With a marina offering boat, paddle board, and kayak rentals, multiple hiking and biking trails, campgrounds, cabins, numerous playgrounds, and more, there is something for every family at Clinton State Park! With over 1,400 acres and countless activities, here are some tips to help you with your family’s visit.
Getting to there
Clinton State Park is easily accessible from K-10 and located just West of Lawrence. The park has multiple entrances, so look up the best entrance for your desired activities ahead of time!
Marina at Clinton Lake
Whether you have your own boat or are looking to rent one, Clinton Marina is a great destination for getting out on the water. There are options for half or full day boat rentals, as well as boat slip rentals. There is also ample parking with nearby restrooms. You can find more information or reserve your boat/boatslip here.
Paddleboards and Kayak at Clinton Marina
Kayaks and paddleboards are also available to take out on the water. They are available for rent every day from sunup to sun down. Rental for these is maintained through the app RENTFUN. After downloading the app, scan the QR code on the rental lockers of the kayak or paddleboard you wish to rent.
MORE: For tips on surviving a day with a baby at the lake, click here.
Campgrounds at Clinton State Park
Whether you like to camp in a tent, have your own RV or camper, or prefer to rent a cabin, the campgrounds at Clinton State Park had something for everyone.
Cabins
There are seven Clinton cabins to accommodate your group. Clinton cabins offer six one bedroom cabins that sleep 5-6 people, as well as a two-bedroom cabin that can sleep 8. All cabins have their own kitchen, bathroom with shower, and outdoor fire pit with picnic area. More information on the cabins and reservations can be found here.
Camping
The campgrounds have ample space for individual tents, group tents, and RVs/campers with utility hooks ups. There was also plenty of bathrooms spread around the campgrounds to meet your needs. Additional information and the reservations can be found here.
Mom Tip for Camping Areas
We stopped in several of the bathrooms in the campgrounds and many did not have soap or were out of things like toilet paper. You may want to bring your own soap, toilet paper, and paper towels to make sure you have what you need!
Hiking and Biking Trails
A great way to see the nearly 1,400 acres of beauty that Clinton State Park boasts is to hop on one of the trails. There are many trails available for both hiking and biking. No matter your family’s desire for adventure lies, there were options for everyone, a short hike on a paved path, a long hike on an unpaved trail, or a bike path wide enough for your whole family.
We are not big hikers, and our 9, 6 and 4 year olds were able to manage on both a paved and unpaved trail walking on their own in just tennis shoes. If we can do it, anyone can! We walked a trail that led us to the water it was such a beautiful view!
Tips for the trails
There are not always restrooms along the way, be sure to stop and have everyone go before hitting the trail!
Familiarize yourself with the trail map ahead of time. We grabbed a paper map from the visitor center at the beginning of our trip and used that to guide us. You can also view online or print one from here. The trailheads and paths were not very well marked, so having your own copy to guide you or refer to will be a big help!
Story Adventures Trail
Our favorite part of the park was the Story AdventuresTrail! Situated near the campgrounds, the Story Adventures Trail is a short, easily hiked trail provided by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kansas. Every board along the trail features an exerpt from the book Where Butterflies Grow. Our whole family loved hiking and reading more of the story as we went, and the views overlooking the park and lake were amazing!
Recreation and Shelters
There were numerous playgrounds, shelters, picnic areas, volleyball courts, open fields and so much more sprinkled throughout the park. My kids loved playing at the playground near the main entrance. While we were there, we saw several families hosting events at the nearby shelters and enjoying the volleyball court and baseball field nearby.
What’s Nearby
Clinton State Park is just outside of Lawrence, so we made a day of it by visiting the park and then stopping for shopping, dinner, and ice cream on Mass Street!
No matter your family’s needs, ability levels, or desire for adventure, Clinton State Park has something for you! Our family enjoyed a fun-filled day there with minimal snacks, no toys, and only tennis shoes on our feet. Enjoy!
