Dam East - Mcnair Campground

Carlyle Lake

Dam East-McNair Campground is situated on the southern shore of Carlyle Lake, a prime getaway for city-dwellers and families. Located 50 miles east of St. Louis, the area offers the peaceful retreat of a small town combined with the grandeur of Illinois' largest man-made lake.

Dam East-McNair Campground has one reservable group picnic shelter that can accommodate up to 80 people, as well as 47 individual campsites (1-32 located within the North and South loops of the campground, 33-47 located within the East Spillway loop below the main dam) that are available to reserve from the current day up to six months in advance. The facility also provides a swimming beach, bathhouses and laundry facilities. McNair has a nature trail and a multi-use trail, and is connected to the Dam East facilities.

Notifications and Alerts

• Asphalt work will be taking place around Carlyle Lake Campgrounds throughout the Spring and Summer months. Sites 43 - 47 in the Spillway loop of Dam East - McNair will be closed to future reservations during May 1 - May 25. Currently we are unable to know the exact dates the work will take place in the spillway loop due to it needing to be warm enough outside for asphalt plants to open, and favorable weather conditions. Please call the Carlyle Lake Project Office if you have any questions.

Need to Know

• Dam East - McNair is 100% reservable, and available for same day reservations. Make sure you reserve/pay for your sight before setting up your equipment.

• Dam East Spillway is now its own loop within McNair (Sites 33-47) and is open year-round.

• Campsites are single capacity; no double capacity or buddy sites are available

• If the Group Area is not reserved, it will be available on a first-come, first-served basis

• The Spillway Loop does not have a shower house, or dump station. Campers are able to use the shower and dumpstation at the entrace of McNair throughout the non-peak season. *Shower House may not be open 7 days/week. 

• No personal checks or cash are accepted at this time. Credit/Debit card only.

• Camping No-Show - Camping no-show customers who do not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by check out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date will be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit their reservation. If the no-show service fee is greater than the reservation amount, the customer will not be charged any additional service fees.

• Cancellation Fees - A $10 service fee is withheld from the refund anytime the customer cancels a camping or day use reservation. Depending on when the cancellation is made, it may be considered a late cancellation and additional fees may be forfeited.

  A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.

• Check-out time is 4 p.m. / Check-in time is 5 p.m.

• Firewood brought into this facility must be purchased, or collected locally due to invasive insects.

• Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
• Click here for a virtual tour of Carlyle Lake

Natural Features

Created in 1967, the 26,000-acre lake is recognized as one of the nation's top ten inland sailing lakes and hosts several annual races and regattas.

Carlyle Lake is home to an array of wildlife that can be seen throughout the year. Its waters and shores are a resting spot for migratory waterfowl and other birds. There are six established Watchable Wildlife Sites with viewing towers open to the public around the lake.

Nearby Attractions

The Carlyle Lake Visitor Center, located in the Dam West Recreation Area, has information available and nature exhibits on display, including a 215-gallon aquarium with native fish.

Recreation

The area provides fun both on the water and on shore. Boat ramps and courtesy docks are located nearby, and the vast lake allows for plenty of water sports. Fishing is a popular pastime, and the lake offers year-round varieties of fish such as bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp and walleye. There are multiple playgrounds on-site, as well as a swimming beach. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located a short distance away at the dam.

Changes & Cancellations

Camping No Show - Camping no-show customers who do not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by check out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date will be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit their reservation. If the no-show service fee is greater than the reservation amount, the customer will not be charged any additional service fees.

Cancellations - A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.

Contact Information

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801 LAKE ROAD CARLYLE IL 62231

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 618-594-5253

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From I-57, take Old U.S. Highway 50 west for 22 miles to the Dam East Entrance road. Turn north and continue through the four-way intersection to the McNair Group Area.

Available Campsites

• Site 4, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 7, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 1, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 29, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 18, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 15, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 28, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 42, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 46, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 39, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 37, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 6, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 10, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 44, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 35, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 19, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 16, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 34, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 38, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 12, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 20, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 23, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 22, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 3, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 21, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 24, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 45, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 14, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 13, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 33, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 2, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 31, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site C, Loop McNair Group Area C, Type Group Standard Electric
• Site 9, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 40, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 25, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 17, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 27, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 47, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 8, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 36, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 5, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 41, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 43, Loop Spillway, Type Standard Electric
• Site 30, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 11, Loop SOUTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric
• Site 26, Loop NORTH LOOP, Type Standard Electric

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