Camping at Clinton State Park in Kansas

Clinton State Park is located 4 miles outside of Lawrence on an 80 foot bluff overlooking Lake Clinton. Although the state park is not right on the water, access can be obtained. Clinton State Park is a great family camping facility with a swimming beach, playgrounds, 4 boat ramps and a fish cleaning station. The park offers something for everyone with prairie grasses, timberline and native wildlife. Whitetail deer, turkey, waterfowl and songbirds can be seen in the park. Clinton State park offers a wide variety of activities with 20 miles of biking and hiking trails. 6 shelters and other picnic areas are scattered through out the park for visitors to use. One recreational feature that is not often seen at state park facilities is a Frisbee golf course open to all visitors and campers to enjoy. Along with many recreational activities there are some great places to camp at Clinton State Park.

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Campgrounds at Clinton State Park

Camper Cabins – Clinton State Park has 7 cabins to rent. 6 of their cabins are one bedroom and can sleep up to 6. One cabin is a two bedroom sleeping up to 8 people. The cabins are located in the Southeast corner of campground #1. Each cabin has a full kitchen, bathroom with shower and bedroom. There are a few couches, a Murphy bed and a full size bed in the one bedroom cabins. There are no pets allowed in the camper cabins.

Tent and RV Camping Sites
Tents, Pick-Up Campers, Pop-Up Campers, Pull Behind Trailers, RV’s and Motor Homes are all accepted in the park which offers 383 camping sites. 140 sites have water and electricity (30 & 20 amp plugs), 74 sites also have water and electricity but with 50/30 & 20 amp plugs, the other 169 sites are classified as primitive. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring with grill grate. 160 of the 383 sites can be reserved ahead of time on Reserve America. Pets are allowed in the campgrounds, but need to be kept on a leash.

Campground #1
This campground offers both electrical and primitive sites with 2 shower houses and flush-able restroom facilities. Campground #1 is located near many hiking and biking trails and provides shoreline fishing opportunities.

Best spots to camp in Clinton State Park Campground #1

Primitive Sites
#107-110 – These sites are located in the SE corner and are near the shower house/restroom facilities. These sites are really shady and also allow easy access to the hiking/biking trails.

#167-178 – These sites are located on the outer edge of the first round in to the campground. If you are looking for a little more seclusion these are a great pick since they are tucked back in the woods a little bit. There is easy access to the hiking/biking trails. Only downfall is the restroom and shower facilities are a little bit of a walk.

#182-184 – These few sites are great for families as it is along the middle road of the campground, with the flush toilets right across the street and a playground in the “back yard.”

Utility Sites
#50-55 and #71-80 are located down the center row or slightly off to the right and are in a good location. They provide quite a bit of shade.

P1-16 & P19-32 – The P stands for prime sites. If you want a lot of room these sites are perfect. These sites are extra wide and can easily fit a motor home and two-three vehicles. These sites have shad and most have that “back yard” type of feel.

Campground #3
Campground #3 offers many of the same amenities with both electrical and primitive sites. It also offers a heated shower facility and frost free hydrants that can be used year round. This campground has several easy access points to the 20 miles of connected hiking and biking trails in the park.

Best spots to camp in Clinton State Park Campground #3

Primitive Sites
#263-266 – Located off of the first left in to the campground, these sites provide a ton of shade with vault toilets across the street. Shower facilities and restrooms are about 1 block away. If you like to be near the water these sites offer easy access to the trail that brings you to the water front. It is about a 5-10 minute walk.
#35-37 – Located on the main road by the shelter these sites are across the street from the shower house and provide shade and a little more space then some other sites.

#17-47 – Are on the west side of the campground and are just down the road from the shower house. All of these sites provide plenty of shade.

#96-99 – If you like open space these sites are great and have access to the vault toilets across the street. The shower facilities are about 1 block away. There is also a really nice trail access point near site 97 which will bring you on a pretty hike and can take you down to the boat ramp.

Utility Sites
#178-210 – All of these sites are located in the main part of the campground, they are close to the shower facilities and also provide great shade.

P140-166 – The P stands for prime sites. If you want a lot of room these sites are perfect. These sites are extra wide and can easily fit a motor home and two-three vehicles. These sites have shad and most have that “back yard” type of feel.

Winter Camping
Clinton State Park offers winter camping opportunities, your best bet is to stay in Campground #3 as most water is shut off during the winter but this campground has heated showers, a dump station and frost free hydrants that can be used year round. Winter camping is available in both the electrical and primitive sites.

Clinton State Park Hours

Clinton State Park is open year round for recreational activities and for camping. The park office is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. year round and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. between April and October.