63 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds in the Trenton, Illinois area primarily cluster around Carlyle Lake, the largest lake in Illinois, with a mix of developed facilities and natural settings. Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area provides cabins and both powered and non-powered campsites through its Illini Campground, while several Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds like Dam West, Dam East, and Coles Creek Recreation Area offer additional camping opportunities around the lake. Most campgrounds accommodate tents, RVs, and some feature cabin rentals, with accessibility options ranging from boat-in sites to drive-up convenience for larger vehicles.
Seasonal considerations affect camping experiences throughout the region, with most campgrounds operating from spring through fall, typically April through October. Dam West Campground maintains a season from March 30 to October 30, while Boulder Recreation Area runs from April 13 to October 12. Flooding can occasionally restrict access to certain areas, particularly during spring months. The campgrounds typically feature electric hookups, with many offering water access directly at sites or nearby. Several developed campgrounds provide shower facilities, though availability varies by location. One visitor noted, "This is our favorite campground with 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."
Lakeside camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with many mixed-use campgrounds providing direct access to Carlyle Lake's shoreline. Concrete pads at many sites accommodate larger RVs, while shade trees provide relief during summer months. The Dam West area includes amenities like playgrounds and amphitheaters, with biking and walking paths connecting various recreation areas. Campers frequently mention the wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the region. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "This campground is perfect for taking long walks and bike riding. There are two swimming pools close by but none in the campground." Additionally, several campgrounds in the area feature good fishing access, particularly with a boat, and many camping areas include beach access within walking distance of the campsites.
"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
Check Availability"You are on the entire opposite side of the base, away from everything, absolutely everything.."
"GREAT location for camping, especially if you run out of items and need to get something close by. Very natural, and amazing views and the feel is spectacular."
"It is directly on Carlyle Lake, ,the largest lake in Illinois. It has activities for children on the weekends."
"Right next to the marina and with many sites right on the lake, you can’t go wrong here."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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. "
from $20 - $60 / night
Check Availability"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!"
from $20 - $250 / night
Check Availability"Overall Rating: 4 for cleanliness and location for travels on nearby highway. Spillway is not particularly pretty."
"Every camping spot has trees surrounding it so it’s very"
"Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."
"Horseshoe Lake is one of my most visited parks and most favorite park in the STL and surrounding areas. First off absolutely beautiful land and peace is easily achieved."
"Quiet and plenty of trees and a walking path. A beach to swim at and a dock to fish off. A playground for kids. You can tent camp in a.few places but mai.ly for electric campers and.RV's."
"There's miles and miles of walking and biking trails! The sites are pretty generously sized. The host was nice and the price was fantastic! I paid $42 for 4 nights."
"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!"
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability
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!
TravelerThis place was amazing other than the humidity (mid july). Showed up and the hosts were super nice and helped me to my spot. They have lots of camper spots, most seemed like long term campers. I used a tent and had a great spot near the lake. No other tent campers around. They have a good open spot for tents that you just find a spot and set up. Campers seemed nice and we re quiet.
GuideGreat views. Lots of water view sites. Just not a lot to do in the area. Hosts are very kind
ScoutThis is close to the Arch but not well maintained and security is lacking, No staff onsite and the gate is broken. we heard gunshots at 2 AM and left early the next day.
ScoutWe camped here for 5 nights. It is so clean and well maintained. It’s quietly tucked in along the Mississippi River (except for a train that runs nearby). Nice level concrete pads with electric hookup! Water (not potable) and dump available. It’s close proximity to everything in the St. Louis area can’t be beat!
GuidePulled in after the office had closed. They knew we would show up late. Around 1930. Still light outside. Opened the after hours check in and there was nothing for us. Or a map. Luckily there was a number to call. We called. Lady said she was on break and would call us back. Never did. After digging through emails, we finally found what site they had assigned to us. Very small print. Due to this app we were able to use the map posted. However there was no p10 site. Just up to p09. Called the lady back. Said there’s a p10 but that she would move us to p9 in the system. Just decide to stay because we’ve been driving all day. Beautiful grounds/location. Enjoyed a nice sunset. It’s sad it’s “kept up” by these people who can’t help someone because they are on break. Appears a lot of the campers live here. Which to me doesn’t matter. But it does when you can’t help someone for 5 min. Campers are nice. Bath house is a bit dirty. But usable. Skipping a shower tonight but the toilets and sink work.
Camping spots near Trenton, Illinois center around Carlyle Lake, where average water levels vary by 5-10 feet seasonally due to flood control management. The recreation areas surrounding the lake feature extensive trail systems connecting multiple campgrounds, with most trails paved for multi-use activities. Most campgrounds maintain operating seasons from April through October, with some areas prone to closure during high water periods.
Biking on paved trails: Boulder Recreation Area connects to an extensive trail system along Carlyle Lake. "Only stayed here once. Nothing bad but like others nearby even better," shares one visitor who appreciated the well-maintained paths around the Boulder Rec. Area.
Wildlife viewing: Early morning and evening hours provide prime opportunities for spotting deer and waterfowl. "Oh and lots of deer bed down in the grassy areas at night, which was a fun thing to see!" notes a camper at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area.
Fishing from shore: The spillway area offers accessible fishing spots without needing a boat. "Pretty nice area, there were alot of people when we were there. But alot of good trails and fishing at the spillway," mentions a visitor to Dam West Spillway.
Swimming at dedicated beaches: Several campgrounds offer beach access within walking distance. "Had a lake front site with beachfront access. It was flat ground, everyone was so nice and it was so clean and the area was lovely," reports a Dam West camper.
Spacious campsites: Many campers appreciate the generous site sizing throughout the area. "Campsites are large with plenty of room for camper and vehicles," notes a visitor to Boulder Recreation Area.
Clean facilities: The shower houses and restrooms receive consistent praise for cleanliness. "The bathrooms and shower facilities are FABULOUS, and super clean. They smell like the laundry facilities as well, so great all around there," writes a Dam West Spillway visitor.
Water views: Lakefront sites are highly sought after but available with advance planning. "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," reports a Boulder Recreation Area camper.
Affordable pricing: Corps of Engineers campgrounds offer discounts for federal pass holders. "Only negatives is that this campground is not open year-round," notes a visitor to Dam West Campground, where prices remain reasonable compared to private alternatives.
Seasonal flooding affects access: Some campgrounds close temporarily 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," explains a camper at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area.
Reservations essential for weekends: Popular sites book up quickly, especially during summer. "We arrived at this campground at 11am on a Friday only to find that that the first-come, first-serve sites were already full," reports a Dam West visitor.
Water quality concerns: Some visitors report issues with water supplies early in the season. "Only complaint that I have was the potable water supply. 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," shares an Eldon Hazlet camper.
Varying bathroom standards: Facilities range from modern air-conditioned buildings to basic pit toilets. "The pit toilets that were spread across the campground were in horrendous condition and had wasps, spiders, and other critters hanging out," warns a visitor to Coles Creek Recreation Area.
Playground options: Multiple recreation areas feature playground equipment for different age groups. "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," notes a visitor to Eldon Hazlet State Park.
Halloween events: Eldon Hazlet hosts special seasonal activities with advance planning required. "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 camper.
Proximity to supplies: Most campgrounds maintain a 10-20 minute drive to retail options. "Walmart is just 5-10min away if needed as well as restaurants, gas station, and other amenities in Carlyle nearby," shares an Illini Campground visitor.
Varying beach conditions: Swimming areas may have limited facilities. "We were within a few minutes drive of the main lake beach and facilities that include a restaraunt and visitors center. A 7 minute drive gets you into the town of Carlyle which has all the necessities- food, gas and Walmart," explains an Eldon Hazlet camper.
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer limited full-hookup sites. "If you are needing a full hookup site, make sure you book early!" advises a visitor to Coles Creek Recreation Area.
Level site considerations: Many concrete pads require minimal leveling. "We stayed in site #7 for one night in the spring. Some sites are spacious, others are pretty cramped," notes an Eldon Hazlet camper, highlighting the variability between sites.
Shower facility locations: Planning for bathroom access can improve the camping experience. "Unless you have a restroom in your rig, be prepared to walk up to the showerhouse," advises a visitor to Eldon Hazlet State Park.
Winter camping options: Limited camping spots remain open during off-season months. "I started in the East Spillway Loop as that's all that's open in the winter. Easy bike ride into the town of Carlyle," shares a camper at COE Lake Carlyle McNair Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Trenton, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Trenton, IL is Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 26 reviews.
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