Hanks Creek
Hanks Creek Park has something for everyone, with plenty of water sports on Sam Rayburn Reservoir and volleyball, mountain biking, wild life viewing and birding for those who want to stay on shore. The Red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species, is found throughout the forest surrounding the reservoir. The bird makes its home by pecking cavities in large, living pine trees.
More like this: electric hookups in Texas · reservable in Texas · big rigs in Texas · pets allowed in Texas · group sites in Texas
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗



Site mix
| Standard with electric | 47 |
| overnight shelter electric | 8 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
| group standard area electric | 1 |
Site guide
57 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | Group Standard Area Electric | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 50 / 16 | Yes | ||
| S1 | Overnight Shelter Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| S2 | Overnight Shelter Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| S3 | Overnight Shelter Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| S4 | Overnight Shelter Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| S5 | Overnight Shelter Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| S6 | Overnight Shelter Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| S7 | Overnight Shelter Electric | Pull-through | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| S8 | Overnight Shelter Electric | Back-in | Paved | Full | 50 amp | Yes / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| DU1 | Group Shelter Electric | Paved | Full | 15 amp | Yes / – | 100 / 20 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 147 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The park features 47 campsites with electric hookups. Additional amenities include group camping, a playground, boat ramp and hot showers.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Zavalla, TX, take State Hwy 147 northeast for 1/4 mile, then turn north on FM 2109, go 8 miles to FM 2801. Turn right (east) on FM 2801 and go 2 miles to the park entrance. Follow signs into the campground.
| Nearest town | Jasper, Texas |
| Coordinates | 31.2719° N, 94.4031° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Angelina 9244
12 mi from the campground · 100 acres · 0% contained
- PrescribedRx Polk 9277
24 mi from the campground · 34 acres · 0% contained
- PrescribedRx Nacogdoches 9218
35 mi from the campground · 10 acres · 0% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Video
Hanks Creek, Army Corps of Engineers Campground Review
Worth a stop
The 20,700-acre Bannister Wildlife Management Area is on the northern peninsula of the lake. Hikers and bikers can come here to explore the designated Eastern Wild Turkey restoration site.
- 7.6 miTownsend Day Use Pass ↗Day use
- 11.1 miSan Augustine Day Use Pass ↗Day use
- 11.1 miTwin Dikes Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside National Forests in Texas.
- inNational Forests in Texas ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,921,500 acres
- 10.8 miUpland Island Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,248 acres
- 12.3 miTurkey Hill Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 5,536 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Gibbs–Flournoy HouseBuilding · Manning · 12.1 mi
- Oil Springs Oil Field Discovery WellSite · Woden · 14.4 mi
Natural features
Sam Rayburn Reservoir, also called Lake Sam Rayburn, boasts over 114,000 surface acres, making it the largest man-made lake completely in Texas. It's surrounded by the Angelina National Forest, and is within short proximity to the Sabine and Davy Crockett National Forests.
Recreation
Fishing is excellent for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish, with frequent fishing tournaments. The lake is also popular for jet skiing, water skiing and swimming.
Guidebooks for Texas
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Hanks Creek?
Sites at Hanks Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Hanks Creek?
Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Hanks Creek have?
57 sites, including 47 standard sites with power, 8 overnight shelter electric, 1 group shelter electric, and 1 group standard area electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Hanks Creek?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Hanks Creek have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Hanks Creek?
Additional amenities include group camping, a playground, boat ramp and hot showers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Hanks Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Hanks Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Hanks Creek?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Hanks Creek?
Fishing is excellent for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish, with frequent fishing tournaments. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Hanks Creek?
Jasper, Texas. The 20,700-acre Bannister Wildlife Management Area is on the northern peninsula of the lake.
Source: Getting there
What if Hanks Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Townsend (7.7 mi, first-come), Caney Creek (12.7 mi, first-come), and Boykin Springs Camping (16.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby


