey, rabbit, antelope, hog, and plenty of other game here. You’ll obviously need to follow rules regarding hunting equipment and game seasonality, so check their requirements before you start hunting.

Lake Amistad is generally considered safe, but it’s located on the border between two countries, so keep your wits about you.

Lake Amistad Stats:

  • Surface area: 66,465 acres
  • Max depth: 217 feet

More info:

  • Address: 10477 Highway 90 West, Del Rio, TX 78840
  • Website: Lake Amistad

Other large notable lakes

While the following lakes vary in their spot on the list of our state’s largest lakes, these are some of the best big lakes in Texas.

9. Lake Livingston (32,538 acres)

Lake Livingston is an hour north of Houston and situated in the beautiful Piney Woods. It’s a little swampy, but it’s safe to swim at designated beaches around Lake Livingston. If you want to canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, you can rent them Thursday – Sunday from the park rangers. Lake Livingston is also the perfect destination for a picnic thanks to its tall, fragrant pine trees.

  • Address: 300 State Park Rd 65, Livingston, TX 77351-1601
  • Website: Lake Livingston

17. Caddo Lake (26,800 acres)

Caddo Lake is a gigantic lake out in East Texas (fun fact: it’s located in Karnack, TX, home of former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson). This absolutely gigantic lake is right on the eastern border of Texas and Louisiana, so you’ll get the full-on swamp experience here.

I would absolutely under no circumstances swim in Caddo Lake because of the critters in the swamp, but it’s great for outdoor recreation nonetheless. You can rent a canoe or bring your own kayak to explore the park’s 50+ miles of paddling trails. Enjoy the beautiful sights of bald cypress trees topped with Spanish moss as you spend the day hiking, boating, or camping at one of Caddo Lake’s many campgrounds.

18. Lake Ray Hubbard (20,963 acres)

I was really shocked to learn that Lake Ray Hubbard is one of the largest lakes in North Texas. Growing up in the suburbs of Dallas, our drinking water mostly came from Lake Ray Hubbard. It may be an artificial lake, but it’s actually a pretty great destination for water sports. It’s popular for the Rockwall Harbor shopping area that overlooks the water, but Lake Ray Hubbard is also good for a spot of fishing. I wouldn’t recommend swimming here, though: the vegetation and overall lake setup makes Lake Ray Hubbard better for boating.

22. Lake Travis (19,048 acres)

You can’t visit the Austin area without making a trip to Lake Travis. This iconic lake is an essential part of Central Texas life. Lake Travis is definitely more of a party destination, so if you’ve always wanted to rent a yacht or treat your BFFs to a party boat, this is the place to go.

P.S. If you plan on swimming in Lake Travis, be super careful. Swimming is allowed, but there have been accidents where drunk boaters have crashed into swimmers. Always swim in designated areas!

  • Address: 4370 Mansfield Dam Park Rd., Austin, TX 78732
  • Website: Lake Travis

46. Canyon Lake (8,308 acres)

I have to admit that Canyon Lake is one of my favorite lakes in the state of Texas. Situated about 40 minutes north of San Antonio, this natural area features one of the deepest lakes in the state of Texas. The awesome thing about Canyon Lake is the color of the water: the lake’s depth and other features make for stunningly blue water that invites you in for a dip.

While you’re free to boat and swim in Canyon Lake, it’s a popular destination for tubing and rafting. Rent a boat for the day and enjoy the exhilarating, warm Texas air on your face as you race across the lake on a tube.

  • Address: 1178 Comal Park Rd, Canyon Lake, TX 78133
  • Website: Canyon Lake

Full list of the 100 largest lakes in Texas by surface area

Here is the full list of the biggest lakes in Texas, sorted by surface area:

Rank Lake Surface area (acres)
1 Toledo Bend Reservoir 182,490
2 Sam Rayburn Reservoir 112,590
3 Falcon Reservoir 85,195
4 Lake Texoma 78,420
5 Amistad Reservior 66,465
6 Richland-Chambers Reservoir 43,384
7 Lake Tawakoni 37,325
8 Cedar Creek Reservoir 32,873
9 Lake Livingston 32,583
10 Ray Roberts Lake 28,646
11 Lake Fork Reservoir 27,264
12 Lake Lewisville 27,175
13 Lake Caddo 26,800
14 Choke Canyon Reservoir 25,989
15 Lake Whitney 23,220
16 Lake Palestine 22,656
17 Lake Buchanan 22,137
18 Lake Ray Hubbard 20,963
19 Lake Lavon 20,559
20 Lake Conroe 20,118
21 O.H. Ivie Reservoir 19,149
22 Lake Travis 19,048
23 Lake Corpus Christ 18,256
24 Wright Patman Lake (Texarkana) 18,247
25 Cooper Lake 17,958
26 Barker Reservoir 17,225
27 Lake O’ the Pines 16,919
28 Addicks Reservoir 16,780
29 Possum Kingdom Lake 16,716
30 Lake Meredith 16,411
31 Lake Kemp 15,357
32 Hubbard Creek Reservoir 14,992
33 Lake Arrowhead 14,969
34 Spence Reservoir, E.V. 14,640
35 Lake Limestone 12,553
36 Belton Lake 12,135
37 Bridgeport, Lake 11,954
38 Houston, Lake 11,854
39 Somerville Lake 10,843
40 Steinhagen Lake, B.A. 10,687
41 Cisco, Lake 10,430
42 Texana, Lake 9,676
43 Bob Sandlin, Lake 8,703
44 Eagle Mountain Lake 8,694
45 Twin Buttes Reservoir 8,445
46 Canyon Lake 8,308
47 Waco, Lake 8,190
48 Granbury, Lake 7,945
49 Red Bluff Reservoir 7,495
50 Joe Pool Lake 7,470
51 J.B. Thomas, Lake 7,282
52 South Texas Project Reservoir 7,000
53 Grapevine Lake 6,893
54 J.D. Murphree WMA Impoundments 6,881
55 Stillhouse Hollow Lake 6,484
56 Brownwood, Lake 6,443
57 Kickapoo, Lake 6,028
58 Lake Lyndon B. Johnson 6,024
59 Pat Mayse Lake 5,638
60 Medina Lake 5,426
61 O.C. Fisher Lake 5,348
62 Stamford, Lake 5,158
63 Anahuac, Lake 5,035
64 Martin Creek Lake 4,981
65 Tyler, Lake / Lake Tyler East 4,737
66 Navarro Mills Lake 4,736
67 Proctor Lake 4,537
68 Fort Phantom Hill, Lake 4,213
69 Granger Lake 4,203
70 Natural Dam Lake 3,710
71 Benbrook Lake 3,635
72 Calaveras Lake 3,624
73 Murvaul, Lake 3,507
74 Cherokee, Lake 3,467
75 Worth, Lake 3,458
76 Cypress Springs, Lake 3,252
77 Squaw Creek Reservoir 3,169
78 Truscott Brine Lake 3,146
79 Bardwell Lake 3,138
80 Diverson, Lake 3,133
81 Coleto Creek Reservoir 3,100
82 Aquilla Lake 3,066
83 Gibbons Creek Reservoir 2,770
84 Alan Henry, Lake 2,741
85 Mountain Creek Lake 2,696
86 Loma Alta Lake 2,490
87 Smithers Lake 2,480
88 Graham, Lake 2,444
89 Palo Duro Reservoir 2,413
90 Fayette County Reservoir 2,400
91 Oak Creek Reservoir 2,375
92 Delta Lake, Units 1, 2 2,371
93 Twin Oaks Reservoir 2,330
94 Millers Creek Reservoir 2,212
95 Nacogdoches, Lake 2,212
96 Wichita, Lake 2,200
97 Palo Pinto, Lake 2,176
98 Fairfield Lake 2,159
99 Greenbelt Lake 2,025
100 Brady Creek Reservoir 2,020

Source stats from Texas Almanac & Texas Parks & Wildlife