Clinton State Park offers three campground loops with nearly 400 sites on the north shore of Clinton Lake. The reservoir spans 7,000 acres with 70 miles of shoreline near Lawrence. Summer temperatures average 85-95°F with high humidity, while spring and fall bring milder weather with occasional severe thunderstorms.
What to Do
Hiking trails for all abilities: Prairie Clover Campground at Clinton State Park features "an abundance of hiking all around the camps" according to Charles F., who stayed for two weeks. Trails range from easy lakeside paths to more challenging woodland routes.
Lake activities beyond swimming: Bloomington East at Clinton Lake provides "great access to boat ramps, fishing dock, and a large sandy beach," notes NANCY L. The lake supports fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding with rental options available seasonally.
Archery and disc golf: Clinton State Park includes specialized recreation areas. Amber A. mentions, "Rolling hills and lots of green with many trails and recreational facilities including more unusual things like archery. Lake is surprisingly big, good wildlife and birding."
What Campers Like
Private woodland sites: Woodridge Park offers secluded camping spots. "One of my favorite not the typical slice of pie camping great for hammocks," shares Mark R. Alexandra J. adds, "I was here over Labor Day weekend and didn't see a single other person on the 1/2-ish mile hike to Primitive Site 4, where I spent the night."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campers report excellent wildlife sightings. Kent F. at Prairie Clover Campground saw "eagles, turkey vultures, and possible osprey." At Woodridge Park, Harmony H. reports, "wooded, private, spacious, feels very secluded," making it ideal for animal watching.
Waterfront camping options: Sites with direct lake access are available at select campgrounds. Daniel T. describes camping at site 13: "Half of our group took the trail and hiked to the campsite, the other half got there by kayak/paddleboard. The site was very secluded and had a very interesting layout."
What You Should Know
Weekend vs. weekday availability: The most popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. Kent F. recommends, "Electrical sites sold out weekends so mid week may be your best bet."
Limited shade at some sites: Lone Star Lake Park and parts of Clinton State Park have exposed campsites. Mitch M. notes, "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."
Bathroom facility variations: Maintenance and availability of restrooms varies between campgrounds and seasons. Jessica C. found "The bathrooms were clean and had single room toilets with showers," while Matt M. reports at Coneflower Campground: "The bathrooms nearest to us were a modern toilet and they were closed."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Lake Shawnee County Campground offers family-friendly amenities. Lila D. notes, "My kids enjoyed walking around and seeing the lights. The lake is beautiful. There are grassy areas for kids to play."
Child-friendly layout: Some campgrounds are designed with families in mind. Tori G. appreciates how "the layout made it easy for children to move freely and safely among campsites and to restroom facilities and the playground."
Seasonal activities for kids: Special events occur throughout camping seasons. Darius C. mentions, "I only go to KOA if I am camping with the kids. It is worth the price if only because of the clean bathrooms and kid friendly activities."
Tips from RVers
Level site selection: RV campers should research site terrain before booking. Dan M. found Prairie Clover Campground to be "awesome, spacious sites and level. The park is well taken care of and very easy to get to from I70."
Hookup availability: Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA offers full hookup sites but books quickly during peak seasons. Robert O. reports, "Level site. Pull through FHU everything worked as expected."
Dog friendly campgrounds near Lawrence: Most parks welcome pets with standard rules. Douglas S. at Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA appreciated "the awesome dog park where they could run a bit," while Clinton State Park's multiple campgrounds all allow leashed dogs with designated exercise areas.
