Agencies
Services
I-57, north or south bound: I-57 to Champaign; exit onto I-74 west to Farmer City (approximately 20 miles); exit onto Rt. 54 west (left at stop sign at end of exit ramp). Take Rt. 54 through Farmer City and proceed approximately 10 miles to DeWitt. Brown informational sign at DeWitt will read "Clinton Lake State Recreation Area". Turn left at corner of Route 54 and Randolph St. Go through DeWitt and proceed approximately 1 mile, park is on the right side of road. Park office is first left after entering park.
I-55, south bound: I-55 to Bloomington; follow I-55 around south side of Bloomington and take I-74 east for 2 miles; exit I-74 onto Rt. 51 south. Take Rt. 51 south to Clinton (approximately 20 miles); ignore all Clinton exits and stay on the 4-lane going around town to the 2nd stop light (Rt. 54). Turn left and follow Rt. 54 through Clinton; proceed approximately 10 miles to DeWitt. Brown informational sign at DeWitt will read "Clinton Lake State Recreation Area". Turn right onto Hwy 14 and follow this through DeWitt; proceed approximately 1 mile, the park is on the right side of road. Park office is first left after entering park.
I-55, north bound: I-55 to north side of Springfield; take exit for Rt. 54 east, Clinton. Stay on Rt. 54 to DeWitt (approximately 50 miles). Brown informational sign at DeWitt will read "Clinton Lake State Recreation Area". Turn right onto Hwy 14 and follow this through DeWitt; proceed approximately 1 mile, the park is on the right side of road. Park office is first left after entering park.
Rt. 51 north bound: Take Rt. 51 north to 2nd stop light at Clinton (Rt. 54); turn right and follow Rt. 54 through Clinton. Continue on Rt. 54 to DeWitt. Brown informational sign at DeWitt will read "Clinton Lake State Recreation Area". Turn right onto Hwy 14 and follow this through DeWitt; proceed approximately 1 mile, the park is on the right side of road. Park office is first left after entering park.
Prior to the arrival of settlers in the area that now includes Clinton Lake, the land on which the Clinton Lake SRA now rests primarily was upland prairie and bottomland deciduous forest. Historians believe the area was the site of small villages and hunting camps of tribes of the Illini Confederacy. Kickapoo also likely were in the area until the 1820s. The first permanent European-born settlers came to the area in the 1830s. Many came from Kentucky and Tennessee to farm the land. Most of the area had been used as pasture or cropland when construction of the 4,900-acre lake began in the 1970s.
Directions
For more information contact Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Park Office, 7251 Ranger Rd, DeWitt, IL, 61735, 217-935-8722. GPS Location: 725 1900E (40.161 N, 88.789 W)
Note: Most facilities are handicapped accessible.
