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Major city · United States

ClintonClinton, Missouri

Go for one night if you are riding the Katy Trail or fishing Truman Lake; skip it as a sightseeing stop — the town itself is a half-day.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), Jan–Feb (ice and closures)
Airports
MCI · SGF
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Clinton is a small east-central Missouri town at the western trailhead of the Katy Trail and the northern edge of Truman Lake. Almost nobody comes for the town: they come to ride, walk or fish, then sleep and eat near the square. One night covers it; two if you want a full day on the water or the trail.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Clinton, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$2–4
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast diner plate$9–15
  • Beerdraught in a tavern$4–7
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$8–20
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Henry County Historical Society)check$5
  • Budget bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$70
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$110
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Katy Trail State Park western trailheadTruman Lake fishing and boatingHenry County Courthouse town squareHenry County Historical Society museum
Airports
MCI Kansas City International (About 1 h 45 min by car via I-70 and MO-7; no direct public transport to Clinton) · SGF Springfield-Branson National (About 2 h 15 min by car; useful if you are coming from the Ozarks)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Clinton: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C

−7°C

6 rd

Feb

7°C

−5°C

6 rd

Mar

13°C

1°C

9 rd

Apr

19°C

6°C

10 rd

May

24°C

12°C

11 rd

Jun

29°C

17°C

10 rd

Jul

32°C

20°C

8 rd

Aug

32°C

19°C

8 rd

Sep

27°C

14°C

8 rd

Oct

20°C

7°C

8 rd

Nov

13°C

1°C

7 rd

Dec

6°C

−5°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. Streets are on a grid and traffic is light, but the trailhead, the lake ramps and the motels are 5–15 min apart with no useful bus service. Parking is free almost everywhere.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Warsawgo

Door to door: About 1 h

MO-7 east, then MO-83 to the Truman Lake dam area

Lake views, dam and a small-town stop; pair it with a marina lunch.

Jefferson Citygo

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

MO-7 north to US-50 east

State capitol and Missouri State Penitentiary tours; a full day.

Columbia, Missouricaution

Door to door: About 2 h

MO-7 north to I-70 east

Better as an overnight than a return day.

Cuba, Missouri

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

MO-7 south to I-44 east

Route 66 murals; too far for a comfortable day return.

St. Robert

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 15 min

MO-7 south to I-44 east

Gateway to the Fort Leonard Wood area.

Rolla, Missouri

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 45 min

MO-7 south to I-44 east

Route 66 and cave country; sleep over.

Lebanon, Missouri

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

MO-7 south to I-44 east

Ozarks edge; a stop on a longer I-44 run.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Kansas Avenue strip

Chain and independent motels on the south side of town, 5–10 min drive from the square; easiest with a car and a trailer.

Downtown square

Walkable to the courthouse, museum and most non-chain restaurants; very few beds, so book early.

MO-7 west toward Truman Lake

Lake-oriented motels and marinas; best if fishing or boating is the point of the trip.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–95 excl. bed
Mid
$95–160 excl. bed
High
$160+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × US$110US$110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110US$220
Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
Fuel, 150 km of local driving1 × US$15 · checkUS$15
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$10US$20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$44
Trip total≈ US$240 per person per day, bed includedUS$479

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$2–4
Breakfast diner plate$9–15
Barbecue plate$12–20
Beer, draught in a tavern$4–7
Museum entry (Henry County Historical Society)check$5
Boat ramp day usecheckfree–$5
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$8–20

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Clinton is a low-crime small town; the practical risks are highway driving, deer at dusk, summer heat on the trail and open water on Truman Lake. Lock your car and boat trailer.
  • Distances between the square, the trailhead and the lake are longer than they look: drive, do not walk.
  • Summer heat and humidity are real; carry water on the Katy Trail, where shade is patchy.
  • Rural roads at dusk are deer country — slow down.
  • Many small restaurants close by mid-afternoon or on Sundays: check hours before you drive out.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Henry County Sheriff (non-emergency)
660-885-7021
Missouri State Highway Patrol (non-emergency)
573-751-3313

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ClintonClinton, Missouri

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Henry County Sheriff (non-emergency)660-885-7021
  • Clinton Conventions & Visitors Bureau660-885-8166

Embassy

No embassies in Clinton; nearest consulates are in Kansas City and St. Louis (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MCI → Clinton by rental car: about 1 h 45 min, fuel about $12–18 (check)
  • Clinton → Warsaw by car: about 1 h via MO-7 and MO-83 (check)
  • Clinton → Jefferson City by car: about 1 h 30 min via MO-7 and US-50 (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is there a boat ramp nearby? — Is there a boat ramp nearby?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How far is it? — How far is it?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Clinton. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), Jan–Feb (ice and closures) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MCI and SGF: drive times, last rental-car desk hours, overnight rung.
  2. Walking cluster around the square with rescue anchors: courthouse, museum, Franklin Street restaurants.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the Katy Trail trailhead, Truman Lake ramps and the Henry County Historical Society.
  4. Lake and trail arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources