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Lake Buchanan

Burnet, Texas — Llano County.

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21,983Surface acres
132 ftMax depth
1937Impounded
10Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 69727703); max depth from TPWD; TPWD lists 22,211 surface acres.

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Buchanan is in Texas

The red circle marks Lake Buchanan.

Fast facts

About Lake Buchanan

  • Counties: Llano, Burnet
  • Nearest city: Burnet (about 4.1 mi from the lake)
  • Location (TPWD): On the Colorado River in Burnet County and Llano counties, west of the town of Burnet
  • Impounded: 1937 (TPWD)
  • Controlling authority: Lower Colorado River Authority · (512) 473-3200 or 1(800) 776-5272
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 57 mi from Austin and 89 mi from Waco, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Texas: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Texas

Official TPWD pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Lake map

Lake Buchanan shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Beachcomber Park (campground)Black Rock Park (campground)Bluebonnet Cove (campground)Edgewater (campground)Lake Buchanan RV Resort (campground)Poppys Pointe (campground)Freedom Lives Ranch RV Resort (campground)Seven Lakes RV Resort (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Boat ramp (Boat launch)5Boat ramp (Boat launch)6Boat ramp (Boat launch)7Boat ramp (Boat launch)8Boat ramp (Boat launch)9Boat ramp (Boat launch)101 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  5. 5Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  6. 6Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  7. 7Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  8. 8Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  9. 9Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  10. 10Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 69727703), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (TPWD publishes ramp names per lake, not coordinates). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Buchanan

We found 13 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Buchanan, 9 of them within 5 miles. 6 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

7 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Texas

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (30.8458, -98.4149). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Buchanan. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Buchanan

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Fish you can catch

    Largemouth bassWhite bassStriped Bass ★Catfish ★Sunshine bass ★

    ★ = stocked recently (see Stocking). Predominant species from the TPWD Lake Finder.

    TPWD Lake Finder: Lake Buchanan

    Fishing outlook & regulations

    SpeciesTPWD rating
    Largemouth BassGood
    CatfishExcellent
    CrappieFair
    White & Striped BassExcellent
    SunfishFair

    Regulations (TPWD): All species are currently managed under statewide regulations. Bow fishers on this lake are subject to special regulations enforced by the LCRA.

    Aquatic vegetation (TPWD): No significant aquatic vegetation present

    Water-level fluctuation: Considerable

    Normal clarity: Clear at the dam; gradually becomes more turbid as you move upstream

    TPWD Lake Finder page · Current fishing report · Lake records · Latest survey report

    Ratings are TPWD's own Poor / Fair / Good / Excellent scale. Statewide rules: TPWD Outdoor Annual, fishing. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Stocking history

    TPWD has 96 stocking records for Lake Buchanan from 1969 to 2026. The table shows 2022–2026.

    YearSpeciesFishSize
    2026Bass, Striped107,005Fingerling
    2026Bass, Sunshine1,100,740Fry
    2025Bass, Striped238,877Fingerling
    2025Bass, Sunshine1,035,130Fry
    2024Bass, Striped163,637Fingerling
    2024Bass, Sunshine1,000,000Fry
    2023Bass, Striped114,304Fingerling
    2023Bass, Sunshine950,000Fry
    2023Catfish, Channel71,457Fingerling
    2022Bass, Striped38,798Fingerling
    2022Bass, Sunshine1,767,867Fry

    TPWD stocking history for Lake Buchanan

    Boat launches & access sites

    10 public access sites listed, 10 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.8685, -98.4519
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.7534, -98.4569
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.8507, -98.4398
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.7667, -98.4516
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.8389, -98.3419
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.7833, -98.4586
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.8361, -98.3493
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.8336, -98.3533
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.8043, -98.3927
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating30.7682, -98.4073

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (TPWD publishes ramp names per lake, not coordinates)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Buchanan

    Clean, Drain, Dry. In Texas the law requires draining water from boats and onboard receptacles when leaving or approaching public fresh water, and possessing or moving zebra mussels is illegal. TPWD rules.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Texas lakes & ponds · All waters in Burnet