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Prairie Clover Campground in Clinton State Park accepts pets at tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with maintained trails offering both lake views and wooded surroundings. Bloomington East allows pets throughout its camping areas while maintaining clean facilities and spacious sites with significant shade and large grassy areas for setting up outdoor equipment. Campers note the campground is right on the lake with great access to boat ramps, fishing docks, and a large sandy beach suitable for pets that enjoy water. Most campsites feature fire pits with attached grills, picnic tables, and lantern poles. The Cedar Ridge section offers particularly good lakeside views with perfect tree coverage for shade during summer months.
Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA provides pet-friendly cabins and glamping options alongside traditional tent and RV sites approximately 15 minutes from Clinton Lake. Walking paths throughout the campgrounds offer exercise opportunities for dogs, though leashed pets remain the standard requirement. Multiple hiking trails accessible from campsites provide excellent outdoor exploration possibilities with dogs, making these dog-friendly campgrounds near Clinton Lake a practical base for active pet owners. Bloomington's surrounding trails connect directly to the campground for convenient pet walks. Wildlife encounters occur frequently with deer, rabbits, raccoons and possums commonly observed, requiring appropriate pet management during evening hours. Overnight visitors should be aware of seasonal insect activity that can affect pets, particularly the large swarms of gnats attracted to water and light during summer evenings at lakeside sites.
"The great part is that the sites are so large, at least on the lake side, which is actually a bit away from the lake, but accessible by stairs from the camp sites."
"The park is also at a lake so there’s a beach access area where you can go and swim or just sit by the very large lake."
from $10 - $100 / night
Check Availability"This campground is on the northwest side of Clinton Lake. "
"The draw for me is the many hiking trails accessible from the campsite. Great place to spend a nice Kansas weekend!"
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"We brought our two dogs here with us and camped. There are so many spots you can set up at on the trail that nobody went to. Keep in mind though that the trail gets very muddy if it has just rained!"
"We very rarely run into anyone else while camping on the trail. We have myself, husband, son, and dog."
"The spots are pretty close together but no one was ever loud and there’s lots of grassy space behind. (I was on a water front spot). Pet friendly, and the staff are so nice."
"We were traveling across Kansas and found this lovely campground. It is one of the prettiest we have come across through our extensive travels. The bathrooms are clean and showers adequate."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"We travel with two adorable rescues and appreciated the awesome dog park where they could run a bit. The restrooms are adequate and clean. Views are beautiful as you will see for yourself."
"This campground is about 35-40 mins outside Kansas City City. The town that it is located in has a lot to do as well! Campgrounds is clean and well kept! We visited in November so not many people."
"Huge dog park. Would be 10x better if they allowed for online reservations, the only negative."
"Large fenced pet area. This is just off interstate 70. The reservation desk was very friendly. Would highly recommend."
from $40 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Great little lake. Good fishing, great locations for kayaking and paddle boarding. the camp can get crowded quick and it's a toss up who will be around and how well behaved. "
"Small campground overlooking lone star lake. Sites are on a slight slope. All sites overlook the lake and water access is extremely close, including the swim beach"
"Grew up camping here every year for the 4th of July and one of my favorite places to visit when we visit Kansas, this place is amazing, little coves for swimming and kayaking, pontoons and party cove on"
"I would have also had to walk through heavy brush to drop in, probably better locations around the lake. Overall a safe and clean place to overnight."
from $16 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Got pretty busy on the weekend and people had loose dogs that were causing some problems, but otherwise very chill. Lake is beautiful, decent cell service with Verizon."
"Pretty developed, easy to find and right on the lake. Restrooms were nearby so that was a plus. There was plenty of space between sites but no real coverage for privacy."
TravelerThe price is good. We paid just under 13usd for a basic primitive site. The bathrooms are limited and pretty rough as one might expect. Otherwise, we found it quiet, peaceful and pretty. Good location to Laurence and get a good coffee and donut.
GuideLots of big sites in Cornflower loop some shaded. Bathroom needs an update; I wouldn’t use the shower as too disgusting so can’t rate the water temperature.
ScoutWe set up our little camper trailer in one of the primitive loops, backed into the trees. Access to the white and blue trail loops from the campground either via some rickety stairs or from a trail next to the cabins. Relatively close to the bathroom and shower house for water. Campsite was great, but the campground in general could use a little bit of trash pickup and general spiffing up
RangerPretty developed, easy to find and right on the lake. Restrooms were nearby so that was a plus. There was plenty of space between sites but no real coverage for privacy. I don’t fish so I really just needed a free place to stay in nature and this was perfect for that. Bugs were… present. I called it a night quickly after the sun went down and could hear the bugs and other creatures from the inside of the car. Not my thing. The lake was super pretty and it was not difficult to drive to.
TravelerWe loved this campsite! The sites were very spacious and each had its own little stretch of shoreline, which made it perfect for fishing right from camp. Even with several families enjoying the lake, it still felt peaceful and private. We saw people fishing, kayaking, boating, and spending time on the water, and even watched deer across the lake.
We stayed near the boat launch, which also put us close to the bathroom. The fire pit was excellent quality, and at night the stargazing was incredible. Free, family-friendly, scenic, and surprisingly private. We would absolutely camp here again.
ScoutRight in the city park (St Mary's Riverside Park) are 3 "spots" to pull in and hook up. Only $10/night for electric (30 or 50 amp) and water! One site (#2) has a picnic table and grill. There were campers that just pulled into the park for the night (free) but no hook-ups.
Pros: restrooms with flush toilets (no showers), hook-ups, nice playground, grass/trees, quiet, disc golf course, good service at City Hall, just 2 blocks off Main St
Cons: have to plan ahead to make reservations (snail mail and check) if you want hook-ups OR go to City Hall during business hours to get key for electric box, mosquitoes.
Would certainly stay again!
RangerSites were nicely spaced and generally close to level. Paved roads. Our site 168 was surfaced with reclaimed asphalt. Lots of shade and clean. Many sites are electric only with 30 amps with water available in several locations in park. Good Starlink at my site.
GuideI stayed at Doud Campground inside the state park. It was a peaceful site facing the lake, with a few hay bales and a well maintained trail.
September was a good month to stay because it was cooler outside. I recommend using the bathhouse facilities at BlackJack campground right next to Doud as they are more updated.
ScoutGood area, quiet, and reasonably priced!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Clinton Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Clinton Lake is Prairie Clover Campground — Clinton State Park with a 3.5-star rating from 38 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Clinton Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 70 dog-friendly camping locations near Clinton Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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