Can you reserve a site at Dam East - McNair Campground?

Yes, Dam East - McNair Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Dam East - McNair Campground have?

48 sites in total, of which 47 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Dam East - McNair Campground?

117 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Dam East - McNair Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Dam East - McNair Campground.

Are campfires allowed at Dam East - McNair Campground?

Campfires are allowed at Dam East - McNair Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Dam East - McNair Campground, Illinois — 47 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

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.

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.

Facilities

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.

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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (618) 594-2484.

Charges & 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.

The facts

47 bookable sites
48 sites in total, including non-bookable
Vehicles up to 117 ft
Up to 80 people per site
Loops: McNair Group Area C, NORTH LOOP, SOUTH LOOP, Spillway

Site types

46 Standard Electric
1 Group Standard Electric
1 Management

Amenities

Electric hookups
Water hookups
Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: sewer hookups.

Book on Recreation.gov

48 campsites at Dam East - McNair Campground

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Grade	Max rig	People
C	McNair Group Area C	Group Standard Electric	—	Paved	—	—	80	🐾
21	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	70 ft	8	🐾
22	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	61 ft	8	🐾
23	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	64 ft	8	🐾
24	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Slight	97 ft	8	🐾
25	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	65 ft	8	🐾
26	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Slight	100 ft	8	🐾
27	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	57 ft	8	🐾
28	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	58 ft	8	🐾
29	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	60 ft	8	🐾
30	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	73 ft	8	🐾
31	NORTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	73 ft	8	🐾
32	NORTH LOOP	Management	Back In	Paved	Slight	74 ft	8	🐾
1	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	75 ft	8	🐾
10	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	85 ft	8	🐾
11	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	80 ft	8	🐾
12	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	80 ft	8	🐾
13	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	81 ft	8	🐾
14	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	70 ft	8	🐾
15	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	81 ft	8	🐾
16	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	117 ft	8	🐾
17	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	95 ft	8	🐾
18	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	75 ft	8	🐾
19	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	65 ft	8	🐾
2	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	72 ft	8	🐾
20	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	70 ft	8	🐾
3	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	63 ft	8	🐾
4	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	65 ft	8	🐾
5	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	61 ft	8	🐾
6	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	83 ft	8	🐾
7	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	83 ft	8	🐾
8	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	88 ft	8	🐾
9	SOUTH LOOP	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	75 ft	8	🐾
33	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
34	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
35	Spillway	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
36	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
37	Spillway	Standard Electric	Pull Through	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
38	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
39	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
40	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
41	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
42	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
43	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
44	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
45	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
46	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾
47	Spillway	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	Slight	—	8	🐾

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.

38.60833, -89.32500 · 38°36'30.0"N 89°19'30.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 88°F in Jul, down to 39°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	39	45	55	67	76	85	88	87	81	70	55	43
Low °F	22	25	35	45	56	65	68	66	58	46	36	26
Precip in	3.0	2.5	3.7	4.9	5.2	4.9	4.2	3.6	3.6	3.4	3.7	3.1

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Dam East - McNair Campground

Can you reserve a site at Dam East - McNair Campground?: Yes, Dam East - McNair Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Dam East - McNair Campground have?: 48 sites in total, of which 47 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Dam East - McNair Campground?: 117 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Dam East - McNair Campground?: Yes, pets are allowed at Dam East - McNair Campground.
Does Dam East - McNair Campground have hookups?: Electric, Water.
Are campfires allowed at Dam East - McNair Campground?: Campfires are allowed at Dam East - McNair Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Dam East - McNair Campground

Dam East Rec. Area (Day Use) 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dam East Spillway (Day Use) 1.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dam West Spillway 1.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dam West Campground 2.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Dam West Day Use 3.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Coles Creek Day Use 4.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Coles Creek Campground 4.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lotus Group Area 5.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Boulder Campground 7.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Boulder Day Use 7.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Keyesport Rec. Area 9.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Sandusky Campground 41 mi · Campground · we watch it

Contact

Phone 618-594-5253
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-13.

Dam East - McNair Campground