Clinton, Oklahoma: Where Boredom Goes to Die – Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit
Clinton works right through the year because the museum and casino are indoors. Summer is when the water parks and Foss State Park really earn it. The Route 66 drive is better in spring and fall than in July. Winter empties out the road, which suits the museum and the casino instead. Pick your season and the list on this page rearranges itself around it.
Are you planning a trip to Clinton, Oklahoma? You’re in for a treat. This town carries more than its size suggests, from the historic Route 66 through to the Lucky Star Casino. Here with family, with friends or on your own, Clinton covers it.
If eating well matters to you, the dining in Clinton runs wider than expected. Take the local cooking at places like Montana Mike’s Steakhouse or the Cherokee Trading Post & Boot Outlet. Need somewhere to sleep after a long day? Clinton runs plenty, hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts among them.
Step back a century and take the history of Clinton at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum or the Mohawk Lodge Indian Store. If you feel lucky, head to the Lucky Star Casino and take the slot machines or the table games. And if you came to shop, the shopping in Clinton will keep you busy.
Key Takeaways
- Clinton, Oklahoma offers a variety of fun activities and attractions for travelers of all ages.
- From exploring Route 66 to trying your luck at the casino, there’s something for everyone in Clinton.
- Savor the flavors of local cuisine, rest your head in one of the many lodging options, and step back in time by visiting the town’s historic sites.
Savor the Flavors
Do you travel to eat? Do you work through the restaurants wherever you land? Then you’re in luck, because Clinton, Oklahoma runs dining that holds up. From the local kitchens through to the formal end, this city covers it. So let’s work through the food in Clinton.
Dining Delights
If you want comfort food, head to the White Dog Hill Restaurant. This place is known for its chicken fried steak and homemade pies. The rustic room and the country outside the windows do the rest.
For proper Mexican cooking, take El Charro. This family-owned restaurant serves the best tacos, burritos and enchiladas in town. And take their famous margaritas, which are what the meal is built around.
If you want pizza, Lucille’s Roadhouse is the one. This restaurant is known for its wood-fired pizzas and its burgers. The room is loud in the right way and the staff make it easy to stay.
Wine Tasting
Looking for an evening with somebody, or a night out with friends? Head to McLain Rogers Park. There you can take the wine tasting at the Water’s Edge Winery. This winery runs a long list from sweet through to dry and everything between. And there is live music while you drink it.
If you drink beer, take the Oklahoma Station BBQ. This restaurant serves serious BBQ and runs a proper craft list alongside it. From IPAs to stouts, something in there will do the job.
So what are you waiting for? Come and work through the food in Clinton. With this much dining and the wine tasting alongside it, you will eat well.
Rest Your Head
After a long day working through Clinton, Oklahoma, you will want somewhere comfortable to sleep. There are plenty of options in this city.
Cozy Lodging
Want somewhere that feels like a house rather than a hotel? Clinton runs the comfortable end. The places to rest your head include:
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Clinton: This hotel offers comfortable rooms, a fitness center, and a complimentary breakfast to start your day off right.
- Hampton Inn Clinton: Enjoy a relaxing stay at this hotel, which features an indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness center.
- AmericInn by Wyndham Clinton: This hotel offers a variety of room types, including suites with whirlpool tubs, as well as a heated indoor pool and hot tub.
Wherever you sleep, you will sleep properly in Clinton. So put the day down and start planning tomorrow.
Step Back in Time
If you read history, Clinton has plenty. From the museums to the antique shops, the century falls away as you walk.
Route 66 Museum
First on your list should be the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. This museum is a must-visit for anyone traveling along Route 66. You’ll learn about the history of the Mother Road and get a glimpse of what life was like during the heyday of Route 66. The museum features exhibits on the early days of the road, the Dust Bowl, and the people who made the journey along the road.
Antique Shopping
If you’re a fan of antiques, Clinton has plenty of shops to explore. Start your antique adventure at Trading Post Antiques. This shop has a huge selection of antiques, from furniture to jewelry. You’ll feel like you’re in a time capsule as you browse through the vintage items.
Another great place to check out is Downtown Antiques. This shop has a wide variety of antiques, including vintage clothing and collectibles. You’re sure to find something unique to add to your collection.
Whether you read history or you simply buy antiques, Clinton holds enough. Do not drive past these.
Try Your Luck
If you feel lucky, Clinton has the answer. Head to the Lucky Star Casino for an evening of it.
Casino Fun
The Lucky Star Casino is where you find out how the night is going. With over 400 electronic games, slots, video poker and electronic blackjack among them, something will suit your style. And if you want the real version, take one of the live table games, blackjack, craps or roulette.
But the games are not the whole of it at Lucky Star Casino. They also run promotions and events through the year. Check their website for what is coming.
And when you need a break from the floor, eat at one of the casino’s restaurants. From classic diner food at the Rez Dogs Cafe through to the formal end at The River Bar & Grill, every appetite is covered.
So what are you waiting for? Roll the dice, spin the wheel and see how Lady Luck is treating you at Lucky Star Casino in Clinton.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is the whole reason anybody stops in Clinton. Everything else on this whole page is simply what you do afterwards. The casino, the trading post and the water parks fill out the rest of it. Foss State Park and the battlefield are both a proper drive out of town. Give the museum your first morning and then work outward from there.
Shopping Extravaganza
Looking to spend some money in Clinton, Oklahoma? Clinton runs shopping you will not find repeated. Whether you want souvenirs, handmade work or simply a morning of browsing, this town has it. Here are two places to take in Clinton:
Cherokee Trading Post
If you want Native American handmade work, the Cherokee Trading Post is where you go. From jewelry to pottery, from moccasins to dreamcatchers, it is all in there. The Trading Post also runs clothing, accessories and home decor. The design work and the quality are the reason people stop. And with luck you will catch a Native American dance performance while you are there.
Gift Shop Galore
Looking for a gift for somebody, or something for yourself? Take Gift Shop Galore. This shop runs everything a gift shop should, from small oddities to home decor, from gourmet food to handmade jewelry. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the prices are fair. You will want the time to work through the aisles properly.
So whether you shop seriously or you simply want a souvenir worth keeping, Clinton has it. Take the Cherokee Trading Post and Gift Shop Galore while you are here. Happy shopping.
Outdoor Adventures
Clinton, Oklahoma is a good place to get outdoors. From swimming to hiking, there is plenty here to fill the days. Here are the outdoor options to take while you are in town.
Hurricane Harbor
If you want to cool off through the hot months, take Hurricane Harbor. This water park runs everything you need against the heat, water slides, lazy rivers and wave pools among it.
The attraction people line up for at Hurricane Harbor is the Tornado, a water slide that spins you down a giant funnel and drops you into a pool below. And if you want the slower version, take a tube down the lazy river.
Whatever your age or your nerve, Hurricane Harbor fills a day in the sun. So take the swimsuit and the sunscreen and get in the water.
That is the Outdoor Adventures section. Use your time in Clinton, Oklahoma.
Traveler Insights
Ready to work through Clinton, Oklahoma? Before you set off, here is what other travelers say about the best of this town.
According to TripAdvisor, the top-rated attraction in Clinton is the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. Visitors come back to the interactive exhibits and the displays carrying the history and culture of Route 66. And take a photograph with the giant Route 66 shield outside the museum.
If you want shopping that is not the usual kind, head to McLain Rogers Park. This one runs antique shops, boutiques and flea markets. You never know what has come in, so give it the time.
If you live outdoors, Foss State Park is the one to take. This park runs fishing, boating, hiking and camping. There is also a lake in the middle of it that carries the whole thing.
Looking for something with the family? Take the Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park. This one runs water slides, lazy rivers and splash pads that will hold children of any age for hours. Plus the tropical decor puts you somewhere considerably warmer.
On food, travelers point at the Route 66 Diner for the classic version. This retro diner runs burgers, fries and milkshakes that do the job properly. And if you want Mexican cooking, head to El Charro for the tacos, burritos and enchiladas.
Overall, travelers agree that Clinton, Oklahoma runs more than its size suggests. So pack the bags, get on the road and use it.
Nearby Attractions
So you’ve worked through Clinton and you’re wondering what comes next. Well, you’re in luck, because there are places within a short drive. Here are the ones to take:
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
If the Mother Road is your subject, take the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. This museum covers the history of Route 66 with exhibits on the culture, the people and the businesses that lived off the highway. You get vintage cars, neon signs and a recreated diner from the 1950s. It works at any age and it stays with you.
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
The Washita Battlefield National Historic Site marks the Battle of Washita, fought in 1868 between the US Army and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. You can take a self-guided tour of the ground and read what happened there. It is a hard site and it should be visited as one.
Foss State Park
If you want outdoor time, head to Foss State Park, where the fishing, the swimming, the hiking and the camping all are. The park runs a lake built for boating and water sports. You can also walk one of the many hiking trails at your own pace. And if you want more, rent a kayak or a paddleboard and work the lake yourself.
Lucky Star Casino
Feeling lucky? Head to the Lucky Star Casino and take a few games of chance. The casino runs over 1,000 slot machines along with table games like blackjack and poker. And if you get hungry, eat at one of the casino’s restaurants. You may well come out ahead.
Stafford Air & Space Museum
If aviation is your subject, do not miss the Stafford Air & Space Museum. The museum runs exhibits on the history of flight, planes, spacecraft and artifacts from pilots including General Thomas P. Stafford. You can also take a flight simulator and find out what the job feels like. It is how you get the science and the engineering behind flying.
So there it is. Whether you read history, live outdoors or like a game of chance, something near Clinton will suit. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and work through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to cool off in Clinton, Oklahoma?
You could get into one of the lakes around Clinton, and if you want something more reliable, head to Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park. It is where you get out of the heat with the family.
What are some family-friendly activities in Clinton, Oklahoma?
Clinton runs plenty for families. You could take the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, which is the one to take if the Mother Road means anything to you. You could also take Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park or walk at Foss State Park.
Where can I catch some live music in Clinton, Oklahoma?
If you want live music in Clinton, the local bars and restaurants are where it is. Places like The Frisco Bar and Grill and The Route 66 Roadhouse run the music and the room to go with it.
What’s the best place to stay in Clinton, Oklahoma?
There are plenty of places to stay in Clinton depending on what you want. For the cheaper end, take the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites or the Super 8 by Wyndham Clinton. For something more comfortable, take the Hampton Inn Clinton or the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Clinton.
What’s the quickest way to get from Clinton, Oklahoma to Oklahoma City?
The quickest way from Clinton to Oklahoma City is by car. It runs about a 90-minute drive depending on traffic. If you do not have a car, there is a Greyhound bus or a private car service.
What’s the most popular attraction in Clinton, Oklahoma?
The attraction most people take in Clinton is the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. It is where you get the history of the Mother Road and the exhibits that carry it. The other two are Foss State Park and Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park.
Frequently asked questions about Clinton, Oklahoma
Is the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum good with young children?
Yes, surprisingly good. The exhibits are built decade by decade with vintage cars, neon signs and a recreated 1950s diner, which keeps children moving rather than reading the placards instead. The whole thing takes about an hour with the small ones along. The giant Route 66 shield outside is where the photograph actually is. Go first thing in the day, because it is the busiest stop in town.
Is the Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park worth it during winter?
Yes, particularly then. It runs indoors all year with slides, a lazy river and splash pads, which makes it the one place here that ignores the weather outside it entirely. The splash pads out there suit the smallest children in the group best. Hurricane Harbor is the outdoor summer version of that very same thing. Book online first, because the sessions there are capped on the busy days.
Is Foss State Park manageable as a single day trip?
Yes, easily so. It runs fishing, boating, hiking and camping around a lake, and you can rent a kayak or paddleboard out there rather than bringing your own along with you. The trails out there are flat and short enough for small legs. Take your own food, because the options out there are pretty thin. Go early in the summer, because the shade runs out by the afternoon.
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