2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Illini Campground at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area permits pets throughout its established campsites with electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables. Several pet-friendly campgrounds surround Carlyle Lake, including Boulder Recreation Area and Coles Creek Recreation Area, both offering spacious sites where dogs can accompany campers. Dam West Campground and Dam West Spillway provide additional options with varying levels of amenities, from full hookup sites to more primitive camping areas. Most campgrounds in the region maintain standard leash requirements and request that pet waste be properly disposed of in designated receptacles. Cedarbrook RV Park and Campground features dedicated pet areas, though tent campers should note there are only about six tent sites available at this location. The bathrooms at most facilities remain clean and well-maintained, important for campers traveling with pets who need regular access to water.
Carlyle Lake's shoreline offers numerous opportunities for dogs to enjoy water access, with several campgrounds positioned directly on the waterfront. Trails surrounding the lake provide exercise options for both pets and owners, with Dam West Campground located within walking distance of a public beach area. Okaw Valley Kampground and Timber Trails Campground maintain pet-friendly policies while offering full hookup sites for RV campers. During summer months, temperatures can reach into the 90s, requiring extra attention to pet hydration and shade access. The fenced pet areas at several campgrounds provide safe spaces for dogs to exercise off-leash, though these areas occasionally become muddy after rainfall. Wildlife encounters are possible throughout the region, so keeping pets leashed and supervised remains essential for their safety and the protection of local fauna.
"Water and dump at the entrance. Shower houses. Very nice pool and camp store. Hosts scattered and occasionally hard to find to pay for your spot. Wildlife galore. Next to largest lake in Illinois."
"This State Park is located outside Carlyle,Illinois. This park offers playground areas and more. Cabins, campsites with power or no power the choice is yours."
from $15 - $30 / night
"Boulder is a lovely campground tucked away on Carlyle Lake. It has it's own marina where you can rent a slip for your boat. The sites are well spaced and have a beautiful view of the lake and sunsets!"
"The bathrooms, showers, and laundry all close by. Good hot water in the showers. The host was friendly and helpful. I’d go back again!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $40 / night
"This is our favorite campground in Central/southern illinois. The sites are very nice and most have shade. There is a beach for campers to use, and a really nice playground."
"Coles Creek is a nice, large campground located on Carlyle Lake in Illinois. It has full hook up, 50 amp sites with many located right on the water!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $250 / night
"There’s a very nice updated playground and a pond with a walking path around it. The place is very well taken care of. If we ever came back this way we would stay again."
"Beautiful walking paths, convenient, great pricing. They filled us up on LP too. Thanks again, Barb and Gary!"
"The park is large and surrounded by woods and fields. We had a peaceful night near the cornfields where the short-term RV sites are located. Can hear the train horn in the distance."
"Timber Trails Campground is a easy layover off of I-70, offering a family-friendly environment. The park provided us an easy in and out, pull-through site that was level and convenient."
"Literally 0’s all around for level on the Levelmate Pro. I didn’t even unhook the trailer, just put the 4 scissor jacks and tongue jack down for stability."
"Full hookups, reservable sites, walk up sites, and all sites are large! Full hookup sites are booked solid so make sure you go online 6 months out or you are out of luck."
"We camped right on the lake with a great view. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $60 / night
"Family and pet friendly, nice bath houses, most sites are spacious. Minutes away from beach access."
"It is directly on Carlyle Lake, ,the largest lake in Illinois. It has activities for children on the weekends."
from $30 / night
TravelerCamp Host is very friendly and brought firewood to our site. Bath/shower house was clean. We were in the equestrian campground due to our 73 foot overall length. It was a great stay for visiting family. There are a lot of outdoor activities at the lake area, but no pool.
TravelerThe campsite is nice plenty of spaces spaced out nicely, but there’s absolutely no signage. took us forever to decide where we could park and what to do. tiny little sign on the Rangers house. Led us to a website and then charged us $50. Not what we were expecting. Plan ahead on this one.
GuideThis was a beautiful place to spend an evening on our cross country trip. We were able to secure site B7 -a nice level and shady spot on a beautiful tree lined lake. The site was dusty but there was a picnic table and electricity. It was 90 degrees in early October so I can imagine the open spots are really hot during the heat of the summer. Signs tell you to check in with camp host before parking but there was no one at their camper. I called the phone number and a helpful gentleman explained that the sites were first come, first served and someone would be around to collect our $20 fee. One large bathhouse for the campground was a good walk away but was spotless. I would have given this campground a 5 rating but after walking around, we realized that most of the sites by the lake were hard packed dirt, small and not level. However there is a new section I that has 10 long back in gravel pads with electric & water. They are away from the water but close to the shower house. Finally, google coordinates directed us to a private residence just short of the marina. Follow directions to the marina and find the road to the campground at the end of the parking lot.
TravelerJody, the hostess, is friendly and responsive. We stayed one night in the fall so the many permanent RVs were not occupied. The park is large and surrounded by woods and fields. We had a peaceful night near the cornfields where the short-term RV sites are located. Can hear the train horn in the distance. Note that they are tandem, so pull thru for the first person but back in for the second. We would stay here again.
ScoutAwesome place. Showers are small but very clean. Scenery is amazing. People are friendly. And they have a little mini store and a little mini pizzeria.
ScoutIts fine. Nothing snazzy. Its in more of an industrial area so its kind of loud with the trains going by and whatnot. Mostly an RV site. 9 tent sites (first come first serve on spot) and a handful of cabins.
GuideCamping area is closed until further notice. Construction
TravelerBL, the camp could use a Camp Host or Mayor. Stayed 1 night. We used the bathhouse and walked the grounds- so did a lot of other people; especially in the morning up to lunch. Quiet camp -Aircraft noise held off until 08:00 (bonus). Men’s shower side had great water pressure and temp- water fixtures were dated, dirty and temperamental (2 shower heads-1 working) also, cozy up to your multi-legged friends (spider webs and bugs were in competition for our shower space), Laundry is $1.50/wash&dry. I’ve stayed at a good many FamCamps: Lake Martin Rec -AL Uchee Creek-GA Destin Army Inf CTR-FL Robins AFB FamCamp-GA Round Pond -NY Kings Creek-VA Ellsworth AFB-SD Blue Angel Rec-FL Anniston Army Depot-AL Sigsbee-FL That’s my starter list! So, I’d like to see this one level up. It’s in a good area (we come through every couple years) and I think it could get a few more interested in it, if it were managed just a little bit better.
GuideRight off the freeway. We were going to overnight park at Loves but had problems with our generator. 93 degrees at 11 pm so we splurged for a site and paid $71 for full hookups. It’s a small campground, more like a parking lot, so easy in and out. They have a handful of cabins and a wash house.
There are two unisex bathrooms, each with multiple toilets and showers, which is weird because you have to lock the outer door for privacy while using the facilities. Good for a parent with small children, I guess, but I felt like I was hogging the bathroom.
There is a small pond at the back of the grounds and a kid was fishing it. They also have a fenced in dog park. No shade in that area, but nice touch!
Camping near Greenville, Illinois centers around Carlyle Lake, the largest man-made lake in Illinois at 26,000 acres. Summer temperatures regularly reach the mid-90s from June through August, with high humidity creating challenging conditions for tent campers without adequate shade. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter camping options available.
Fishing opportunities: At Coles Creek Recreation Area, visitors can access multiple shoreline fishing spots around Carlyle Lake. "This wonderful camping area is beautiful with clean campsites. With picnic areas and a beach close you and the family will have a good time and make new friends," notes Jake L.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated swimming areas separate from the main public beaches. "This campground is well maintained and has plenty of hiking area, fishing area, and playing/swimming area for children," explains Amurican L. about Dam West Spillway.
Bike riding: Paved paths connect many lakeside campgrounds for cycling. "Paved bike paths with views of the lake," mentions Chris B. about the Dam West Spillway area, making it ideal for family outings.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings provide the best wildlife viewing opportunities. "Lots of deer bed down in the grassy areas at night, which was a fun thing to see," notes Chelsea D. about the area surrounding the lakeside campgrounds.
Spacious waterfront sites: Boulder Recreation Area offers some of the most sought-after lake views. "This campground offers many sites that are right on the lake. Beautiful views. Also boasts the best shower house/bathrooms around. They are air conditioned and cleaned regularly," shares Phil W.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds feature updated shower facilities. "The bathrooms and showerhouse were impeccably clean, and many sites are right next to the lake," notes Chelsea D. about Coles Creek Recreation Area.
Helpful camp hosts: Staff at most campgrounds receive positive mentions. "The camp hosts were nice and very helpful! When our electric wasn't working, they sent a tech over right away and he has us up and running in no time," Brooke C. mentions about her stay at Eldon Hazlet State Park.
Quiet atmosphere: Several campgrounds maintain peaceful environments even during busy periods. "This was a fun little campground with the most gorgeous view of the lake. Very clean, with air conditioned bathrooms," according to Alexandrea B. about her experience at Boulder Recreation Area.
Limited tent options: Some RV-focused campgrounds have minimal tent camping. "There are only about 6 tent sites at this campground, which makes it not entirely friendly for tent campers," warns Kaitlyn H. about Cedarbrook RV Park and Campground.
Water quality concerns: Potable water access varies by campground and season. "I filled by trailer's tank at the drinking water supply when you enter the campground. It was extremely dirty with a lot of copper colored solids. I drained the tank and filled with a spicket next to our site and had the same dirty water," cautions Allen S. about Eldon Hazlet State Park.
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially for waterfront sites. "We arrived at this campground at 11am on a Friday only to find that that the first-come, first-serve sites were already full," warns Brooke C. about Dam West Campground.
Flooding concerns: Some campgrounds close during high water periods. "This park offers playground areas and more. Cabins, campsites with power or no power the choice is yours. However there are times this park cannot be accessed because of flooding," notes Jake L. about Eldon Hazlet.
Halloween events: Illini Campground at Eldon Hazlet hosts special seasonal 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," shares Aimee T.
Pool access: Some campgrounds provide swimming pools for campers. "There is a swimming pool and campground store. The pool was closed when we were there but looked nice," mentions Allen S. about facilities at Eldon Hazlet State Park.
Multiple playgrounds: Dam West Spillway offers several 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," describes Brooke C.
Educational programs: Some campgrounds run weekend activities focused on nature. "They have outdoor informational presentations about plants and animals geared toward children," notes Chris B. about Dam West Spillway's programming.
Early arrival recommended: Pet-friendly camping near Greenville, Illinois requires planning for prime spots. "The campground filled up by 11am on Friday, which was a surprise to us," reports Brooke C. about her experience at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area.
Site levelness: Boulder Recreation Area provides exceptionally level sites. "Our site was on the shore and had good spacing from others. The bathrooms, showers, and laundry all close by. Good hot water in the showers," according to Carol B.
Campground accessibility: Most campgrounds maintain paved interior roads. "All the roads in the campground are paved. This is an Army Corp of Engineers park. Bathrooms and showers are available. Sites are either full hookup, or electric," explains Shane E. about Boulder Recreation Area.
Proximity to amenities: Many campgrounds offer convenient access to supplies. "Walmart is just 5-10min away if needed as well as restaurants, gas station, and other amenities in Carlyle nearby," mentions Brooke C. about the location of Eldon Hazlet State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Greenville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Greenville, IL is Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Greenville, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 53 dog-friendly camping locations near Greenville, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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