Carlyle Lake covers 26,000 acres and is Illinois' largest man-made lake, surrounded by 11,000 acres of public land with elevations ranging from 420 to 470 feet. The lake region has a humid continental climate with summer temperatures averaging 87°F, while campgrounds often face higher humidity levels due to proximity to the water. Many camping cabins near Carlyle, Illinois feature limited amenities but access to extensive shoreline and recreational facilities.
What to do
Fishing from shore: At Dam West Campground, anglers can access the lake directly from many sites. "There's a super long carp though," notes one camper at Washington County State Recreation Area, highlighting the diverse fish population that includes bass, bluegill and catfish.
Swimming pool access: Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area offers a zero-entry swimming pool for $5 on weekends. "There is a camp store, firewood available, and even a pool! The trails around are nice and our family had fun hiking," mentions a reviewer, making it an alternative to lake swimming.
Stargazing opportunities: Washington County Lake provides excellent night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. "The sky was real dark, great for picking out constellations. We listened to Whip-por-will calls around the campfire," reports a visitor, noting the campground's distance from major cities creates ideal stargazing conditions.
What campers like
Large, level sites: Gun Creek offers spacious camping spots. "Absolutely huge site with old growth trees throughout the campground without lots of space between," notes one camper, though they add that "some spots do have a fairly good slope to them" so checking site details before booking is important.
Wildlife viewing: The Carlyle Lake area supports diverse wildlife observation opportunities. "Oh and lots of deer bed down in the grassy areas at night, which was a fun thing to see!" shares one visitor to Eldon Hazlet, while another mentions seeing "tons of migrant waterfowl. Pelicans, egrets, blue herons" at Dam West Campground.
Quiet weekday stays: Okaw Valley Kampground provides peaceful experiences during non-peak times. "Site 26. We were basically by ourselves being mid week in November. Great view," reports a visitor to Gun Creek, showing how timing affects the camping experience at cabins near Carlyle.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer. "We arrived at this campground at 11am on a Friday only to find that the first-come, first-serve sites were already full," notes a Dam West visitor, recommending reservations "months in advance if possible."
Bathroom facilities vary: Quality and accessibility of restrooms differs significantly between locations. "The bathhouse was clean and had hot water for the showers," reports a camper at Washington County State Recreation Area, though another notes "bath house just ok, bad showers" at the same location.
Water quality concerns: Some locations have reported issues with drinking water. "I filled my trailer's tank at the drinking water supply when you enter the campground. It was extremely dirty with a lot of copper colored solids," shares one Eldon Hazlet visitor, suggesting bringing bottled water for drinking.
Tips for camping with families
Halloween events: Eldon Hazlet hosts extensive Halloween activities. "They have a huge Halloween event every year where people decorate their sites (pretty extensively) and there's a haunted house, then kids trick or treat from site to site. The campground also provides pumpkin painting contests and other fun activities," explains a regular visitor, noting to "get there at least a week in advance for the Halloween festivities—it fills up!"
Beach access: Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area offers swimming areas. "Swim beach is not well maintained due to the budget but also doesn't cost anything since they can't pay anyone to man the gate, but it's not horrible," notes a visitor, providing a free alternative to the pool at Eldon Hazlet.
Playground availability: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "There are three playground areas, a basketball court, sand volleyball and a pool during summer months. Lots of families with kids, bike rides and plenty of other lake and outdoor activities in the area," reports an Eldon Hazlet camper.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness check: At Gun Creek, confirm site grade before booking. "Absolutely must check how level the spots are before you book, as lots of sites are over 4 inch incline, which seems ok for smaller rigs," advises one RVer, noting this is crucial for larger vehicles.
Limited services in off-season: Archway RV Park remains open year-round while many state facilities close. "Very nice kept up campground. Reservable sites are hard to book. Only negatives is that this campground is not open year-round," explains a Dam West visitor, highlighting the seasonal nature of many Carlyle area cabin rentals.
Utility locations: RV sites often have poorly positioned hookups. "Most of the sites in the camper are larger and more open," notes an Eldon Hazlet camper, though actual connection points may require extension cords or longer hoses than standard.
