Clinton Lake offers several pet-friendly camping options with extensive trail networks approximately 10 miles southwest of Lawrence, Kansas. The lake covers 7,000 acres with 25 miles of shoreline and maintains an elevation of 875 feet. Camping conditions vary seasonally with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and moderate humidity levels making early morning or evening activities more comfortable.
What to do
Disc golf at Clinton State Park: Prairie Clover Campground features an archery range and disc golf course for visitors seeking recreational activities beyond hiking and water sports. "Rolling hills and lots of green with many of trails and recreational facilities including more unusual things like archery. Lake is surprisingly big, good wildlife and birding," notes Amber A.
Free dispersed camping options: For budget-conscious travelers, Woodridge Park provides no-cost primitive camping opportunities with basic amenities. "Woodridge is one if my favorite campgrounds. First come / first serve, plenty of space, potable water, nice toilets, tons of trails..." writes Josh M. Another camper mentions, "There are several campsites in the parking lot area and then there are 15 more primitive sites along the trail."
Wildlife observation: Early morning and evening hours provide prime wildlife viewing opportunities around Clinton Lake. At Prairie Clover Campground, one visitor reported "Saw eagles, turkey vultures, and possible osprey" while camping. Multiple campgrounds report frequent deer sightings along with smaller mammals.
What campers like
Lake access points: Bloomington East provides convenient water access for various activities. "Our camping spot offered significant shade and a large grassy area for setting up chairs, cooking equipment, and outdoor games," notes Tori G. The campground layout accommodates families with children who need to move safely between campsites and facilities.
Off-season availability: Clinton Lake campgrounds offer exceptional opportunities for quieter camping experiences during non-peak times. "Visiting in non peak is as easy as driving in, finding a spot and paying your fees. Full bath houses, disc golf, archery range, a d an abundance of hiking all around the camps," states Charles F. about Prairie Clover Campground.
Secluded primitive sites: Dog owners seeking more privacy will appreciate the isolated options at Woodridge Park. "We very rarely run into anyone else while camping on the trail. We have myself, husband, son, and dog. Every now and then there will be a rowdy group of guys out there to party but for the most part it's pretty quiet," says Nikki S.
What you should know
Train noise considerations: When selecting dog-friendly campgrounds near Clinton Lake, be aware that some locations experience significant railroad disturbances. "This is a lovely campsite but we'll sadly never stay here again - because trains passed by really loudly all night long - it finally stopped at about 5am," warns LauraJane B. about Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA.
Site-specific challenges: Individual campsites can present unique difficulties depending on location. "The tents we pitched were pretty close to the fire, and the biggest patch of flat ground was down wind from the fire," notes Daniel T. about Prairie Clover Campground. Another camper mentioned, "Though it had rained a few days before our campsite was bone dry, which is fine except that the ground was so hard that 80% of our set up time was trying to stake in."
Weather impacts: Seasonal considerations affect comfort levels for pets and humans alike. "It can be pretty loud even though the campsites are pretty dispersed," reports one camper at Perry Lake Slough Creek Park. Summer heat requires extra water provisions for dogs while spring conditions may create muddy trail conditions.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Lone Star Lake Park provides child-friendly recreation areas alongside swimming opportunities. "The campground has a playground and clean facilities. Makes for a great family camping option," writes Tommie J. Another visitor mentions the convenient layout: "Playground is in the middle and there's a great dock and beach."
Butterfly seasons: When planning dog-friendly camping trips to Clinton Lake, consider insect activity periods that might affect children and pets. "We went mid-June, and there had apparently been some type of butterfly hatching. They were small but quite aggressive (who knew!?), constantly swarming us," reports Harmony H. about Woodridge Park.
Tent site selection: For families tent camping with dogs, request sites with adequate shade and level ground. "Site 246 was at the bottom of the hill, right on the lake. Looks like there had been heavy rains, so evidence of a lot of run-off through these lake-front sites," notes Paul Y. about Bloomington East.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Lake Shawnee County Campground provides full hookup options for RVers traveling with pets. "All the sites are paved, level and have full hookups. They include nice picnic tables and fire pits. We had a pull thru site with a nice view of the lake," reports Janet H.
Site drainage assessment: Request elevated sites when rain is in the forecast for dog-friendly campgrounds at Clinton Lake. "Another disappointment was that with all of the recent rain, we had a huge puddle separating our pull-through from our picnic table and fire pit. Again, we should have asked for another site," advises Myron C. about Clinton State Park.
Reservation timing: For pet owners traveling with RVs during summer weekends, book well in advance. "Electrical sites sold out weekends so mid week may be your best bet," notes Kent F. about Prairie Clover Campground, where recent improvements have enhanced facilities.
