If you’re looking for fun things to do in Clinton Iowa, this Mississippi River town might surprise you. We originally visited to see the famous Dambo trolls, but quickly discovered there was so much more to explore. Clinton makes a great weekend getaway in Iowa, especially for families looking for a mix of outdoor adventures, unique attractions, and small-town charm. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Clinton Iowa with kids.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Visit Clinton/Grow Clinton Iowa. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and experiences are my own.

Things to Do in Clinton Iowa

Go troll hunting

By now, you probably know I’m obsessed with Dambo trolls! How excited was I to hear that 3 trolls popped up in Clinton Iowa along with a secret installation! Clinton is home to the Three Thieves, larger-than-life troll sculptures created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo using recycled materials. We had so much fun tracking down all three trolls, each with their own unique personality and setting.

My favorite was Helmut, who can be found near the Sawmill Museum holding a tree. If you’re visiting Clinton, the trolls are a must-see and a fun way to explore different parts of the city. Solve the puzzle from each of the three trolls to find the secret installation, Enchanted Branches, in Clinton.

Coming soon – Read all about hunting for trolls AND the secret location for Enchanted Branches. 

Sawmill Museum

Our first stop (besides the trolls, of course!) was the Sawmill Museum, which tells the story of Clinton’s lumber industry. I wasn’t expecting the museum to be so kid-friendly and interactive, but it surprisingly was!

Kids can pretend they are sawing a tree, race down a slide, and step into the shoes of a lumberjack as they explore recreated buildings including a blacksmith shop, cook’s shanty, and bunkhouse. They also loved running between the different buildings, grabbing food from the cook’s shanty, visiting the blacksmith, and imagining what life was like during Clinton’s lumber boom. There is so much hands-on play throughout the museum that learning about history feels more like an adventure. I absolutely loved how they brought Clinton’s history to life for kids.

My kids were especially excited about the water play area, where they learned about locks and dams. Although if I’m being honest, they were much more interested in racing their boats to see whose would make it through first!

Dambo Troll fans will also want to spend a few minutes exploring the small exhibit dedicated to Thomas Dambo and the Clinton trolls. It was fun learning a little more about the artist and the inspiration behind these giant wooden sculptures.

Before you leave, be sure to stop by the gift shop. You’ll find a variety of handmade wooden items, and they’re currently working on expanding their troll merchandise. We picked up a small wooden car made from the same wood used to build Helmut. We plan to turn it into a Christmas ornament so we can remember our Clinton adventure for years to come.

We honestly thought we’d spend about 30 minutes here and ended up staying much longer. If you’re visiting Clinton with kids, don’t skip this stop.

Walk along the Riverfront

Clinton is a river town, so of course we had to spend some time along the Mississippi River. We headed to Riverview Park for a morning run and walk and quickly discovered one of our favorite spots in Clinton!

It was fun watching people fish on their boats and spotting all kinds of interesting things along the way, including sculptures, lighthouses, a fitness park, the restored paddlewheel boat turned showboat theatre, the Freedom Rock, and plenty of photo opportunities.

I even caught a barge floating down the Mississippi! We were also excited to find a colorful mural near the playground and skate park. What a gem of a park!

See Murals

We always enjoy finding public art when we travel (hello, free fun!). One thing we loved about exploring downtown Clinton was discovering the many murals scattered throughout the area. I was especially excited to find a set of wings – I’m always on the lookout for wing murals for a photo!

One really cool spot was the Paint It Back building, located just a short walk (or drive) from Helmut the troll. Keep your eyes peeled as you explore – there are so many murals to discover!

 

Go to a ballgame

Watching the Clinton LumberKings was a last-minute addition to our trip, and honestly, it ended up being such a fun night out! We loved the laid-back atmosphere of Prospect League baseball, and there really isn’t a bad seat in the stadium. It felt affordable, family-friendly, and way less hectic than a major league game.

Be sure to stop by the gift shop for a souvenir before you leave. My son ended the night with an unexpected surprise when he found a baseball in the parking lot! If you’re visiting on a Sunday, keep an eye out for the team’s alter ego, the Clinton Elotes.

See Eagle Point Castle

One of the clues for the secret troll installation led us to Eagle Point Park, so after our hike, we made a stop at the Eagle Point Castle. How cool is this place?!

Perched high above the Mississippi River, the stone castle offers beautiful views and makes for a fun photo stop. It was one of those unexpected finds that made our Clinton adventure even more memorable.

 

Where to Eat

7th Hills South

A church turned brewery? Say no more! Seeing the building alone is worth the visit. Such a unique space!

My husband and I shared a flight, and I thought it was pretty cool that they also offer soda flights for kids. There were lots of drink options, including my favorite fruity beers, with fun names that fit the church theme like Amen Stout and Fritty Cents.

For dinner, we tried a couple of wood-fired pizzas. The Flyin’ Hawaiian was their take on a Hawaiian pizza (bring on the pineapple!), and the Bikini Bottom featured mozzarella, imitation crab, cream cheese, green onion, Asian chili sauce, and crispy wonton strips. Both were absolutely delicious, and the kids devoured every slice.

Kids will also love the arcade games and claw machines. This was easily one of the most unique places we ate in Clinton. 10/10 would eat here again.

North End Sweets and Treats

We spotted North End Sweets and Treats on our way to Eagle Point Park, and of course we couldn’t leave Clinton without ice cream! We tried a couple of hard scoop flavors as well as the ice cream nachos, which were a fun treat to share. It was the perfect sweet stop after a day of exploring.

Moxi on Main

I just love how many local businesses have embraced the Dambo trolls! Moxi on Main is primarily a drive-thru spot with a few picnic tables outside if you’d like to stay and enjoy your treat. Of course, I couldn’t resist trying one of their troll-themed creations. It’s a fun stop while exploring Clinton, and if you visit on a Saturday, you might even catch the nearby Farmers Market.

Tip: Keep an eye out for the colorful murals located near the building.

Deanna’s Java North

If you’re a coffee lover, add Deanna’s to your list. With three coffee locations in Clinton, Deanna has built quite the local following. We visited the Deanna’s Java North location, which was operating as a drive-thru while renovations on the indoor space were underway. We had the chance to meet Deanna herself, and she was as sweet as could be!

I love how many local businesses have embraced the trolls, and Deanna’s is no exception. The kids loved their troll-themed dirty soda creations, which even came with a little troll on top. So cute!

Tip: To fully embrace the troll experience, grab your drink and head over to see Helmut nearby. We enjoyed our drinks at Elijah Buell Terrace overlooking both Helmut and the Mississippi River.

Sweetheart Bakery

Sweetheart Bakery was such a fun stop, especially with all the troll-themed treats inspired by Clinton’s famous Dambo trolls. The cookies were super affordable, so we couldn’t resist trying a few flavors, including oatmeal raisin and English toffee.

Where to Stay

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Clinton and found it to be a convenient home base for exploring the area. The location made it easy to visit the trolls, downtown Clinton, Eagle Point Park, and the riverfront attractions. We also made a day trip to Maquoketa and Maquoketa Caves State Park.

Final Thoughts About Clinton Iowa

I’ll be honest – we came for the trolls.

But between the museums, riverfront, murals, coffee shops, baseball game, and all the troll-themed fun around town, we left wishing we had a little more time. Clinton ended up being one of those places that surprised us in the best way.

If you’re planning a visit, don’t just check the trolls off your list and leave. Stay awhile and explore!