Overview
Clinton is a city in Central Missouri.
3 sights · 3 things to do · 4 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Clinton
Katy Trail State Park
This more than 200-mile long park begins at Clinton. The centerpiece of the park is the Katy Trail, which goes to several trailheads along the way and for part of its length merges with the Lewis and Clark Trail. The tra…
Truman Lake
This reservoir begins southeast of Clinton and continues for many miles to a dam near Warsaw. The terrain around the reservoir is more varied than much of western Missouri's terrain, since it is the beginning of the Ozar…
Downtown Clinton
Around the downtown area are a few buildings owned by the Henry County Historical Society. Some of the downtown is on Franklin Street. In the downtown part of the city is the town square, at the center of which is the He…
Clinton Country Club
This is a golf course area of decent size with a main lake and some woodland areas. However, it is not open to the general public and the country club considers itself to be "semi-private".
Henry County Historical Society
The Henry County Historical Society is the main group behind the museum, which includes a genealogy library that is open on weekday afternoons.
Poague Conservation Area
The Conservation Area may be used by campers, hunters, and fishermen. There are parking areas scattered around the conservation region.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Kansas City)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SGF Springfield Branson National Airport, Springfield — 80 mi away. Directions
- MCI Kansas City International Airport, Kansas City — 82 mi away (major hub). Directions
Missouri Routes 7 and 52 lead through the city. Route 7 enters the city from the east and west, and Route 52 enters it from the north and south.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Katy Trail State Park, Henry County Historical Society, Truman Lake
- Lunch Square 109
- Afternoon Poague Conservation Area, Downtown Clinton
- Dinner Ben Franklin Bistro
- Evening Dendee's Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Clinton Country Club
- Lunch Shawnee Mound Barbecue
- Dinner Mallard's Roadhouse
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
A few of Clinton's non-chain restaurants are scattered around the town square. For listings near the town square, the location of the restaurant in relation to the town square is listed.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The city is in east-central Missouri and is near the far north-eastern end of Truman Lake. It is near the mountainous Ozarks region of the United States, but still in the Plains, so the countryside around Clinton can vary from farming land to marshy areas to hilly, forested regions.
Get in
Missouri Routes 7 and 52 lead through the city. Route 7 enters the city from the east and west, and Route 52 enters it from the north and south.
Get around
Much of the city's roads are on a grid layout, so getting around the city by car should be fairly easy.
See
See Katy Trail State Park
This more than 200-mile long park begins at Clinton. The centerpiece of the park is the Katy Trail, which goes to several trailheads along the way and for part of its length merges with the Lewis and Clark Trail. The trail and the state park it goes through includes many woodland and grassland regions. Horses, bicycles, and pedestrians are allowed.
See Truman Lake (Truman Reservoir)
This reservoir begins southeast of Clinton and continues for many miles to a dam near Warsaw. The terrain around the reservoir is more varied than much of western Missouri's terrain, since it is the beginning of the Ozarks region. There is also a Truman Lake State Park toward the western side of the reservoir near the town of Warsaw.
Do
Do Henry County Historical Society (Museum and cultural center)
The Henry County Historical Society is the main group behind the museum, which includes a genealogy library that is open on weekday afternoons.
- Skydive at Glider Sports along Hwy 7 five miles east of town.
Buy
Most stores are scattered along the main highways in the north and east; for example, there is a Walmart store at the junction of Route 7 and Route 52.
Shop Farmers' Market
Eat
A few of Clinton's non-chain restaurants are scattered around the town square. For listings near the town square, the location of the restaurant in relation to the town square is listed.
Drink
Sleep
Go next
- Kansas City is a large city with parts in both Kansas and Missouri that is known for its musical history and for being the birthplace of jazz musician Charlie Parker
- Warsaw is a town east of Clinton.
Nearby
Warsaw
City / town · 14 listings · 23 mi away
Warrensburg
City / town · 1 listings · 27 mi away
Sedalia
City / town · 8 listings · 37 mi away
Nevada
City / town · 3 listings · 48 mi away
Lee's Summit
City / town · 120 listings · 50 mi away
Lexington
City / town · 2 listings · 57 mi away
Lake of the Ozarks
Park · 18 listings · 59 mi away
Independence
City / town · 45 listings · 61 mi away
My experience
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