Illinois / Clinton County

Dam East - Mcnair Campground

Open — The Spillway Loop is open year-round. The North and South Loops close for the season on November 2 and typically reopen in late March or early April. All sites are reservable through Recreation.gov.

About

Dam East-McNair Campground is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility located on the southern shore of Carlyle Lake, just 50 miles east of St. Louis. The campground is divided into three loops: the year-round Spillway Loop with 15 sites, and the seasonal North and South Loops. Sites feature electric hookups with 20/30/50 amp service, and many sites have water hookups with shared spigots between neighboring sites. A dump station is located at the campground entrance. The campground provides shower facilities and flush toilets, though the shower house may operate on a limited schedule during the non-peak season. Additional amenities include laundry facilities, a swimming beach, playgrounds, and trash collection. The campground is pet-friendly and offers both RV and tent camping options. Tables and fire pits are available at sites. Carlyle Lake spans 26,000 acres and is recognized as one of the nation's top inland sailing lakes. The campground provides convenient access to boat ramps and courtesy docks for fishing, water sports, and sailing. The lake offers year-round fishing for bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp, and walleye. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located nearby at the dam, and nature trails connect to adjacent facilities. The area is also known for migratory waterfowl viewing, with six Watchable Wildlife Sites featuring viewing towers around the lake.

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.

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