Clinton State Park — Attraction in Kanwaka Township

My recent trip to Coneflower Campground at Clinton State Park in Lawrence, Kansas, was an absolute blast! Nestled just a few miles west of town, this spot is a hidden gem for anyone craving a fun outdoor escape. The campground itself is part of the massive 1,500-acre park along Clinton Reservoir, and let me tell you, the vibe was electric—especially with the tornado party we stumbled into at 3:00 AM! The rush to the shelter turned into an unexpected adventure, complete with howling winds and a sky that looked like it was putting on a show just for us. With over 200 sites, including electric hookups and primitive options, there’s something for every camper, and the year-round shower houses (one heated!) kept us feeling fresh even after the chaos. The fun didn’t stop with the weather—Coneflower Campground is packed with stuff to do! The nearby trails had us hiking and biking through stunning views of the reservoir, and the wildlife was popping—deer, wild turkeys, and even a bald eagle swooped by to say hello. The lake access was perfect for a quick dip or just chilling by the water, and the disc golf courses (18-hole and 9-hole!) added a competitive twist to our downtime. The sites are roomy enough to spread out, and the fire rings and picnic tables made our evenings a blast—roasting marshmallows while swapping storm stories was the highlight. It’s super close to Lawrence, so we even popped into town for some killer BBQ to fuel our adventures. Hands down, Coneflower Campground gets a big thumbs-up from me! The staff at the park office were total rockstars—friendly and quick with tips on the best trails—and the whole place felt like a playground for nature lovers. Sure, the tornado scare wasn’t on the itinerary, but it only made the trip more epic. At just $13 a night for primitive sites (and a bit more for utilities), it’s a steal for the experience you get. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just looking for a wild weekend, this spot delivers big-time fun with a side of Midwest charm. I’m already plotting my next visit—hopefully with less midnight shelter sprints, but I’d take...

We stayed in the prairie clover camping area. I was very happy with the space I chose for the RV site - didn't feel crowded, we were close to the bathrooms. I liked walking around the loop. I felt like the lake/swim area was within walking distance (maybe 1.5 miles from our camp site) and there were 2 disc golf courses nearby. The first evening as it started to get dark, I enjoyed the lightning bug show - but this was a precursor to the VERY buggy night ahead. We were swarmed by gnats/mayflies. Any light or shade provided by my camper - provided a mass gathering of bugs. We had to race in/out of our camper door to limit bug entry. While trying to sleep the first night, I kept getting buzzed by mosquitoes in my ear (in my camper). We signed up for 3 nights - so we bought sprays and 2 bug zappers. Despite our preparedness, 2nd night felt worse. Also, having played disc golf in the rougher course, we all came back with ticks despite having sprayed down with OFF. These ticks seemed to like the DEET flavor? Morning revealed tons of dead gnats and moths in and around my zappers (1 small zapper inside and an industrial one outside our camper). I swept bug bodies all morning and 3rd night was another verse of the first and more ticks found on us throughout the night. This was a great location but the buggiest campsite I have ever stayed in .... it was almost biblical how heavy handed we were plagued during our 3 night stay. I guess I wd recommend a really strong tick deterrent, limit LED lights at night and avoid providing shaded areas (like a canopy) unless you can really keep it screened in. We had citronella candles which they seemed to enjoy? A lot to do and enjoy when the sun is out. Dusk is when you need to plan to lock...

To follow up on my first entry about the manager Mr Flanagan wanting me to leave the park because I had to have my RV towed in.. the guy at the entrance booth was empathetic,t welcoming, me. Flannagan at first compromised I couldI move to another campsite. though I drove it all over the campground and selected another campsite at his his request ha still asked me to leave the campground, even made a comment he shoulda seen the red flags . then j my doggy's jumping out of an 85 degree but with outsidehigh humidity, so 95 degrees in the car ,w they jumped out looking for me or to get air while I was trying to pay them. He said there's too many red flags.. I asked him what are the red flags because it's just me and my fur babies? I'm a quiet, low key person, he responded ,having the RV towed in was the main one.. I would not be a good guest.. don't have your unit towed in if something happens on your way turn around and go home or go somewhere else because theyin wont let you stay and camp if you are towed in . A side note I don't have a new RV it's an older one 1979 and my car is also not new and I'm in the middle of moving and moving a lot of stuff so there's been stuff in it every time you see me and I've been wearing t-shirt and shorts so not all dressed up .I feel discriminated. against and it's cause insult onto injury him judging my appearance, and how o arrived opposed to how good of a guest I was ,along with continued unconditional respect. For all staff. ..I'm disabled, limited on everything I'm able to do. But, I'm not good enough for Clinton lake Park campground on Lawrence side. He referred me to the wooded side that is free. I declined, I would be terrified and my defribulator would constantly have to zap me!...