Located about 25 miles east of St. Louis, Mascoutah's camping areas offer access to Carlyle Lake, the largest man-made lake in Illinois at 26,000 acres. The region features a mix of prairie and woodland terrain with elevations ranging from 400-450 feet. Most glamping sites near Mascoutah remain open from March through October, though some locations maintain year-round availability with seasonal rate changes.
What to do
Fishing and boating at Carlyle Lake: Coles Creek Recreation Area provides excellent shoreline access for anglers and boaters with full hookup sites located right on the water. "I have literally spent weeks here. I used to come out here alone for a week to prepare for big college exams. Such a peaceful atmosphere," notes one camper at Coles Creek Recreation Area.
Explore hiking trails: The numerous trails around Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area provide options for all skill levels. "The park offers playground areas and more. Cabins, campsites with power or no power the choice is yours," writes a visitor. Many trails connect to lakeside paths with wildlife viewing opportunities.
Visit St. Louis attractions: With several campgrounds positioned within 30 minutes of downtown St. Louis, day trips to urban attractions are practical. "This park is beautiful. Located about 25 minutes from St Louis. They have paddle boats and bikes and group bikes for rental," reports a camper at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
What campers like
Budget-friendly options: Horseshoe Lake State Park offers some of the most affordable camping in the region. "Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$," explains a visitor. The park maintains primitive tent sites with basic amenities at significantly lower prices than full-service campgrounds.
Military facilities: Scott AFB FamCamp provides specific amenities for military personnel and families. "This campground is clean and convenient to the St Louis area. The Outdoor Recreation unit is very responsive to needs of campers. The nearby lake is scenic and peaceful," notes a reviewer at Scott AFB FamCamp.
Lakefront camping: Many campsites offer direct water access with unobstructed views. "We lucked out and were able to reserve one of the last spots (site #76) which happened to have a nice view of the lake and several short trails down to the water. There was a sand/beach area and plenty of firewood around," reports a camper who visited Illini Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal flooding: Several campgrounds in the Mascoutah area experience periodic flooding, particularly during spring. "This park is prone to flooding. It was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded," explains a camper at Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground.
Bathroom facilities vary: Quality and availability of bathroom facilities differs significantly between parks. "The pit toilets that were spread across the campground were in horrendous condition and had wasps, spiders, and other critters hanging out. With 4 kids in tow and a pop-up camper, we made the long trek to the shower house many times."
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Mascoutah experience railroad noise, particularly at night. "There are train tracks that run near by the campground so it can be quite noisy. First night one came through blowing its horns around 5am," reports a camper staying at a KOA location.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Not all parks permit swimming in their lakes. "The lake is ok but no swimming, boating and fishing only," notes a Horseshoe Lake visitor. However, Dam East Recreation Area provides designated swimming areas with "plenty of areas to fish, hike, swim, picnic."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature modern playground equipment and recreational amenities. "They have a nice pool and the bathrooms and showers were clean. It is basically across the street from Six Flags and so can be very convenient," mentions a reviewer about a nearby KOA.
Halloween events: Fall camping offers special programming at some parks. "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."
Tips from RVers
Water quality concerns: Some campers report issues with water quality at certain parks. "Only complaint that I have was the potable water supply. 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."
Limited full-hookup availability: RVers seeking full hookups should book well in advance. "This is a COE campground and takes our senior pass. If you are needing a full hookup site, make sure you book early!" advises a regular visitor to COE Lake Carlyle McNair Campground.
Big rig access: Many parks can accommodate larger RVs but have specific sections or loops designated for them. "Most of the sites in the camper are larger and more open. Walmart is just 5-10min away if needed as well as restaurants, gas station, and other amenities in Carlyle nearby."
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