Army Corps of Engineers · Bardwell Lake · Ennis, TX

Waxahachie Ck

Waxahachie Creek Park is on the western shore of Bardwell Lake, less than an hour south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area in north-central Texas. City-dwellers frequent the park's campground and day-use area to enjoy outdoor activities without going far from home. The lake has favorable fish and wildlife habitats, providing plenty of opportunities for fishing and hunting, and great locations for camping, boating and hiking. Deer, armadillo, rabbit, squirrel and a variety of bird species inhabit the area.

More like this: electric hookups in Texas · reservable in Texas · big rigs in Texas · pets allowed in Texas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Ample shade available at this wooden shelter Topp site with a picnic table, firing, and grill on site. Water and electric hook ups available and room for a standard two larger size RV with 3+ vehiclesWaterfront site with a wooden shelter top, picnic table, grill, and firing. Water and electric hook ups available and room for a standard to larger size RV with 2+ vehiclesThis site has a wooden shelter top, picnic table, firing, and grill. Water and electric hook ups are available outside and there is room for a standard size RV and one vehicleWooden shelter tub with picnic table, fire ring, and grill on site. Water and electric hook ups available and room for a standard two large size RV and 3+ vehicles
Photos courtesy of Erin Chizmar · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric34
tent only electric5
equestrian electric4
Host/management17
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

43 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
01ElectricPull-through40PavedPartial30 ampYes / –10 / 3
02ElectricPull-through50PavedPartial30 ampYes / –10 / 3
03ElectricBack-in35PavedPartial30 ampYes / –10 / 3
04ElectricPull-through60PavedPartial30 ampYes / –10 / 3
05ElectricPull-through60PavedPartial30 ampYes / –10 / 3
06ElectricPull-through60PavedPartial30 ampYes / –10 / 3
07ElectricPull-through60Paved50 ampYes / –10 / 3
08ElectricPull-through55Paved50 ampYes / –10 / 3
09ElectricPull-through60Paved50 ampYes / –10 / 3
10ElectricPull-through45Paved50 ampYes / –10 / 3

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

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length60 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$30 fee is for 50 amp service sites. $28 fee is for 30 amp service sites. Failure to checkout by 2pm may result in additional fees.

Waxahachie Creek Park offers something for everyone with 65 campsites with water and 30-amp electric service, seven non-electric picnic sites and one reservable group pavilion, which can accommodate up to 200 people. There is also a day use area for visitors who are not camping overnight. The boat ramp at the upper end of the park is very shallow at normal lake level and not suited to launch ski boats or larger vessels. The boat ramp at the lower end of the park is suitable for all types of boats at normal lake level and has a courtesy dock for loading and unloading boats.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Waxahachie Ck40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 2.91 inches of precipitationFebruary: 3.03 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.48 inches of precipitationApril: 3.68 inches of precipitationMay: 4.36 inches of precipitationJune: 3.57 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.86 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.75 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.41 inches of precipitationOctober: 4.66 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.06 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.40 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 46.1°F averageFebruary: 50.2°F averageMarch: 57.0°F averageApril: 64.6°F averageMay: 72.8°F averageJune: 80.8°F averageJuly: 84.1°F averageAugust: 84.4°F averageSeptember: 77.9°F averageOctober: 66.9°F averageNovember: 56.1°F averageDecember: 48.4°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Bardwell Dam, 4 miles from the campground at 461 feet, station USC00410518 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 40 inches a year.

Getting there

From Ennis, Texas: From Interstate 45, exit onto U.S. Highway 287 Bypass (exit #247). Travel 4.5 miles and exit at the Bardwell Lake exit sign. Turn left onto Highway 34 and travel three miles southwest to Bozek Road. Turn right at Bozek Road and travel 1.5 miles to the Waxahachie Creek Park entrance complex.

Nearest townEnnis, Texas
Coordinates32.2931° N, 96.6939° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearSWFA Outdoors ↗16.8 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗28.3 mi
RV sales & serviceMotor Home Specialist ↗32.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The park is located on the upper reaches of the lake, near the mouth of a main tributary, Waxahachie Creek. The word "Waxahachie" is believed to be the Tonkawa Native American word for "Buffalo Creek." The lake's waters provide a refreshing break from the Texas heat and enormous blooms of bluebonnets and other wildflowers surround the lakeshore each spring.

Recreation

Many local fishermen consider Bardwell Lake one of the best kept secrets in the state. Bass fishermen seldom leave empty-handed. Crappie fishing is moderate, and catfish are usually excellent. The lake has a marina with fishing piers, two of which are enclosed (a small fee is charged for the use of these facilities), and there are several designated hunting areas around the lake, including those for duck hunting. The Bardwell Lake equestrian and multi-use trail begins at this facility. It provides over 13 miles of trails for horseback riding, biking or hiking. Visitors should be advised that the trail is located within a designated hunting area from September through March.

Nearby

Numerous amenities, as well as cultural and historical attractions, lie in the nearby cities of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Guidebooks for Texas

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Texas
    Wendel Withrow, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Bob Spain's Canoeing Guide and Favorite Texas Paddling Trails
    Joy Emshoff, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Swimming Holes of Texas
    Carolyn Tracy and Julie Wernersbach, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Waxahachie Ck?

Sites at Waxahachie Ck are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Waxahachie Ck?

$30 fee is for 50 amp service sites. $28 fee is for 30 amp service sites. Failure to checkout by 2pm may result in additional fees.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Waxahachie Ck?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Waxahachie Ck have?

60 sites, including 34 standard sites with power, 5 tent only electric, and 4 equestrian electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Waxahachie Ck?

The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Waxahachie Ck have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Waxahachie Ck?

Yes, pets are allowed at Waxahachie Ck. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Waxahachie Ck?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Waxahachie Ck?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Waxahachie Ck?

Many local fishermen consider Bardwell Lake one of the best kept secrets in the state. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Waxahachie Ck?

Ennis, Texas. Numerous amenities, as well as cultural and historical attractions, lie in the nearby cities of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Source: Getting there

What if Waxahachie Ck is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are High View (2.1 mi), Mott (3.1 mi), and Wolf Creek (22.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby