The system was created on April 1, 1970, by TxDOT Minute Order 63535, which redesignated a portion of Farm to Market Road 255 (FM 255), as RE 255.

The Recreational Road System began on April 1, 1970, when TxDOT Minute Order 63535 was passed, designating RE 255 and RE 2.

[13] RE 2 turns directly east at an intersection with Cam Real Road, which connects the route to the community of Devils Shores.

The highway exits the park, and continues through the South Texas shrubland, passing a few small roads and homes as well as traveling over several dry creek beds.

From there, the highway travels eastward for approximately 0.1 miles (0.16 km), passing rural areas, before bending northward.

[24] The highway proceeds southwest, passing a few small fields before intersecting Burleson County Road 472 (CR 472).

The road proceeds southeast, passing a few more ranches, before it intersects CR 416 and continues past a small residential area.

The route passes a few more ranches before reaching its southern terminus, the entrance gate to Big Creek Park.

In addition, the Corps built multiple recreational facilities on the lake, including Big Creek Park and its access road.

Traveling westward, the highway immediately intersected a short dirt track and proceeded to bend to the southwest.

On the road's southern shoulder is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark marker commemorating Indian trails in Polk County.

[34][35] In August 1970, Polk County officials requested that the State Highway Commission construct a 1.1-mile (1.8 km) long road to serve the park at a cost of $50,000 (equivalent to $303,000 in 2023[36]).

[43] RE 6 begins at the entrance to the recreation area, at an at-grade intersection with the main park road, as a two-lane, paved route.

It runs in a straight line northeastward from this point, while Comanche County Road 5132 proceeds southward from the highway's terminus as an unpaved dirt roadway.

The route continues through lightly wooded fields on both side, while functioning as the eastern border for Sowell Creek Park.

[6] The Corps of Engineers began developing Proctor Lake in 1960, and constructed several parks, including Sowell Creek, in the following years.

The highway begins at an at-grade intersection with SH 72, located several miles east of the unincorporated community of Tilden, as a two-lane, paved road.

The road continues past a small reservoir and an oil drilling station before reentering rural land and following northeast to its northern terminus, the designated end of state maintenance.

[50][51] RE 7 was approved on April 3, 1981, traveling in its present location from SH 72 to Choke Canyon Reservoir, and was designated later that year.

The road continues north, passing a small field and a few more houses, before reaching its northern terminus, an intersection with Quail Run.

[52][54] On June 29, 1983, the relocation of the route was approved, and on August 16, 1983, the original designation was canceled, and RE 8 was transferred to its present location on the southern side of the reservoir.

The roadway bends westward and proceeds through more rural land, passing two oil drilling sites and intersecting a private dirt county road.

The highway intersects a small dirt road before reaching its western terminus, the designated end of state maintenance.

A park road continues a very brief distance westward, proceeding to a boat-launch ramp located on the O. H. Ivie Reservoir.

[56][57] Recreational Road 9 approved on October 31, 1993, and was officially designated on December 20, 1993, in its current location, traveling from FM 2134 westward to Padgitt Park, with a length of 1.4 miles (2.3 km).

The highway bends around several small buildings, and intersects a few roads, which make up part of the Elm Creek Village.

[59][60] Recreational Road 10 was approved on October 31, 1996, and was officially designated on December 10, 1996, to its current location, traveling from FM 1929 northward to Kennedy Park.

RE 11 proceeds northward, passing through rural area on a large peninsula and intersecting a few private ranch roads.

The road continues northward, passing more rural areas, where it intersects Concho County Highway 4763 (CR 3763).

The highway is approximately 56.6 miles (91.1 km) long, and travels through mainly rural areas in the northern portion of the three counties.