About Dam East - Mcnair Campground
Number of accommodations: 46
Campground Amenities
-
Beach Access -
Potable Water -
Showers -
Dump Station
Sites & Availability
46 Sites Available
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Site Details
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46 Sites Available
No available sites
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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.
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
Tracy B
VerifiedJune 30, 2025 • Stayed at: 26, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Campground is always clean. Bathrooms and showers are kept clean and stocked.
JT and Melody are very personable, they are the perfect people for the job.
Rita J
VerifiedJune 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: NORTH LOOP
The hotess is the greatest. So fridnly and helpful
Dale P
VerifiedJune 16, 2025 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
We were there right as the buffalo gnats were awful! Love camping at Carlyle Lake area. Only downside was the area wasn’t mowed. They came to mow ,so we picked up our lights, left. Came back to find they’d pushed them all around, pushed down a hanger.
Rod D
VerifiedJune 10, 2025 • Stayed at: 5, Loop: SOUTH LOOP
Interesting campground. The sites were spaced well. Nice views.
The biggest issue was the poor wording “water on site”. To us, that meant water at EACH individual site. Upon arrival, we discovered a hydrant was SHARED between sites. We had a nice neighbor who had a splitter, but we had to go buy one once our nice neighbor left. With all the major rain this spring, bugs were unbearable! One bug thought my ear canal was a condo and flew right in to make himself at home. I quickly got that sucker out. Most people stayed inside their tents at dusk. 🦟🦟
Herbert D
VerifiedMay 29, 2025 • Stayed at: 33, Loop: Spillway
Very clean and comfortable campground, very close to the dam and spillway, great fishing!
Larry M
VerifiedMay 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 22, Loop: NORTH LOOP
Nice quiet 4 days.
Laura C
VerifiedMarch 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 40, Loop: Spillway
We camped during the off season, early spring. Very clean. Really nice "river walk" trail to hike along. Even though the main campground was closed, the bath house was still open, which was wonderful. You have to go online to reserve a spot and pay, which wasn't expected but wasn't a problem as there is good cell service.
Nicholas S
VerifiedFebruary 9, 2025 • Stayed at: 47, Loop: Spillway
this is a really nice campground - a lot of bike trails to ride your bike and close to town & clean bath house
steve c
VerifiedDecember 11, 2024 • Stayed at: 39, Loop: Spillway
This is one of our favorite Corps campgrounds. We stayed over Thanksgiving weekend when most loops were closed. The site we stayed in was large and level and had a nice view of the river.
Brendan H
VerifiedDecember 2, 2024 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: Spillway
Great campground, well marked and lit. Bathrooms were clean but needed restocked on TP.
Location Dam East - Mcnair Campground
Address:
801 Lake Road
Carlyle, IL, 62231
United States
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.
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.
|
| 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 |
