Map showing campground location near Johnsonville, Illinois

Camper submitted image from Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area

Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Quiet on most weekends and set along the edges of a lake with multiple coves to explore, Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area campground draws paddlers and anglers to a low-key corner of southern Illinois. Sites vary noticeably in quality. Site 8, for instance, sits directly on a culvert over a drainage ditch, while sites 11 through 13 are more spacious and positioned along the trail leading down to the water, making them a short walk from the lake. Kayakers report finding plenty of inlets to navigate, along with regular wildlife sightings along the shoreline.

Facilities are basic but functional. Restrooms are pit toilets only, with no shower access. Electric and water hookups are available, and a dump station sits just outside the campground entrance. One reviewer confirmed that a water fill station is accessible on-site for additional supply. A small playground is on the grounds, though it sits in full sun and tends to be uncomfortably hot for children until evening hours. Rach W. describes the campground as "quiet and well kept," noting that foliage is trimmed and the grounds are generally tidy.

Reservations are available through ReserveAmerica, and the campground is open year-round. Note that a beach previously listed for the area no longer exists, so campers planning water access should bring a kayak or canoe rather than counting on a swim area. For a broader look at camping near Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area, nearby options include Rend Lake Gun Creek Campground to the south and Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area to the northwest. Book early for holiday weekends, when the better lakeside sites go quickly.

Check Availability Suggest an Edit

RV Road Trip Guides

TransAmerica Trail Road Trip

Alexander to Berea: 4 Day Road Trip

Build Your Trip

Plan a TripAdd

Map & DirectionsSam Dale Lake State Conservation Area is located in Illinois near Johnsonville

Public Campground

Coordinates

38.54300086 N
88.59100027 W

Open in Google Maps

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 1 user
Last on 7/28/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 4 users
Last on 6/14/26

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 1 user
Last on 7/28/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 4 users
Last on 6/14/26

Access

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

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Reservable
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Make reservation

Drive Time

1 hr 29 min from Evansville, IN
1 hr 39 min from St. Louis, MO
1 hr 59 min from Terre Haute, IN
2 hrs 3 min from Decatur, IL

2026 Explorer Giveaway

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Enter to Win

Reviews4 Camper Reviews - Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.0

out of 5

4 Reviews

Several guests found the lakeside campground clean and quiet with helpful hosts. Site quality varies considerably, and facilities are basic with pit toilets only and electric hookups.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Rach W.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 29, 2024

Enjoyable time

Campground was quiet and well kept. Foliage was well trimmed. There was a spot from previous campers that needed cleaned up, but that's more of a reflection of the previous campers and less the camp ground, in my opinion, as it was not an overall theme.

SiteHickory Hollow 15

Month of VisitJuly

Elmer L.

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 28, 2022

Great fishing

Clean campground right on the lake.

Site98

Month of VisitJune

Jonathon B.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 23, 2021

Great and quiet on a Thursday night. Class C

It clearly states electric only. Which was no problem. They had a water hookup that you could pull up to for more water if needed. Dump station right outside the campground. Site 35 was perfectly level for the Class C (cruise America rental with no levelers. Great Campground host. We didn’t have a reservation. We pulled in and the host came out. Nice small playground for the kids. Beautiful lake.

Site35

Month of VisitJuly

Nichole M.

Guide

Reviewed Dec. 15, 2018

Nice Lake, Not so great campground

We reserved here last minute for Memorial Day weekend, 2018. That said, we couldn't be choosy when it came to getting a site and we ended up with Site 8. It was literally on a culvert pipe on top of the ditch. Luckily we were camping with 3 other families a little ways down the campground so we did everything at their sites 11, 12, and 13, which were pretty spacious. Those were right along the trail down to the lake, so we were able to kayak nearby and it was a short walk to fish on the lake.

There are no restrooms, only pit toilets, so obviously no showers. The campground was pretty quiet for a holiday weekend so that was nice. The playground equipment was a short bike ride down the road, but right in the sun mid day so the equipment was too hot for the kids to play on until evening.

When I checked the info for the campground on ReserveAmerica, it said that it had a beach on the lake, but when we arrived we discovered there was no longer a beach. The lake was beautiful to kayak on though, lots of little fingers to explore and see the wildlife.

Overall not bad because we came with family, but would've been sorely disappointed if that wasn't the case. Probably won't be back

Site8

Month of VisitMay

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there photos of Sam Dale Lake Campground to view before visiting?

Photos of Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area are available through various online sources. The campground features sites situated right on the lake with scenic water views. Images would show the well-kept grounds, trimmed foliage, and the natural setting surrounding the lake. To find current photos before your visit, check the Illinois Department of Natural Resources official website, social media pages dedicated to Illinois state parks, or camping websites. These visual resources can help you get a better sense of the campground's layout, lake access, and the general environment before planning your trip.

Is there a map of Sam Dale Lake Campground showing all campsites and facilities?

Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area provides maps of the campground at the entrance and through the camp host. The campground layout includes numbered sites (with site numbers up to at least 35) positioned around the lake. Some sites like #8 are positioned near culverts or ditches, while others offer more desirable locations. For the most accurate and up-to-date campground map, contact the conservation area directly or check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website before your visit. Having a map is particularly helpful for identifying the most level sites and those closest to amenities like the dump station located just outside the campground.

What do campers say in reviews about Sam Dale Lake Campground?

Campers generally describe Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area as clean, quiet, and well-maintained with nicely trimmed foliage. The campground sits directly on the lake, offering water views from some sites. Electric hookups are available, with a convenient water fill station that campers can access when needed. A dump station is located just outside the campground. Site quality varies—some are perfectly level (like site #35, which worked well for a Class C RV), while others (such as site #8) are less desirable due to positioning near culverts or ditches. The campground benefits from attentive hosts who help maintain the peaceful atmosphere, though occasional issues with previous campers leaving trash have been noted.

Keep Exploring