Lake LBJ is a beautiful lake with plenty of public access for all to enjoy. From swim beaches to boat ramps, whether you're looking to have fun on shore or on the water, here is the info you need to find the best public access on Lake LBJ.

Is Lake LBJ Open to the Public?

Yes, Lake LBJ is open to the public. There are plenty of parks for swimming, fishing, and camping plus numerous public and a few private boat ramps. It is located only 40 miles northwest of Austin, Texas, and its southern shores are five miles west of historic Marble Falls, Texas.

Can you swim in Lake Lyndon B Johnson?

Yes, you can swim in Lake LBJ. There are many places to swim in coves and in the public parks and campgrounds at Lake LBJ and on the Colorado River on both the lower and upper ends of the lake. Lake LBJ can become crowded, especially during the summertime. It is best to get to your Lake LBJ destination early in the morning during the busy season.

Where can I swim in Lake LBJ?

Here are several great places to swim on Lake LBJ:

• Sunrise Beach Village has three parks that offer swimming. McNair Park at 211 Park Rd, Sunrise Beach Village, Texas, offers swimming, picnic areas, a boat ramp, restrooms, pavilions, and two fishing piers. It is day use only and opens at 7 a.m.
• Granite Shoals Lake Estate Park is located in the 300 block of Park Lane, Sunrise Beach Village, Texas. It offers swimming, restrooms, a boat ramp, a square pier, pavilions, and fishing.
• Sandy Park in the 800 block of Sandy Mountain Dr, Sunrise Beach Village, Texas. It offers swimming, restrooms, a huge sand bar, and fishing.
• Lakeside Park at 305 Buena Vista Drive, Marble Falls, Texas, offers a swim beach, showers, picnic areas with grills, a pool, and restaurants nearby. It is day use only and opens from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Noah Thompson Park at 4131 Lakeview Drive, Cottonwood Shores, Texas, offers swimming, kayak launching, picnic areas with grills, a playscape, and is ADA accessible. There are no restrooms and it is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Aspen Park at 4101 Lakeview Dr, Cottonwood Shores, Texas, offers  swimming, a small playground, a partial basketball court, manual exercise equipment,  and picnic tables. It is  ADA compliant, but there are no restroom facilities. It is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Granite Shoals, Texas, has four parks that offer swimming and these parks charge a $10 fee for visitors. They are day use only. Clear Cove Park at 715 Clear Cove Dr, Granite Shoals, Texas offers swimming, picnic areas with BBQ pits, fishing, and is pet friendly. This park does not have a lot of shade, and it is crowded on weekends. It is day use only and opens at 7 a.m.
• Robin Hood Park at the end of Robinhood Lane in Granite Shoals, Texas offers swimming, fishing, picnic tables with BBQ pits, restrooms, a boat ramp, and is pet friendly.
• Bluebriar Park at West Bluebriar Drive, Granite Shoals, Texas offers swimming, picnic tables, a boat ramp, and picnic tables.

Lake LBJ Boat Ramps

Public Boat Ramps

Cottonwood Shores LCRA Boat Ramp

This boat ramp is located on the Colorado River just east of the Wirtz Dam and the eastern end of Lake LBJ. From Hwy 281 S, take FM 2147 west to Pecan Lane north at the Exxon, take a right and Lakeview Drive, and the boat ramp is at the intersection of Westood Drive and Lakeview Drive on the north side of Lakeview Drive. It is free with a concrete one-lane boat ramp with a parking lot for 20-30 boats and trailers.

Sunrise Beach Village Boat Ramps

The City of Sunrise Beach Village maintains three public boat ramps with free launching. Sunrise Beach Village is on the northwestern shores of Lake LBJ. The McNair Park ramp is sheltered from south winds with parking. From SH 71 take FM 2233 north to Sunrise Drive south which turns into Sandy Mountain Drive south, go left on Inspiration Drive, left on Park Road to the T and go left into the boat ramp and parking lot. This boat ramp is a granite formation, and it is not smooth.

The best way to get to the second boat ramp is from SH 71 and take FM 2233 north to East Lakeshore Drive south just past the 400 block, and the park and ramp is on the right.

The third boat ramp is in west Sunrise Beach Village in Granite Shoals Lake Estate Park. Stay on FM 2233 almost to the end until it forks, take the Circle Drive fork on the right, and go left on Park into the boat ramp on the left. This ramp is next to a dock and a swimming area. It also offers a restroom, pavilions, square pier, fishing, and swimming.

Kingsland Community Park Boat Ramp

The Lions Club of Kingsland, Texas, maintains a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and three 20-feet day use docks. There is a $10 fee to launch there. The park has picnic areas and a covered pavilion. Kingsland is located on the Colorado River about four miles north of the northern border of Lake LBJ. The park is located at 155 Lions Park Rd, Kingsland, Texas. From SH 71, take FM 316 east to FM 2900 north to Euel Moore Drive, go right, and go right on Williams Street to the boat ramp. This is not a good ramp for sailboats because of a railroad bridge nearby.

Granite Shoals Boat Ramps

Granite Shoals, Texas, is on the northeastern shores of Lake LBJ. The City of Granite Shoals maintains several boat ramps and charges a $10 fee for launching. You must purchase a Granite Shoals Boat Launch Permit either by downloading and printing the application and mailing it or taking it to Granite Shoals City Hall, 2221 N. Phillips Ranch Road, Granite Shoals, TX 78654. The best way to get to Granite Shoals is from US 281 in Marble Falls, Texas, and go northwest of East FM 1431, and entering the city on FM 416 south. The boat ramps are located around the shores in Granite Shoals.

Johnson Park Boat Ramp

The Johnson Park boat ramp is located in Marble Falls, TX on the Colorado River on the lower end of Lake LBJ. It offers a boat ramp, restroom facilities,  picnic tables, a beach volleyball court, a softball field, horseshoe pits, a theater, covered pavilions, and two playscapes. This park is located on the Colorado River a few miles east of the lower end of Lake LBJ.

Private Boat Ramps

Horseshoe Bay

Horseshoe Bay, Texas, is a premier upscale community with homes, condos, and resort on the southeastern shore of Lake LBJ. Their full-service marina and offers a boat ramp, boat slips, kayak, paddleboard, pontoon, and ski boat rentals, and luxury cabin rentals. The boat ramps is used homeowners and resort guests.

LBJ Yacht Club and Marina

This boat ramp is located on the Colorado River just west of South Wirtz Dam Road and the eastern end of Lake LBJ. From Hwy 281 S, take FM 2147 west to South Wirtz Dam Road north and the yacht club is on the west. It offers a full-service marina, boat slips, boat rentals, a restaurant, and cabin rentals.

Lake LBJ Public Access Parks

There are numerous parks for day use, camping, and RVing dotted around Lake LBJ. Aside from the access points listed above, here are a few more options.

Sunset Point on the east side of Lake LBJ offers an extremely nice RV park in the Kelly Airforce Base Recreation Area on Wirtz Dam Road, north. Sunset Point offers a large house that can handle large groups of people with a big kitchen, big seating area, and a patio near the beach area.

Horseshoe Bay is private, but offers many options for guests like short-term luxury condo rentals, a resort hotel, swimming pools, lake access and activities, golf, spas, shopping and more at a higher price point then the other options.