OutReserve

Dam East - Mcnair Campground

McNair Group Area shelter
Kaskaskia River Trail
McNair-East Spillway Loop campsites
McNair Campground Map
East Spillway Loop Map

Featured amenities

Showers
Showers

About 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.

Number of accommodations: 46

Campground Amenities

  • Beach Access
    Beach Access
  • Potable Water
    Potable Water
  • Showers
    Showers
  • Dump Station
    Dump Station

Sites & Availability

46 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 10, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 11, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 12, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 13, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 14, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 15, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 16, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 17, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 18, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 19, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 2, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 20, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 21, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 22, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 23, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 24, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 25, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 26, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 27, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 28, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 29, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 3, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 30, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 31, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Electric Only
$20.00
/ per night
33, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
34, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
35, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
36, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
37, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
38, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
39, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 4, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
40, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
41, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
42, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
43, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
44, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
45, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
46, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
47, Loop: Spillway
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 5, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 6, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 7, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 8, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night
🚐 9, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Water & Electric
$20.00
/ per night

Reviews (306)

What Guests Are Saying

Dam East - McNair Campground is praised for its beautiful location, clean and spacious sites, and friendly camp hosts. Many visitors enjoyed the quiet atmosphere, well-maintained facilities, and convenient amenities such as electric and water hookups. However, some concerns were raised about litter from previous campers and occasional noise disturbances, particularly late at night. Overall, guests recommend the campground for its serene environment and excellent outdoor activities.

Review Summary

4.5
306 reviews
5
70.3%
215
4
19.0%
58
3
5.2%
16
2
3.6%
11
1
2.0%
6

David D

Verified

July 11, 2022 Stayed at: 30, Loop: NORTH LOOP

5

Great time except for the abundance of raccoons were a nuisance.

Sam L

Verified

July 7, 2022 Stayed at: 20, Loop: SOUTH LOOP

2

Our first time here, we camped in a tent which was a huge mistake. Site says tents are allowed, but I’d recommend rv only in this spot. Raccoons are terrible in the area and tore a hole in my tent while we slept. Otherwise, swimming access was great.

Vicki F

Verified

June 30, 2022 Stayed at: 42, Loop: Spillway

4

We love visiting. Was disappointed to find out the camp areas below the spillway had become rentals. So had to do some quick thinking. But you camp host was very helpful. That you for a nice week of fishing and camping

Edwin T

Verified

June 29, 2022 Stayed at: 15, Loop: SOUTH LOOP

4

Shawn A

Verified

June 26, 2022 Stayed at: 22, Loop: NORTH LOOP

5

We had the best time there my husband and I. I love that the campground is just big enough to relax. There is pave walkways around the grounds and to the beach. We like that there is shade down at the beach and picnic tables with grills.

timothy f

Verified

June 20, 2022 Stayed at: 42, Loop: Spillway

5

great time

Jimmy P

June 19, 2022

5

They have been updating the camp ground and making it a more pleasant place to stay at

Timothy T

Verified

June 16, 2022 Stayed at: 23, Loop: NORTH LOOP

4

We stayed at McNair Campground for 4 nights during the week at Site 23 in our camper trailer. Overall it was a great experience. Our site had a nice view of Carlyle Lake. The campground was very quiet at night when we stayed. There is a nice public beach area in the campground that our grandkids enjoyed very much. It has a large sandy beach area and slopes very gently out into the water so the kids could wade out quite a ways. We went fishing from a pier near the dam about a half mile from the campground. There are a couple of nice playgrounds for the kids within the campground. The campsites on the loop where Site 23 is located have a little more space between them and you don't feel like you are right on top of your neighbor. The asphalt roads and site pads are showing some age and deterioration and it was difficult to back into our site without running off the asphalt because the road is narrow and there are small radii on the end of the site pad driveway. But, overall the site pad was adequate with a picnic table and fire ring. We had a racoon that came into our camp site several times, even during the day, and tipped over our trash can and made a mess and ate some scraps and even tried to get food off of a table when we went into the camper for a few minutes. The campground seemed to be well maintained. There is no water connection at most of the campsites, so you need to fill your water tank before setting up. There is a dump station for use on the way out of the campground.

Joseph V

Verified

June 16, 2022 Stayed at: 31, Loop: NORTH LOOP

5

Staff was AWESOME SOOOOO HELPFUL Just Great Guy

Alexis K

Verified

June 12, 2022 Stayed at: 35, Loop: Spillway

5

Fantastic campground! We had a wonderful stay. Hope to get back there soon.

Location Dam East - Mcnair Campground

Address:
801 Lake Road
Carlyle, IL, 62231
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 38.6083 / -89.325

Elevation: 136 feet

Policies & Rules

Category About
General

Dam East - McNair is 100% reservable, and available for same day reservations.

General

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

General

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

General

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

General

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. 

General

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

General

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.

General

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.

General

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

General

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

General

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.

General

Click here for a virtual tour of Carlyle Lake

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