West Texas offers the best of nature from bison herds roaming free, sandstone canyons blazing orange in the sun, and lowlands clothed in lush cottonwood trees and beautiful cactuses.
Find a landscape unlike any other in the state, including of the state’s most spectacular outdoor areas where you can immerse yourself in all of its natural splendor.
Add these parks to your bucket list, enjoy everything the state offers with incredible views, and make unforgettable memories.
Map of State Parks Near Lubbock TX
Here is a map of the Texas state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Lubbock
Here are each of those state parks with distance from Lubbock and what makes each special.
1. Caprock Canyons State Park
Distance from Lubbock: about 74 miles northeast of Lubbock (straight-line).
Location: Quitaque, Texas
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is a 17,500-acre (7,100 ha) state park located along the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado in Briscoe County, Texas, United States.
Highlights associated with Caprock Canyons State Park include river access, dark-sky viewing, and historic sites.
See our full Caprock Canyons State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Distance from Lubbock: about 94 miles north of Lubbock (straight-line).
Location: 11450 State Hwy Park Rd 5, Canyon, TX 79015
An hour and a half north of Lubbock, you will find the second largest canyon in the country at the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The temperatures can soar up to 120 degrees in the Texas Panhandle, so make sure to plan your trip in cooler months like spring and fall. If you cannot make it out to the Grand Canyon, you can visit Texas’s version with a lighthouse-shaped rock structure. You can hike to the lighthouse on an easy trail along with some more challenging trails too.
Take some time to drive the Palo Duro Canyon loop in about an hour but take your time to enjoy the gorgeous scenery. As you slope down 500 feet to the canyon’s floor, you can observe the stunning colors of the four geologic layers. After, take the kids geocaching with a special GPS the park offers to turn it into a treasure hunting adventure. There are many more exciting things to do at one of the largest and most popular Texas State Parks. Palo Duro Canyon State Park has something for everyone, from mountain biking to horseback riding, zip-lining, bird watching, and witnessing the famed Texas Musical Drama play.
Set up camp at one of over a hundred different camps, including options with water and electricity or go primitive for a full adventure. Groups and youth camps can stay at one of the two sites with tons of amenities for an unforgettable experience. Do not leave the park before seeing the rock formations called Hoodoos formed from erosion at different rates to protect the softer rocks underneath. Finally, find a variety of wild animals, including longhorns, native mice, snakes, lizards, and much more, including unique vegetation.
See our full Palo Duro Canyon State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Big Spring State Park
Distance from Lubbock: about 96 miles south of Lubbock (straight-line).
Location: 1 State Park Rd 8, Big Spring, TX 79720
Visit Big Spring State Park for a taste of culture with symphonies and plays at their outdoor theater. People who want to enjoy the outdoors can find plenty of activities, too, from cycling, hiking, competition runs, and history. The best part is that the park is free for everyone, including the family dog. However, the park does not offer camping, although there is an outdoor area big enough for two hundred people to dine outside with bathrooms nearby.
Kids can explore the Ranger Programs, visit rock carvings, and view the mountains. In Howard County and Big Spring State Park, three natural areas collide. The western Rolling Plains are to the north and east, the Edwards Plateau is to the south, and the Southern High Plains are to the west. Find overlapping plants and animals from each region for interesting surprises around every door.
Some of the wildlife you might be able to see when out on the trails include rabbits, squirrels, and roadrunners, along with tons of bird species. Mesquite, shin oak, skunkbush sumac, and redberry juniper are large woody plant species that surround the area too. With just over 380 acres and paved trails, this park makes for a perfect daytime destination.
See our full Big Spring State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Oasis State Park
Distance from Lubbock: about 97 miles northwest of Lubbock (straight-line).
Location: Portales, NM
Oasis State Park is a state park of New Mexico, United States, located north of Portales in Roosevelt Countyn known for its fishing lake and sand dunes.
Highlights associated with Oasis State Park include coastal dunes, lake recreation, and mountain scenery.
See our full Oasis State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Lake Colorado City State Park
Distance from Lubbock: about 102 miles southeast of Lubbock (straight-line).
Location: Farm to Market 2836, Colorado City, TX 79512
The Mesquite Plains houses the park in a section of the western Rolling Plains. White-tailed deer, mallard ducks, raccoons, armadillos, and squirrels are among the fauna that may be seen and photographed at the park, in addition to the plentiful mesquite trees and greenery. Largemouth bass, channel catfish, and sunfish are among the fish species found in the park. Enjoy the hardy mesquite trees capable of surviving in droughts, add to the gorgeous view by the water and the grasslands.
For just four dollars a day per person, your family can enjoy the park or go camping for a little more per night. Lake Colorado offers over a hundred camping sites, most of which offer electricity but some with only water for those who want to experience rustic Texas. Once your tent is set up, head out on the trails by the water for a glimpse of wildlife, including over 300 types of bird species.
See our full Lake Colorado City State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
