Facilities
Overlook Park has two picnic shelters available for up to 100 guests. Flush toilets and drinking water are available for visitors' convenience.
Upcoming Availability
Campground guide
What to know before booking
This day-use picnic area, located just north of Clinton Lake in the hills of Kansas, is the perfect spot for a party or family gathering. Overlook Park has two picnic shelters available for up to 100 guests. Congress authorized Clinton Lake in 1962, and the finished reservoir was filled in 1980.
max Stay
14 nights
Official campground details, summarized
Concise planning notes based on the public Recreation.gov campground information.
Natural Features
Congress authorized Clinton Lake in 1962, and the finished reservoir was filled in 1980. While the Dam and Reservoir were originally built for flood control, the area has now become a recreational oasis for millions of visitors to enjoy the beautiful green Kansas backdrop. Clinton Lake's beautiful setting of steep bluffs, wooded shoreline and clear water is unequaled among Kansas lakes. Shoreline development has been limited in an effort to preserve as much of the natural setting as possible. Clinton spans 8 miles up the Wakarusa Valley and covers 7,000 surface acres. If the lake ever approaches the top of its flood pool, an additional 5,800 acres will be covered, extending the area to 13 miles along the valley floor.
Recreation
A horseshoe pit, tetherball pole, sand volleyball court, softball field and playground are all provided at Overlook Park. Clinton Lake offers opportunities for boating, fishing, canoeing, jet skiing, swimming and countless other water sports, making it the main attraction to area. The lake's fish and wildlife resources provide sightseers, fishermen, and hunters ample opportunities for their sports, and Clinton Lake is well-stocked with crappie, walleye, channel catfish and white bass. Wildlife viewing is also a popular activity, with bald eagles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey and other wildlife in abundance at Clinton Lake. Four trail systems are located around Clinton Lake, including the North Shore, South Shore, Smokehouse and the George Latham Trails. All offer hiking, biking and equestrian opportunities within a 20 minute drive. The North Shore trailhead is in Overlook Park.
Nearby Attractions
The Visitor Center, located on the northwest side of the dam, just down the road from Overlook Park, has several informative displays covering topics such as the history of the area, reasons for the dam and the wildlife in the area. The Clinton Lake Museum, located within the Bloomington East Park, has information on the history of the region and the Underground Railroad. The city of Lawrence is just a few miles away.
Campsite map
Site markers come from Recreation.gov campsite coordinates.
Campsites
A sample of official campsite metadata for scanning equipment fit before booking.
Site 001
GROUP SITES
0 ft
vehicle
100
people
Full
shade
Site 002
GROUP SITES
0 ft
vehicle
100
people
—
shade
Important notices
This is Overlook Park at Clinton Lake, near Lawrence, Kansas, not Overlook Park at Big Hill Lake, near Cherryvale, Kansas.
Upon arrival, please confirm that your reservation matches the shelter number you set up on. Shelter 1 is located closer to the center of Overlook park and Shelter 2 is located closer to the entrance of Overlook Park.
Park closes at 10:00 p.m. The gate is locked at this time and all vehicles and occupants must be out.
Day-use only, no overnight camping permitted.
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Surrounding campgrounds
Other tracked campgrounds within driving distance, nearest first.
Common questions
How do I book Overlook Park?
Reservations are handled by Recreation.gov, not by Kestrel. Use the official reservation link on this page to book. Kestrel only watches availability and tells you when a site frees up.
How quickly will I hear about a cancellation?
Kestrel rescans every two minutes, and every 30 seconds during the provider's daily release window. Alerts go out by email as soon as a matching site appears.