About Dam West Campground
Number of accommodations: 109
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
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Rates, Sites & Availability
109 Sites Available
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Site Details
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109 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (616)
What Guests Are Saying
Dam West Campground offers a wonderful camping experience with friendly and knowledgeable staff, clean facilities, and beautiful surroundings. Guests appreciate the well-maintained restrooms, hot showers, and the variety of recreational activities available nearby. While some reviewers noted minor issues like low water pressure and windy sites, the overall sentiment reflects a strong desire to return and recommend the campground.
What Guests Are Saying
Dam West Campground offers a wonderful camping experience with friendly and knowledgeable staff, clean facilities, and beautiful surroundings. Guests appreciate the well-maintained restrooms, hot showers, and the variety of recreational activities available nearby. While some reviewers noted minor issues like low water pressure and windy sites, the overall sentiment reflects a strong desire to return and recommend the campground.
Review Summary
Leanne T
VerifiedJuly 30, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 034, Loop: DAM WEST
Nice campground - clean with nice showers and playground area
michael b
VerifiedJuly 24, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 037, Loop: DAM WEST
check out should be 12 o clock to help the next camper and if your camper is here so should you not go home at nite
Patrick F
VerifiedJuly 24, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 038, Loop: DAM WEST
When you have to book a site months in advance to then be forced to have a visual presence every day requiring us to drive 45 minutes when we werenβt able to dedicate ourself to our camper - while we would have enjoyed being able to stay at the campground the entire reservation the days we couldn't still required us to spend/waste 90 minutes
John/marcia s
VerifiedJuly 22, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 080, Loop: DAM WEST
Very nice place stayed overnight Clean bathrooms nice staff
Jeremy H
VerifiedJuly 21, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 040, Loop: DAM WEST
Some view of the lake. Lots of space in the back.
Linda D
VerifiedJuly 20, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 083, Loop: DAM WEST
Friendly and very helpful staff. Campgrounds are clean and accommodating. Beautiful views.
The playground equipment is nice.
mark e
VerifiedJuly 18, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 112, Loop: DAM WEST
I my very happy with the camp host and the hospitality they offer. I hope they continue having a balance of 1st come and reserve. It is great that you can go out and get a campsites the middle of the week and stay over the weekend even if you don't have a reservation
berta p
VerifiedJuly 16, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 085, Loop: DAM WEST
This site is awesome!! Lots of room. We had 2 tents plus our camper. Still had lots of room. It was super clean. The bathrooms and showers are really really clean. The whole campsite was wonderful. Lots of little critters to see and some big onesπ. I would stay here forever if I could!!!!!
Merry W
VerifiedJuly 15, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 107, Loop: DAM WEST
We stayed in site #42 for a week in a 25' travel trailer. We loved every minute and didn't want to leave! Shopping is close by for those forgotten items. Walmart, McDonald's, and a gas station/convenience store are right where you turn off for the Day Use Park, Visitor's Center, and Campground. You will pass Los Amigos Mexican restaurant across from the marina as you turn for the campground. We ate there twice. It was delicious and the prices were very reasonable! The campground was quiet. The bathroom was clean. The hosts and other campers were friendly and helpful.
We rented bicycles at the Marina. I would recommend bringing your own bikes. I think they only have 3 for rent. One that we rented got a flat tire shortly into our ride. Not sure how well they maintain the bikes. We didn't realize until it was flat. When we took it back no compensation was offered. They aired it up and put it back in the shed. They did give us the 3rd bike so we could continue our ride. Carlyle has a great dedicated, paved bike trail from the campground into town. Riding on city streets you can easily get to the city park and then back onto the road below the viaduct back to the campground. On the east end of the viaduct you will find Chipmunk Trail, a nice hike through the woods.
We enjoyed walks around the campground, at the Day Use park, and across the street at the Visitor Center.
We went into St. Louis for the zoo, Forest Park, and the aquarium. It was an easy hour drive to both on I-64.
Carlyle is a lovely small town. We had ice cream twice at Dairy Queen, ate breakfast twice at the Old 50 diner, and enjoyed a brownie and cinnamon roll at the local bakery.
Can't wait to come back sometime!
Richard B
VerifiedJuly 15, 2023 β’ Stayed at: 093, Loop: DAM WEST
Best campground in Illinois!
Location Dam West Campground
Address:
801 Lake Road
Carlyle, IL, 62231-9703
United States
From I-70, take State Route 127 south to Carlyle and turn east on William Road. Continue for 1/2-mile and turn north on Lake Road to reach the campground or turn south to reach the day use area.
Dam West Campground is accessible via IL-127, which is approximately 5 miles away. Additionally, I-70 can be accessed about 15 miles from the campground.
Latitude & Longitude: 38.6278 / -89.3583
Elevation: 136 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
5PM
Check out time
4PM
General
- All campsites are reservable.
- 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 the first night use fee. 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.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
