Fishing

A small and peaceful campground on the St. Lawrence River near the point where Lake Ontario flows into the river. The 48 campsites are nestled among trees with several right on the waterfront. Kids love fishing from the shore and watching the constant boat traffic. The views across to Wolfe Island (Canada) are lovely. A boat launch provides access to some of the best fishing waters in the state. The park is small enough to feel intimate and quiet, a nice alternative to the busier Thousand Islands parks.

A family-friendly campground on a point jutting into the St. Lawrence River with incredible river views and stunning sunsets. The 175 campsites include waterfront options with direct river access. Kids love fishing from the shore, watching boats and ships pass, and swimming at the small beach. A boat launch and marina make it easy to explore the Thousand Islands by water. The park is close to Clayton village for dining and the Antique Boat Museum. Evening campfires with river views are hard to beat.

A family-friendly park east of Troy with a sandy beach on Long Pond, nature trails, and excellent fishing. The beach is lifeguard-staffed and has a gradual entry that is great for toddlers and young swimmers. Several short trails loop around the lakes through mixed forest. The park is popular for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. A nature center offers programs for kids during summer. The park is close to the Capital District but feels like you are in the deep woods. Kayak and canoe rentals available.

A 73-site campground on the St. Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay with a swimming beach, fishing docks, and a boat launch. The location puts you right in the heart of the Thousand Islands with easy access to Boldt Castle, boat tours, and village shops and restaurants. The beach is small but clean and the kids fishing from the docks catch a surprising amount of bass and pike. The campground is shaded and well-maintained. This is one of the best base camps for exploring the Thousand Islands region.

A stunning 400-acre botanical garden set against the dramatic backdrop of the Koolau Mountains. The garden is free and has wide paved roads perfect for strollers along with trails through collections of tropical plants from around the world. Kids enjoy the catch-and-release fishing lake and the visitor center has nature activities. The mountain views from inside the garden are among the most photographed on Oahu. A campground within the garden offers free weekend camping with a permit, which is one of the best-kept secrets on the island.

A family-friendly state park on the shore of Keuka Lake, one of the cleanest and most beautiful Finger Lakes. The park has a sandy beach with a gradual entry perfect for young swimmers and a campground with sites nestled in the woods. The lake water is clean and warm by midsummer. Fishing is excellent from the shore and the park has a boat launch for kayaks and canoes. Hiking trails through the surrounding hills provide lake views. It is quieter and more relaxed than the bigger Finger Lakes parks.

A family campground perched on bluffs above Lake Ontario with a beach, cabins, and trails along the Salmon River. The 148 campsites and 36 cabins are set in a wooded area above the lake. The beach has dramatic bluff views and Lake Ontario sunsets. The Salmon River at the park boundary is famous for salmon and steelhead fishing. Trails along the bluffs and through the woods connect the park areas. The combination of lake swimming, river fishing, and bluff-top camping makes this a unique family destination.

One of Oklahoma’s most visited state parks spanning over 3400 acres of Ouachita Mountain forest along the Mountain Fork River. Kids can hike miles of shaded trails, fish in the river, paddle on Broken Bow Lake, or explore the nature center. The miniature train ride is a huge hit with little ones and the seasonal pool near the lodge is perfect for cooling off. Between the towering pines and crystal-clear water, it feels a world away from the flatlands most families drive in from.

One of the most popular fishing spots on the Mountain Fork River known for excellent bass, catfish, and rainbow trout. The accessible pier makes it easy for kids to cast a line without scrambling over rocks and the river section here runs clear and calm. Catching something is a real possibility even for total beginners. If the kids reel in a keeper take it back to the cabin and grill it for dinner. Early morning before other anglers show up is the best window.

A 525-acre gem along the South San Gabriel River with well-marked trails ranging from flat strolls to more challenging inclines through classic Hill Country terrain. Catch-and-release fishing ponds give kids a patient and rewarding activity that does not require any experience. A splash pad and modern playground anchor the central area for younger children and the expansive picnic grounds under old trees make this an ideal all-day outing. The on-site dog park is a bonus for families bringing four-legged members along.

A 180-acre reservoir with a roped-off swim area and a gently sloping pebble beach that is one of the easiest free lake days near Austin. Kids love the playground right next to the water and the 3-mile paved loop around the lake is perfect for family bike rides or stroller walks. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available on site so you can turn a simple swim into a full water adventure. The picnic areas with grills make it easy to stay all day without spending a dime on food.

A 1,300-acre Hill Country playground about an hour from Austin where kids can try granite bouldering and rock scrambling on terrain that is genuinely different from the limestone found everywhere else in the region. The mountain bike trails range from a flat family loop around the private lake to more technical routes over the granite formations. Canoeing and fishing on the lake round out the options and the combination of activities makes it easy to fill an entire day without anyone getting bored. Open Wednesday through Sunday so check the schedule before heading out.

One of the most beloved free family parks in the Austin metro sitting where the two forks of the San Gabriel River meet beneath 200-year-old live oak trees. The creative wooden playscape has been recognized as one of the best in the state and kids can spend an entire afternoon climbing the multi-level structure and racing down slides. The 1.6-mile crushed-granite loop trail is flat and wide enough for strollers and bikes side by side with evening lighting for later visits. Fishing along the river adds an easy low-key activity for kids who want something quieter after burning energy on the playground.

A well-maintained Army Corps park on Lake Georgetown with a swim beach and one of the best campgrounds in Central Texas. The sites are large and well-spaced under mature oaks and the park connects directly to the Good Water Trail for hiking and biking. The fishing is excellent from the shore and from the accessible fishing pier. Kids love the massive playground near the swim area.

An uncrowded state park with two units on Cooper Lake in Northeast Texas. The South Sulphur Unit has a swim beach and screened shelters that are perfect for family camping. The Doctor’s Creek Unit offers equestrian camping and longer hiking trails through bottomland forest. The park rarely hits capacity which means you can often get a campsite on short notice when other parks are full.

A Corps of Engineers park on the southeast shore of Lake Lavon with a sandy swim beach that is one of the best-kept secrets in Collin County. The campground has full hookups and sits right on the lake with excellent sunset views. Kids can fish from the shore and there is a big playground near the beach area.

A coastal state park on Aransas Bay famous for the Big Tree, a live oak estimated to be over 1,000 years old that kids find genuinely impressive. The bay side offers excellent wade fishing in warm shallow water and the park is a prime launch point for birding boat tours to see endangered whooping cranes in winter. Waterfront campsites with bay views and constant sea breezes make summer camping more comfortable than inland parks.

A well-maintained park on a 9,460-acre East Texas lake with excellent fishing and a roped swimming area that families appreciate. The lighted fishing pier is great for evening outings and the bike trail loop through pine forest is fun for kids of all riding abilities. Campsites are shaded and well-spaced with some sitting right on the water. It is less visited than many state parks which means weekend availability is usually good.

A classic Texas state park with a renovated swim beach and fishing pier on Lake Brownwood. The CCC-era stone cabins have been updated and offer a comfortable family overnight option. The Cross Timbers Hiking Trail connects to the nearby Cross Timbers Nature Trail with interpretive signs that teach kids about the ancient Post Oak Belt. The park store rents fishing gear which makes first-time fishing trips easy to pull off.

A state park in two units connected by a 21-mile rail-to-trail that is perfect for family mountain biking and hiking. The Birch Creek Unit has a swim beach on the lake and the Nails Creek Unit has excellent fishing. Kids love spotting the white-tailed deer that are abundant throughout the park. The trail between units passes through rolling post oak savanna and makes a great day ride for families with older kids on bikes.