Available sites
46 total sites
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About Dam East - Mcnair Campground
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Boating
Fishing
Swimming
Year-round
Fishing
Spring
Boating
Summer
Boating
Swimming
Fall
Boating
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Showers
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Showers
Water Access
- Beach Access
Rates, Sites & Availability
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46 Sites Available
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Reviews (1040)
What Guests Are Saying
Dam East - McNair Campground offers a quiet and clean environment, conveniently located just five minutes from town with ample amenities. Campers appreciate the spacious sites, well-kept facilities, and friendly camp hosts. However, some reviews mention issues with water quality, occasional maintenance concerns, and seasonal insect problems. Overall, many guests express a desire to return for future visits.
What Guests Are Saying
Dam East - McNair Campground offers a quiet and clean environment, conveniently located just five minutes from town with ample amenities. Campers appreciate the spacious sites, well-kept facilities, and friendly camp hosts. However, some reviews mention issues with water quality, occasional maintenance concerns, and seasonal insect problems. Overall, many guests express a desire to return for future visits.
Review Summary
Mary B
VerifiedNovember 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 34, Loop: Spillway
We love Dam East because of the view of the river & the walking/biking path.
Mike M
VerifiedNovember 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: NORTH LOOP
This campground is very clean and has all the amenities we needed. We could ride our bikes on the bike path that runs right by the campground to town or out into the country. Our campsite had a nice view of the lake. The restrooms/ shower building was very clean. We would come back.
ryan l
VerifiedNovember 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 45, Loop: Spillway
We had never camped at the spillway before because we thought it would smell like fish. It did not. We were pleasantly surprised. It was clean and quiet and we had a wonderful time! We camped with my parents. There are no buddy sites at the spillway, but you are close enough that this doesn’t matter. Great staff and McNair (the dog) is wonderful!
Diane M
VerifiedOctober 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Nice campground. Water is shared between two campsites; but no issue.
Diane M
VerifiedOctober 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Nice campground. Water is shared between two campsites; but no issue.
Diane M
VerifiedOctober 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 2, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Nice campground. Water is shared between two campsites; but no issue.
Kelly L
VerifiedOctober 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 33, Loop: Spillway
It is always so clean and peaceful great paths to walk and bike ride.
Kelly L
VerifiedOctober 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 33, Loop: Spillway
It is always so clean and peaceful great paths to walk and bike ride.
Kelly L
VerifiedOctober 16, 2023 • Stayed at: 33, Loop: Spillway
It is always so clean and peaceful great paths to walk and bike ride.
Anthony F
VerifiedOctober 1, 2023 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: NORTH LOOP
The camping was great. The hassle to be able to camp is ridiculous. Some people have real jobs and real lives and you get a surprise free weekend and think let’s go camping but you can’t because the whole campground is reserved already. They really needs to go back to some first come first serve. Especially when you do get a chance get out and there are a handful of reserved sites that sit empty all weekend. If it ends up staying like this I might just have to sell out because my jod and my life doesn’t allow me to be able to plan ahead that much and I know I am not the only one to think this way. I really hope things change after this season.
Location & Directions for Dam East - Mcnair Campground
801 Lake Road, Carlyle, IL 62231 United States
Elevation: 136 ft
Getting There
From I-57, take Old U.S. Highway 50 west for 22 mi to the Dam East Entrance road. Turn north and continue through the four-way intersection to the McNair Group Area.
Highway access
The campground is accessible via I-57, with the nearest exit leading to Old U.S. Highway 50, approximately 22 miles to the west.
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
5PM
Check out time
4PM
General
- Dam East - McNair is 100% reservable, and available for same day reservations.
- Dam East Spillway is now its own loop within McNair (Sites 33-47) and is open year-round.
- Campsites are single capacity; no double capacity or buddy sites are available
- If the Group Area is not reserved, it will be available on a first-come, first-served basis
- 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.
- No personal checks or cash are accepted at this time. Credit/Debit card only.
- 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.
- 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.
- Firewood brought into this facility must be purchased, or collected locally due to invasive insects.
- 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.
- Click here for a virtual tour of Carlyle Lake
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Last updated: October 20, 2026
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