Dam East - Mcnair Campground
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.
More like this: electric hookups in Illinois · reservable in Illinois · big rigs in Illinois · pets allowed in Illinois · group sites in Illinois
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 46 |
| group standard electric | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 117 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
47 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | McNair Group Area C | Group Standard Electric | Paved | Partial | 20/30 amp | 80 / 30 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| 21 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 22 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Back-in | 61 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 23 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Back-in | 64 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 24 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Pull-through | 97 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 25 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Back-in | 65 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 26 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Pull-through | 100 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 27 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Back-in | 57 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 28 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Back-in | 58 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 29 | NORTH LOOP | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Full | 20/30/50 amp | No / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
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.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 117 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Site C is listed accessible |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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.
| Nearest town | Carlyle, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 38.6083° N, 89.3250° 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 station | Dump station ↗ | 2.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Alpine Shop ↗ | 34.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Campers Inn RV of Collinsville, Inc. ↗ | 37.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Travel Day Plan B Oklahoma to Illinois McNair Campground Carlyle Lake
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- General Dean Suspension BridgeStructure · Carlyle · 1.8 mi
- Centralia Elk's Lodge, TheBuilding · Centralia · 11.8 mi
- Sentinel BuildingBuilding · Centralia · 11.8 mi
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
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.
Nearby
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.
Guidebooks for Illinois
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Dam East - Mcnair Campground?
Sites at Dam East - Mcnair 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 Dam East - Mcnair Campground?
Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Dam East - Mcnair 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 Dam East - Mcnair Campground have?
48 sites, including 46 standard sites with power and 1 group standard electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Dam East - Mcnair 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 Dam East - Mcnair Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Dam East - Mcnair Campground?
The facility also provides a swimming beach, bathhouses and laundry facilities.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Dam East - Mcnair Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Dam East - Mcnair Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Dam East - Mcnair Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Dam East - Mcnair Campground?
Site C is 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 Dam East - Mcnair Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Dam East - Mcnair Campground?
The area provides fun both on the water and on shore. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation