Sited close to the University of Kansas and the historic town of Lawrence, Clinton Lake, an Army Corps of Engineers park features unique camping and recreation opportunities for all kinds of vacationers. This lake park, east of Clinton State Park, is a great place to visit if you want to enjoy solitude, have fun with family, or engage in group events.
With dedicated group camping areas, an equestrian campground, and RV campsites, Clinton Lake is equipped to take care of everyone that visits the park. Full hookup options and partial hookup options are available within the campsites in the park. Other facilities and amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water, dump station, and picnic shelters.
There are great places to visit at Clinton Lake to have fun and learn about the history of the park. The Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum at Bloomington East Park is one example. Besides, you can choose to have fun by boating, swimming, and hiking over 50 miles of trails in the park. A marina offers supplies and equipment that enhance campers’ pursuits in the park.
If you’re up to it, you can take a short trip to Perry Lake for additional recreational activities.
Clinton Lake is very easy to locate and access by RVs, trailers, and other motorized vehicles, owing to the fact that the park is located just one mile west of Lawrence, Kansas, along Clinton Parkway. The campgrounds and day use areas in the park are connected by local roads. RV rentals are available at the nearby Clinton State Park and Perry.
Parking areas are provided for RVs, trailers, and cars at Clinton Lake for vacationers and visitors. Moreover, the various campgrounds within the park also have parking pads and spaces for motorhomes. Overnight parking is also available.
There are no direct public transportation services to Clinton Lake, however, bus lines 29 and 9 stop near Clinton State Park.
Bloomington East Park is a large camping area within Clinton Lake that features pet-friendly campgrounds, day-use areas, and picnic shelters. Campgrounds in this area include Cedar Ridge, Walnut and Hickory. Located just west of Clinton Lake, you’ll be able to enjoy several recreational and camping options for individual, family, and group pursuits.
A total of 298 campsites are available within Bloomington East Park, 200 of which are equipped with electric hookups. 114 campsites have water hookups, while only four campsites have sewer hookups. Maximum RV/trailer length in the park is 100 feet, however most of the campsites can only accommodate vehicles 60 feet long.
Facilities and amenities in Bloomington East Park include flush toilets, showers, drinking water, dump station, picnic shelters, amongst others.
The campsites are available by reservations between April and October (Peak Season).
Rockhaven Park is an equestrian campground on the south side of Clinton, with a few camping options for non-equestrian campers. Some of the campsites are available by reservations and all the sites amount to 48 in total. Only 16 of the campsites are available to non-equestrians.
There are 18 sites in this COE campground with electric hookups for RVs. Maximum RV length is 66 feet. Amenities in this campground include showers, restrooms, vault toilets, horseshoe pits, and corrals. A self-pay station is also available first-come, first-served campsites.
Good opportunities to explore Clinton Lake on foot are available for RV campers and visitors who fancy taking an adventure to different parts of this Army COE park. You can hike on any of The North Shore Trails, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center Nature Trails, George Latham Hiking Trail, and The South Shore/Rockhaven Trails.
The North Shore Trails, for example, take hikers through a hickory and oak forest along the shore of the lake and offer the chance to see bluebirds, beaver, raccoon, coyotes, and other beautiful wildlife in the park. The other trails are also as insightful and exciting. Why not check them out when you arrive?
Lovers of golfing make it a date at the Eagle Bend Golf Course at Clinton Lake. Not only has the course been voted one of the top three golf courses in the whole of Kansas by the Kansas City Star, it is also named as “Places to Stay” by Golf Digest. Little wonder why campers and visitors always make a stop at the course for some recreation.
A host of amenities are also available, including a snack bar, full-service pro shop, driving range, practice putting and chipping greens.
A spectacular place to visit at Clinton Lake is The Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum. This museum, located in Bloomington East Park offers visitors the chance to learn about the history of the region and how it connects to Lawrence, Kansas.
It may interest you to know that the park area was a hotbed of abolitionism and a key region for the Underground Railroad. A variety of genealogical records, historical records and objects are available in the museum for the viewing and learning pleasure of visitors.
There are plenty of opportunities to hunt a variety of game at Clinton Lake. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism manages much of the 14 sq. miles of public land available for hunting at Clinton Lake. Within this public land that surrounds the lake, there’s a unique habitat made of cropland, grassland and timber where different game species are found. Some of these game species include quail, deer, turkey, dove, and waterfowl. Squirrel and rabbit are other wildlife you’ll find within the public land.
This US Army COE park features a large, sandy swimming beach at Bloomington East where a designated swimming area is earmarked with yellow, floating buoys to guide campers and visitors who wish to take a dip in the water.
Facilities and amenities available at the beach include parking lots, change house, showers, and restrooms. Four picnic shelters, a playground, and volleyball courts are also on hand within the area. The swimming area is not open to the use of boats. Pets are also not allowed.
For a fully immersive and memorable recreational experience at Clinton Lake, campers and visitors often visit the Clinton Lake Marina for a variety of supplies that definitely come in handy while exploring Clinton Lake. For boaters, the marina offers boat slips with access to electricity and water, boat rental facilities, dry boat storage, and fuel dock. Anglers can pick up fishing supplies, fishing licenses, and guide books. Hunting licenses can also be obtained at the marina. Wi-Fi is also available.
