Dam East - McNair Campground
Dam East - McNair Campground is an Army Corps of Engineers campground in Illinois. Hookups: electric & water.
- Type
- Army Corps of Engineers campground
- Location
- Illinois
- Coordinates
- 38.60833, -89.32500
- Hookups
- Electric & Water
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Swimming Site, Water Sports, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 618-594-5253
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Dam East - McNair Campground
Overview 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. Recreation The area provides fun both on the water and on shore. Boat ramps and courtesy docks are located nearby, and the vast lake allows for plenty of water sports. Fishing is a popular pastime, and the lake offers year-round varieties of fish such as bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp and walleye. There are multiple playgrounds on-site, as well as a swimming beach. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located a short distance away at the dam. Facilities Dam East-McNair Campground has one reservable group picnic shelter that can accommodate up to 80 people, as well as 47 individual campsites (1-32 located within the North and South loops of the campground, 33-47 located within the East Spillway loop below the main dam) that are available to reserve from the current day up to six months in advance. The facility also provides a swimming beach, bathhouses and laundry facilities. McNair has a nature trail and a multi-use trail, and is connected to the Dam East facilities. Natural Features Created in 1967, the 26,000-acre lake is recognized as one of the nation's top ten inland sailing lakes and hosts several annual r
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Centralia Propane · 15 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dam East Rec. Area (Day Use) | Army Corps of Engineers campground | 0.9 mi | — | Electric |
| Dam East Spillway (Day Use) | Army Corps of Engineers campground | 1.5 mi | — | Electric |
| Dam West Spillway | Army Corps of Engineers campground | 1.8 mi | — | Electric |
| Dam West Campground | Army Corps of Engineers campground | 2.2 mi | — | Full hookups |
| Dam West Campground | RV park | 2.4 mi | — | — |
| Carlyle Village Campground | RV park | 2.5 mi | — | — |
Open Dam East - McNair Campground in DryRig
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Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.