Clinton (Ontario)

Clinton is a small town in Huron County named after Sir Henry Clinton, a Peninsular War hero. This small community gained fame as Canada's home of radar and is home to the permanent display of the School on Wheels.

Understand

Town Hall

In World War II, the CFB Clinton, a base for Canadian Forces, was located just out of town. Large radar antennas still remain in the town centre. The village was established in 1831. Today, some 3100 people live here, and the town is part of the Central Huron municipality.

History

Clinton was established in 1831, when Jonas Gibbings and brothers Peter and Stephen Vanderburg cleared out a small area to start. Clinton started to grow in 1844 when William Rattenbury laid out the plans to begin making a village.

Get in

By car

Clinton lies at the junction of Highways 4 and 8 and County Road 4. It's a 2 hr 20 min drive from Toronto, and 1 hr 15 min from London, Ontario.

By bus

• Onex Bus, ☏ +1-647-477-5500, info@onexbus.ca. Bus service from Port Elgin, Kincardine, Goderich, and London. (updated Jul 2021)

See

This old wind mill lies along the road from Clinton to nearby Bayfield.

• 1 School on Wheels Railcar Museum. Th-Su and holiday Mondays 11AM-4PM. The permanent display of the School on Wheels is the main sight in town. The story behind it is a remarkable one. For some 39 years a train car was set up as a school environment, moving from one remote village to the next. It would stay for a week at a time before moving on and was the only access to education for many settlers and rail worker's children in the area. Some of them would travel long distances to reach the School on Wheels, follow classes for a week and then take enough homework for self-study until the train's next visit. Teachers would live on board, for example Mr. Sloman with his family of five children, who served as a teacher for 39 years. Seven such cars existed in Northern Ontario and served children in remote areas from 1926 and the mid-1960s. There's no admission fee for the museum, but donations are appreciated.  
• 2 Radar screen. The large radar screen in the town centre really can't be missed. The village became known as Canada's centre for radar through the RCAF Station nearby. 

Do

• 1 Bannockburn Conservation Area, 76249 Bannockburn Line (northeast of Varna, between Brucefield and Bayfield). Home to six natural communities: wet meadow, eastern white cedar, deciduous forest, old field and mixed scrub and marsh. Hunting and motorized vehicles are not permitted. The trail starts with a boardwalk that is wheelchair accessible. The popular Bannockburn Fall Hike is held annually each autumn. Early morning walks will reward you with sightings of deer, grouse and numerous songbirds. (updated Jul 2018)
• 2 Clinton Raceway, 147 Beech Street, ☏ +1 519-482-5204. 1/2-mile horse-racing track, stabling for 32 horses, and paddock for 100 horses on race days. The grandstand seats 1500, and has fully accessible washroom facilities. Picnic areas, swimming pool, cafe, over 100 slot machines. The fully licensed Raceway Cafe is open 365 days a year, serving home cooked meals. (updated Jun 2020)

Eat

• Willy's Burger Bar, 267 Huron Street, ☏ +1 519-606-0040. Su-Th 11AM-8PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM. This places serves ice cream and a couple of warm dishes that can serve well as a simple dinner. (updated Jul 2018)
• Bartliff's Bakery, 46 Albert St, ☏ +1 519-482-9727. Daily 6AM-7PM. This bakery has a small restaurant in the back. It's cheap and simple but the food is very tasty. It's also an excellent place to have breakfast. (updated Jul 2018)
• Kate's Station, 76988 London Rd (corner Vanastra Rd), ☏ +1 519-233-3222. Daily 7AM-8PM. A family-run business offering home-cooked meals, friendly service, a welcoming family atmosphere, and affordable prices. (updated Jul 2018)
• China Palace, 80206 Baseline Rd, ☏ +1 519-482-3323. Tu-Su 10AM-9PM. (updated Jul 2018)

Drink

• 2nd Streetlight, 36594 Huron Road, ☏ +1 519-612-1266. F noon–6PM, Sa 11AM–6PM, Su noon–4PM. A boutique winery. (updated Jul 2020)

Sleep

• Parker House Motel, 77575 London Rd., Bluewater Township, ☏ +1 519 482-3469, reservations@parkerhousemotel.com. A 15-room motel in a quiet rural area just south of Clinton on Highway 4. Clean spacious rooms at reasonable prices, Wi-Fi internet, and LED TVs in all the rooms. Apr 1-Sep 30: Single/double $70/$80-90; Oct 1-Mar 31: $65/$75-85. (updated Jul 2018)
• Kildonan House B&B, 71 Kirk St, ☏ +1 519-482-1163. Central air-conditioning, private bathroom, satellite with flat screen TVs, and Wi-fi. (updated Jul 2018)

Go next

Routes through Clinton

END ←	N  S	→ Lucan → London
END ← Goderich ←	W  E	→ Stratford → Kitchener