Clinton Beach

De Witt, Illinois · on Lake Clinton

Verified · 2 independent sources

WATER: reservoir
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: No fee found
SEASON: The beach operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

About Clinton Beach

Clinton Beach is the swimming beach at Clinton Lake State Recreation Area near De Witt, Illinois, on Lake Clinton (Clinton Lake), a 4,900-acre reservoir originally built in the 1970s to serve as the cooling lake for the nearby Clinton nuclear power station. The Illinois DNR manages a 1,000-foot sand beach here with a buoyed swimming area, open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

The beach sits on the shore of Clinton Lake, a large man-made reservoir within the 9,300-acre Clinton Lake State Recreation Area in DeWitt County, east-central Illinois. The surrounding recreation area includes boat launches, a fishing pier, campgrounds, picnic areas, playgrounds, and hiking trails set among open lake shoreline and wooded park land.

Swimming at Clinton Beach

Swimming takes place at a 1,000-foot sand beach on the reservoir, in a section of the lake buoyed off from the rest of the open water used for boating, sailing, and water skiing. It is a developed, official swim beach rather than a backcountry or informal swimming hole, suited to families and casual lake swimmers.

The hike in

No hike is needed to reach the swim beach, it is a drive-up beach with an adjacent free parking lot at the Mascoutin day-use area. Separate hiking trails exist elsewhere in the 9,300-acre recreation area for those who want to hike: the 5.0-mile Houseboat Cove Trail (a moderate loop starting north of the beach, following the shoreline and returning through woods) and the 11-mile one-way North Fork Trail (harder, through steeply wooded banks along the lake's north arm), per the official IDNR park brochure. Neither trail is required for beach access.

Walk from the parking lot to the sand is a standard short beach walk, not a hike.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

The 1,000-ft sand beach has a shallow, buoyed swim area suited to families, but the IDNR brochure states there are no lifeguards on duty and anyone under 17 must be accompanied by an adult; swimmers are required to stay within the buoyed area and 'swim with caution.'

Parking

Free

Free designated parking lot at the Mascoutin beach/day-use area (marked on the official park map). A separate $2/person beach admission fee applies to use the swim beach itself, this is a per-person beach fee, not a parking charge.

Restrooms

Yes

The beach itself has a changing facility with showers and restrooms (accessible from the southwest end near the concession building), per the official IDNR brochure. Additional toilet facilities exist at day-use/picnic areas around the lake (Mascoutin, Weldon, Lane, West Side, Peninsula access areas).

Hours

Swim beach operates seasonally, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; no specific daily open/close clock-time is published in official IDNR materials. The on-site concession (Boondocks Grill) is open early April through mid-October.

On the water

CanoesSailboatsMotorboatsWater ski boat

Restrictions: The lake's upper arms and the entire area north of the IL Route 54 bridge (near the power plant) are permanently posted no-wake / electric-trolling-motor-only zones. A roughly one-mile stretch directly in front of the power plant (Route 54 bridge to a line of buoys south) is closed to all boat traffic. There is no horsepower limit in the main basin. Water skiing is permitted only between the buoy line south of the Route 54 bridge and the Route 48 bridge.

Six public boat ramps and one canoe launch are distributed around the lake (Mascoutin, West Side, Weldon, Parnell, North Fork, and Spillway access areas). Kayaks are not explicitly named in the official brochure, but the canoe launch and boat ramps would typically accommodate them; this is inference, not a confirmed rule. A privately run, full-service marina (not IDNR-operated) sits on Marina Road (1700 East), one mile north of IL Route 10 and 6.5 miles east of Clinton, its business name and rental pricing could not be confirmed this session.

What regulars say

No candid visitor reports on crowds, water clarity, or real-world tips could be gathered for this spot.

Backstory

Clinton Lake was built in the 1970s (opening in 1978) as a cooling reservoir for the Clinton Nuclear Generating Station (Exelon Power Station); the Illinois DNR manages the surrounding 9,300-acre Clinton Lake State Recreation Area for public recreation.

Clinton Beach: FAQ

Is Clinton Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Clinton Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Clinton Beach?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Clinton Beach?

When is the best time to visit Clinton Beach?

The beach operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

What are the rules at Clinton Beach?

Groups of 25 or more must register in advance with the park; one responsible adult is required per 15 minors in a group; pets must be kept leashed; visitors are advised to call ahead as natural conditions can prompt facility closures.

What water body is Clinton Beach on?

Clinton Beach is on Lake Clinton, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.