Visit This Underrated State Park For A Fun-Filled Midwest Camping Adventure
Choosing a place to camp is an exciting matter. You have seemingly endless opportunities when it comes to booking your next camping adventure. You can select one based on which activities you want to do, or what kind of scenery you want to wake up to. If you're lucky, you'll find a place that offers both fun things to do and beautiful natural surroundings. One that does is the underrated campground in Clinton State Park in Lawrence, Kansas. The 1,425-acre park is an opportune location with exciting activities for the whole family and many campsites to choose from.
The park is especially ideal for wildlife lovers and nature photographers. Whether you're fascinated by plants or intrigued by animals, you'll be able to observe nature up close. Birdwatchers, you'll find species like the bald eagle, red-bellied woodpecker, and eastern bluebird. Plant lovers, this is a great location to find wildflowers blooming throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
Activities and history
History buffs can also appreciate the park, as it played an important role in the American Civil War and served as one of the many stops along the Underground Railroad. For those more interested in outdoorsy activities, grab your hiking boots — there are 25 miles of trails waiting for you at Clinton State Park. Alternatively, you can bring your bike and venture down them that way, or can head to the nearby South Shore Blue Trail and Orange Trail Loop to ride a horse along the path. Clinton State Park also has some rather unique and fun options, such as disc golf and archery.
If you'd rather spend your vacation in the water, you'll find an abundance of activities to dive into. You can rent a pontoon and spend your day cruising on Lake Clinton's waves, or you can stay near the shores and take a swim. Fishing is also great here, and you can even do so with the little ones at the kids-only fishing pond. The park is open year-round, meaning you can experience the unique sights and sounds each season brings. When the weather gets cold and the snow starts to fall, you can put on your skis and trek the 5 miles of cross-country skiing trails.
Camping during any season
When the day is done and the sky is dark you can cozy up by the fire at one of the 378 campsites, or bring a board game to play if you booked one of the cabins. You can choose to go rustic or utilize the modern convenience of full hookups. You can book your campsite in advance to ensure you get the spot you want. Whether you're bringing your RV or tent, you're in luck when it comes to the prices. The sites with RV hookups start at only $21 per night and primitive tent campsites start at $10 per night. They also have cabins you can book, their rates are also great and start at $95 per night. "We recently took our granddaughters here for a week and they had so much fun," a reviewer on Google Reviews wrote. "The RV sites are clean, spaced well apart, and level. Restrooms are clean and the playground was fun for the kids."
Getting to the state park is simple. It's located in the Eastern region of the state and is a quick drive of just over 40 minutes from Kansas City, Kansas. Whether you're planning to camp for a week, or simply staying for a couple of hours, Clinton State Park provides the perfect escape into nature.