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Dam East Recreation Area

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CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Dam East Recreation Area, near Carlyle, Illinois, is a solid spot for those looking to enjoy a mix of camping and outdoor activities. With a variety of sites available for tents, RVs, and even glamping, it’s a convenient choice for different camping styles.

This campground is known for its well-maintained facilities, including drinking water and electric hookups, which make your stay comfortable. Visitors have mentioned that the sites are surrounded by trees, providing a nice sense of privacy, even though it’s a smaller area. One camper noted, “Every camping spot has trees surrounding it, so it’s very nice.”

If you’re into fishing, hiking, or just soaking up the sun, you’ll find plenty to do here. The nearby Carlyle Lake is a popular destination for swimming and boating, and many campers enjoy picnicking in the scenic surroundings. As one reviewer put it, “It’s always a good time. There are plenty of areas to fish, hike, swim, picnic.”

While the campground has some restrictions, like no alcohol or fires allowed, it still offers a welcoming atmosphere for families and friends looking to unwind. Just keep in mind that it can get busy, especially during peak times, so plan accordingly. Whether you’re here for a weekend or just a day trip, Dam East Recreation Area has a lot to offer for a fun-filled outdoor experience.

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Location

Dam East Recreation Area is located in Illinois

Detail location of campground

Directions

From I-57, take Old U.S. Route 50 west for 37 miles to the Dam East entrance road and turn north. Turn east at the next intersection and continue for 1.2 miles to Dam East Day Use Area.

Coordinates

38.61544876 N
89.35372867 W

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Drive Time

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info


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Reviews

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6 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 28, 2024

GREAT LOCATION for STOPOVER

East Dam ACE, IL: Not an interesting view from here, but well maintained campground . Quiet.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

Overall Rating: 4 for cleanliness and location for travels on nearby highway. Spillway is not particularly pretty. Price 2024: $9 w interagency pass Security: No gate Usage during visit: 60% during the week Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: No Site Spacing: Good Pad surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required. Can be made upon arrival through rec.gov Campground Noise: Quiet Outside Road Noise: No Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: At nearby ACE campground Potable Water Available: At site Bathroom: In adjacent day use area Showers: No. Nearby - check w host. Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: along Kaskasia River/ spillway Recent Weather: 80s Insects: no Host: yes Rig Size: large Sites: Some sites are along the spillway.

Site38
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Dam East Recreation Area by Roger W., September 28, 2024
  • Review photo of Dam East Recreation Area by Roger W., September 28, 2024
  • Review photo of Dam East Recreation Area by Roger W., September 28, 2024
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Apr. 21, 2021

HappyCamper

We love camping at all the campgrounds on Carlyle Lake. It’s always a good time. There are plenty of areas to fish, hike, swim, picnic. Looking forward to another great year and fun filled camping and fishing.🎣

Site35 & 37
Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Jun. 29, 2020

Small fishing campground

Small 13 site campground at the Spillway, 1/2 mile past McNair campground. Sites are near the water. Not very private as the day use area is here too. Lots of fisherman

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2016

Pavilions and Picnics

Beautiful area to get out and have a picnic. The area is well maintained and it seems like a lot of people from the city take advantage of this place. Awesome!

Reviewed Jul. 25, 2016

A lite review

I passed by here and spoke to many people in the area about how the camping was. From the reports I received it seems like this is a great spot for families to have a weekend adventure or even just a daytime trip. The lake it self, which is a popular destination in this part of IL, is buzzing with swimmers, boaters, beach volleyball players, and happy happy faces. Seems like a great place to check out if you need a place to rest in IL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dam East Recreation Area have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Dam East Recreation Area has 30 amp electric hookups and water hookups.

Is there cell phone reception at Dam East Recreation Area?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is excellent coverage for AT&T, excellent coverage for T-Mobile, and excellent coverage for Verizon.