Army Corps of Engineers · Carlyle Lake · Shattuc, IL

Boulder Campground

Boulder Campground is situated on the eastern 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 manmade lake.

More like this: electric hookups in Illinois · full hookups in Illinois · reservable in Illinois · big rigs in Illinois · pets allowed in Illinois

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Boulder Campground, Carlyle Lake, IllinoisSunset at Boulder CampgroundBoulder CampgroundBoulder Campground
Photos courtesy of USACE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric82
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 101 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

82 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001Back-in75PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2YesYes
002Back-in75PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2Yes
003Back-in75PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2Yes
004Back-in75PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2Yes
005Back-in75PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2Yes
006Back-in75PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2Yes
007Back-in75PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2Yes
008Pull-through75PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2Yes
009Back-in97PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 1Yes
010Back-in83PavedPartial20/30/50 amp8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Campground map of Boulder Campground
Campground map 1 published by Army Corps of Engineers on Recreation.gov, credited to USACE. Open the image for full size.
Campground map of Boulder Campground
Campground map 2 published by Army Corps of Engineers on Recreation.gov, credited to USACE. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water, sewer
Max vehicle length101 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 001, 059 are listed accessible

Boulder Campground offers 82 campsites, all of which have a view of the lake with some sites being perched directly on the shoreline. Each campsite is equipped with electric hookups and provides a picnic area with picnic table and fire pit. The campground has modern amenities such as flush toilets, showers and drinking water. It is adjacent to the Boulder Day Use Area which provides a boat ramp and fish cleaning station, as well as a reservable group picnic shelter.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Boulder Campground30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.05 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.45 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.67 inches of precipitationApril: 4.90 inches of precipitationMay: 5.23 inches of precipitationJune: 4.87 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.24 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.59 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.65 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.39 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.72 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.10 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 30.3°F averageFebruary: 34.8°F averageMarch: 44.6°F averageApril: 55.7°F averageMay: 65.9°F averageJune: 74.9°F averageJuly: 78.2°F averageAugust: 76.8°F averageSeptember: 69.5°F averageOctober: 57.9°F averageNovember: 45.3°F averageDecember: 34.8°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Carlyle Rsvr, 8 miles from the campground at 501 feet, station USC00111290 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 46 inches a year.

Getting there

Address: 25501 Boulder Access RD, Shattuc, IL 62231. From I-57, turn west onto Old U.S. Highway 50. Continue for 19 miles through Salem, Odin and Sandoval. Turn north on Boulder Road and follow seven miles to the campground.

Nearest townShattuc, Illinois
Coordinates38.6947° N, 89.2336° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

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.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗5.5 mi
Outdoor gearAlpine Shop ↗40 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗41.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

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On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

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.

Recreation

Boulder Campground provides fun both on the water and on shore. Boat ramps and courtesy docks are provided, 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 is an on-site playground and plenty of open space for children to play, as well as an amphitheater for educational programs. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located a short drive away at the dam.

Nearby

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

Guidebooks for Illinois

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Boulder Campground?

Sites at Boulder Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Boulder Campground?

Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Boulder Campground?

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).

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Boulder Campground have?

82 sites, including 82 standard sites with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Boulder Campground?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Boulder Campground have hookups?

Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Boulder Campground?

The campground has modern amenities such as flush toilets, showers and drinking water.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Boulder Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Boulder Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Boulder Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Boulder Campground?

Sites 001 and 059 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Boulder Campground?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Boulder Campground?

Boulder Campground provides fun both on the water and on shore. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation