About Dam West Day Use
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
Playground
Water and Hygiene
- Showers
On Site Services
- Playground
Water Access
- Beach Access
- Marina
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Reviews (27)
What Guests Are Saying
Dam West Day Use offers a clean and spacious environment, perfect for family gatherings and events. Reviewers appreciated the availability of grills, picnic tables, and the efficiency of the boat rental process. Overall, guests found the facilities accommodating and the staff friendly, making it a desirable location for both relaxation and activities.
What Guests Are Saying
Dam West Day Use offers a clean and spacious environment, perfect for family gatherings and events. Reviewers appreciated the availability of grills, picnic tables, and the efficiency of the boat rental process. Overall, guests found the facilities accommodating and the staff friendly, making it a desirable location for both relaxation and activities.
Review Summary
Jerold W
July 5, 2022
I have rented these shelters for a number of years and I can certainly say that they have went down hill for a number of reasons. 1. The worst is that the shelter has 6 metal picnic tables and the last few years, the tables were removed a good distance away. To get them back to the shelter requires a lot of effort and in some cases arguments and could require involvement of the office. If you rent one of these, be prepared to be there at 8 AM and assert yourself for what you have payed for. Also, be prepared for their to be trash cans filled to the brim and people running extension cords from the shelter to their sites a hundred or more feet away (most likely for playing music to drown yours out) and fans. The trash should be emptied early at some point and perhaps someone with parks will come by to blow the surface of the shelter off, not a problem but be prepared for some inferred racist comments about the visitors to the park from the parks people. Use the bathrooms early because by the afternoon they will be trashed and filthy. Parking, if you get there after 9AM will not be close but if you don't mind huffing it, bring a wagon of some sort. I am closing the book on renting these shelters any longer, it's just not worth all the aggravation and the parks employees (and in their opinion), the city of Carlyle, don't care for the sort of visitors that come around the 4th of July.
Rahim S
August 21, 2021
The electrical socket did not work otherwise good experience
Rahim S
August 21, 2021
The electrical socket did not work otherwise good experience
Wayne G
August 14, 2021
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Wayne G
August 14, 2021
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Marqeutta W
December 18, 2019
Writing on Reservation post could have been more visible and clear directions.
Marqeutta W
December 18, 2019
Writing on Reservation post could have been more visible and clear directions.
Location Dam West Day Use
Address:
801 Lake Road
Carlyle, IL, 62231
United States
From I-70, take State Route 127 south to Carlyle and turn east on William Road/1840 E. William Road will turn into Lake Road/1430 N. Continue on Lake Road south to the day use area, located on the left.
The campground is accessible via I-70, with State Route 127 providing direct access south to Carlyle.
Elevation: 138 feet
1.9 mi drive to downtown Carlyle (about 5 min)
Policies & Rules
General
- Day-use hours are daily.
- 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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: August 23, 2026
