Things to Do at Lake Conroe

Lake Conroe sits 50 miles to the north of the beautiful city of Houston in eastern Texas.

The artificial lake was created in 1973 when the west fork of the San Jacinto River was dammed by the San Jacinto River Authority, the City of Houston, and the Texas Water Development Board. By October of that year, the Lake Conroe Dam was full. That’s over 140 billion gallons of water (to this very day)!

Lake Conroe is a large body of water of over 22,000 acres and over 20 miles. It reaches depths of 75 feet (an average depth is 20.5 feet). It also offers visitors over 157 miles of scenic shoreline to explore.

We’ve got the best activities and places to eat as well as popular facts for you to enjoy your day on Lake Conroe:

• What is Lake Conroe known for?
• Lake Conroe Family Activities
• Best Restaurants Around Lake Conroe

Looking for a Boat Rental near Houston? Browse Available Boats at Lake Conroe

What is Lake Conroe known for?

Lake Conroe is known for being Houston’s favorite lake. Conroe is the place to be when you’re itching to get out of the city and spend some time on the water or in nature.

For anglers, Lake Conroe is known for blue catfish and channel catfish. Striped bass, white bass, and large-mouth bass are also standard, as well as small-mouthed buffalo fish and crappie. Beware, though, for Conroe has its fair share of seven-foot-long, three-hundred-pound alligators.

Over the past few years, as housing in Houston has increased while remote work has become more readily available, Lake Conroe has exploded into a growing suburban residential area. On the lake’s southern end, you’ll find luxury golf courses, high-end condos, apartments, townhomes, and posh subdivision homes. Resorts, restaurants, getaways, and year-round tournaments dot the southern shores of Lake Conroe.

Family Activities in Lake Conroe

Lake Conroe is a very popular place for families to spend quality time on the water doing various activities.

Rent a Boat and Hit the Lake

Of course, Lake Conroe offers a fantastic opportunity to spend a day out on the water with your family.

Whether you want to slowly cruise the shoreline looking for wildlife or zip from one end to the other with your kids in tow on a tube or wakeboard, there is something for everyone.

Remember your sunscreen and plenty of water because Texas lake days are notoriously hot and sunny (but they are oh-so-worth-it).

If your family likes to fish for largemouth bass, you’re in luck; Conroe frequently rewards anglers with ten-pound bass. Head to the north side of the lake, where the water is shallow, and look for overhanging limbs, dead-standing timber, brush, and debris piles. Early spring to late fall is the best time to go, though you can successfully fish year-round.

Bringing your boat? Here are the best boat launches on Lake Conroe:

• Conroe Boat Ramp 830, on the east-central side of the lake. 7299 Edgewater Dr, Willis, TX 77318.
• Scotts Ridge Swim Area and Boat Launch, on the upper west side of the lake in the Sam Houston National Forest. 13274 Scotts Ridge Rd, Montgomery, TX 77356.
• Piney Shores Boat Ramp, on the southeast side of the lake. It is the closest ramp to the town of Conroe. 8350 Piney Shores Dr, Conroe, TX 77304.
• Lakeview Marina and Boat Rentals, on the south side of the lake. 880 Beach Walk Blvd, Conroe, TX 77304.
• Stow-A-Way Marina and RV Park, on the north end of the lake. 13988 Calvary Rd, Willis, TX 77318.

Visit Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Resort

This large 303 luxury suite (and 32 waterfront cottage rentals) resort will make you feel like you’re in the middle of a luxury tropical oasis.

You’ll find a three-acre waterpark, mini-golf, an arcade room, six restaurants, tennis, pickleball, basketball courts, pools, and a relaxing lazy river. There’s always something going on: seasonal characters for the children, comedy for all ages, and upbeat, transformative music for the whole family.

You can visit Margaritaville Lake Resort’s website or find them at 600 Margaritaville Parkway, Montgomery, Texas 77356.

Go for a drive

Whether you have small kids who need a nap or larger kids who want to see gorgeous scenery from their car seats, this drive is simply perfect.

From Anderson, drive west on 149 until you reach 1375; it’s a T intersection. Turn left onto 1375, and enjoy the Sam Houston National Forest. You’ll drive right over the north end of the lake with the Baker Bridge.

After that, you can turn north (left) onto 233 towards Possum Walk Road or continue on 1375 until you meet 75. At 75, turn north (left) onto 75, then immediately east (right) onto Gibbs Street/ State Road 150. Head east, and you’ll see New Waverly, more of the Sam Houston National Forest, and then Coldspring, which is on the south side of the beautiful Lake Livingston.

Spend a day in the Sam Houston National Forest

While driving through the forest is nice, getting out of your car and experiencing it is even better.

Part of the 128-mile-long Lone Star Hiking Trail cuts through this forest. Sixteen other hiking trails are available here, ranging from .8 of a mile up to 128 miles long at every difficulty level. Here is a helpful map of the Sam Houston National Forest.

You can ride horses or ATVs in the forest or find a pleasant spot to picnic or camp (if you’re feeling extra outdoorsy).

Check out the town of Conroe

Walking through downtown Conroe is like stepping back to the old oil and timber boomtown days. The town is small but historic and filled with excellent shops and restaurants. Here are some of the best shops in the area:

• Conroe Central Market
• Sweet Texas Treasures Boutique
• Main Street Merchants
• Texas Gem Tree, Rocks, Metaphysical Booth
• Barbara’s Resale Shop
• Branding Iron Custom Goods
• Mimi’s on Main

Best Restaurants Around Lake Conroe

Kitchen Tales

This small yet joyfully quirky joint is part of an outlet mall and has delicious, comforting southern-style dishes with generous portions. You have to try their chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes.

Visit Kitchen Tales after your day on Lake Conroe: 14543 HWY 105, #101, Conroe, TX 77304.

Monty’s Lighthouse

This restaurant is light, bright, and airy but has a fun sports bar vibe. It sits on the water, not far away from the Waterpoint Marina, on the south end of the lake. Here, you’ll find New Orleans-style Cajun Seafood. Make sure you get the crab bisque, and if you like spice, go for gumbo.

Visit Monty’s Lighthouse after your day on Lake Conroe: 15250 HWY 105, Montgomery, TX 77356.

Amore

Amore is a charming Italian venue with fantastic food and soothing live jazz music playing most nights. Everything on their menu looks delicious, and there doesn’t seem to be any wrong choice. The Italian sausage gnocchi is so good, as are the lobster bisque and the grilled salmon.

Visit Amore after your day on Lake Conroe: 14860 HWY 105, Montgomery, TX 77356.

Buldogies

Buldogies specializes in ridiculously delicious hotdogs of every variety. Big 7 Travel voted them as the Best Hotdogs in America. Buldogies are more than just hotdogs. They also offer other comfort foods on their menu, like chili dogs, corndogs, Texas toast sandwiches, fries, shakes, salted pretzels, funnel cakes, cotton candy, and several wacky (yet still surprisingly good) deep-fried treats.

Visit Buldogies after your day on Lake Conroe: 14543 HWY 105, #406, Conroe, TX 77304.

Are you ready to book your next vacation on Lake Conroe? You’re going to need a boat and maybe a captain. Get yours here, and start making those incredible memories!

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