Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area permits pets at all campsites across three camping loops with varying levels of privacy. The campground provides water and electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables at most sites, making it suitable for tent, RV, and cabin camping. Camp hosts enforce the standard leash policy but are strict about vehicle restrictions within tent camping areas. Boulder Recreation Area on Carlyle Lake offers waterfront campsites with good spacing between sites, paved roads throughout, and air-conditioned bathrooms that remain consistently clean according to visitor reports.
Carlyle Lake campgrounds provide excellent options for dog owners seeking water access. Dogs can accompany campers along the shoreline at Boulder Recreation Area, though the rocky shores can make water entry challenging. Dam West Campground and Coles Creek Recreation Area also welcome pets with similar amenities and lake views. Illini Campground at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area operates year-round for pet owners needing off-season accommodations. Visitors note that Forbes State Recreation Area has limited cell service with only 1-2 bars LTE, making it ideal for unplugged camping with pets, while the nearby trails offer good hiking opportunities despite occasional poor markings. Small towns within 10 miles provide basic supplies, with dollar stores in Farina and a grocery store in Kinmundy serving campers at Forbes.
"Most of the sites are large and a good distance from the next one. Shower house is alright. The store/restaurant has been closed for a year or two now because of the Illinois budget."
"Lots of squirrels for the dogs to chase and lots of wood in & around the campground. Hosts told us they were making more space for specific species of trees so “take all you want” from the area."
$15 - $30 / night
"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."
$20 - $40 / 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!"
$20 - $250 / 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!"
"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!"
$60 / night
"There is a nice playground and dog park as well as a pond at the location. Great place to stop traveling through or for a weekend."
"Long first day drive, but so handy and staff couldn’t be more accommodating to our late arrivals. Just far enough from Interstate so noise isn’t an issue. Lots of services at the same exit."
$30 / 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."
$20 - $60 / night
"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. "
$20 - $125 / night
"McNair ACE: Tate 4 for cleanliness and stopover location for travels on nearby highway. Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)"
"Bathroom close by and very clean. Shower house only available at the main campground, which was a distance away and not reasonable to walk with a little one."
"Overall Rating: 4 for cleanliness and location for travels on nearby highway. Spillway is not particularly pretty."
"Every camping spot has trees surrounding it so it’s very"
ScoutNot a bad place for a stop between destinations or a couple days at the lake would be fine. Roads and sites were well maintained. The dog park gets muddy quick, it’s mostly moss and dirt. It’s close to the Interstate; we’d stay there again.
RangerThis campground is beautiful with lots of gardens and potted plants at a lot of the campsites The host is very friendly, the pool is well maintained, they have a dog park The Host even led us to our spot..
TravelerI called a day in advance and was able to schedule a reservation, the lady on the phone was very nice. Upon arrival I was greeted nicely and checked in quickly. While beginning setup, I noticed an issue with the power at my particular spot and decided to let the staff know of the issue. They offered to move us to another spot and were very nice. The WiFi works great as I was able to stream anything I wanted on Hulu. There is a nice playground and dog park as well as a pond at the location. Great place to stop traveling through or for a weekend.
TravelerWonderful private campground surround by woods, an open field and a small pond. There is a small playground, covered patio, bathrooms with showers and plenty of lawn space! Pet friendly and looks very ADA accessible, I had a great time spending one night here with my dog. $15 for tent/primitive camping, $25 for electric!
ScoutFamily and pet friendly, nice bath houses, most sites are spacious.
Minutes away from beach access.
GuideCampground is off the beaten path, lots of space to spread out, and the top 4 amenities (electricity, water, flush toilets and showers). It’s not the cleanest bathrooms but certainly not the worst. Close to a Walmart for all your need and great sunsets too. Plus pets are allowed
TravelerWe loved staying here. Pet friendly and beautiful lake views from many of the camp sites. I recommend checking the grade of the camp site because some of the ones next to the lake were at a pretty big angle. Our site was nice and flat so no issues there. We loved it and would definitely stay again.
TravelerThere are only about 6 tent sites at this campground, which makes it not entirely friendly for tent campers. However, the bathrooms were lovely and clean. For those who are allergic, there is a colony of feral cats living outside of the office. OUTDOOR DOMESTICATED CATS ARE TERRIBLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, please do not encourage this behavior.
GuideNext door to the little public airport with fairy lights strung about. An open field greats you at your site and you can watch the helicopter or people fly with parachutes. Full hook ups. No WiFi or cable or anything fancy. There is a little playground on site as well. Pet friendly. There could be a height problem for people coming off expressway as there is a train track with a 13’10” clearance. No gas within 5 miles. Wasn’t an issue for us. Campsite accepts cash, check, and Venmo.
Carlyle Lake serves as the centerpiece for many dog friendly campgrounds near Salem, Illinois. This man-made reservoir spans 26,000 acres with 83 miles of shoreline, creating abundant waterfront camping opportunities within a 30-minute drive of Salem. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall camping seasons offer more moderate conditions in the 60-75°F range.
Fishing access: The spillway area at Dam East Recreation Area attracts many anglers. "There are plenty of areas to fish, hike, swim, picnic. Looking forward to another great year and fun filled camping and fishing," notes Regina B. The day use area includes pavilions and picnic facilities.
Hiking opportunities: Trails around Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area provide family-friendly options. "The trails around are nice and our family had fun hiking," reports Chelsea D. The wooded nature trail offers a peaceful escape for pet owners looking to exercise their dogs.
Swimming options: Unlike the swim beach at Forbes mentioned in the existing description, Coles Creek Recreation Area offers a dedicated swimming beach for campers. "It has a beach for campers to use, and a really nice playground," shares Chelsea D. The campground provides direct lake access without requiring travel to a separate facility.
Proximity to supplies: While Forbes mentions nearby dollar stores, Okaw Valley Kampground offers greater convenience for forgotten items. "A 7 minute drive gets you into the town of Carlyle which has all the necessities - food, gas and Walmart," explains Julie M., making it ideal for pet owners who need last-minute supplies.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the cleanliness of pet-friendly Dam West Campground, especially the shower facilities. "CLEAN (and air conditioned) bath houses. The sites are beautiful and well maintained," writes Patti P. The campground maintains high standards despite heavy usage during peak season.
Lakefront sites: Many sites at Boulder Recreation Area provide direct water access. "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," states Phil W. The paved roads throughout the campground make it accessible in various weather conditions.
Reservation requirements: For popular weekends, especially at Boulder Rec. Area, advance planning is essential. "The campground filled up by 11am on Friday, which was a surprise to us," reports Brooke C. about a nearby campground. Many waterfront sites book months in advance.
Water quality considerations: Water systems at some campgrounds may have seasonal issues. "Only complaint that I have was the potable water supply...extremely dirty with a lot of copper colored solids," notes Allen S. about Eldon Hazlet. Bringing extra drinking water is advised during early season camping.
Flood potential: Access to some areas can be affected by water levels. "However when the lake is flooded you cannot access this campground," warns Jake L. about Boulder Recreation Area. Check water conditions before arrival, especially during spring or after heavy rainfall.
Playground access: Dam West Campground features multiple play areas. "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," advises Brooke C.
Budget considerations: For cost-conscious families with pets, Dam East offers good value. "Price 2024: $9 w interagency pass," notes Roger W. Senior and access passes provide significant discounts at Corps of Engineers sites around Carlyle Lake.
Seasonal activities: Eldon Hazlet offers special family events. "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.
Site selection: For optimal privacy and views at Illini Campground, choose wisely. "Absolutely huge site with old growth trees throughout the campground without lots of space between. Sites are pretty level, are gravel, wooded, and spacious," comments Jay B.
Power requirements: Be prepared with adapters when visiting Archway RV Park. "Full-hookups with only a 50amp connection so if you are using 30 make sure you have a 50/30 adapter," advises James N. This preparation prevents arrival complications at pet-friendly sites.
Campground layout: Many campgrounds feature pull-through sites that accommodate larger rigs. "Sites are nice, although all sites face each other meaning you will be 5-10 feet from your neighbors if you are sitting out front," notes James N. about Archway RV Park, providing important context for social pet owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Salem, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Salem, IL is Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area with a 3.8-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Salem, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 54 dog-friendly camping locations near Salem, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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