A forested campground near fishing, and mountain biking. RV fit varies by site.
The lake itself completed in 1967 and covering about 26,000 acres is known for sailing and hosts annual races and regattas; it supports a wide range of water sports and fishing (bluegill, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp and walleye are all present). Wildlife viewing is strong here year-round, with migratory waterfowl and six established Watchable Wildlife Sites (several with viewing towers) around the lake.
Length limits vary by campsite.
Dump station on site.
Check dates on Recreation.gov. Showing 40 of 108 sites.
| Site | Fr 13 | Sa 14 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 072 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 002 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 018 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 061 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 055 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 048 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 051 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 062 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 007 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 032 standard electric |
Hookups (individual campsites): 108 electric individual sites.
801 LAKE ROAD
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Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.
Themes from recent written reviews on Recreation.gov. Quotes are verbatim.
“The staff is very knowledgeable, polite, very helpful.”
Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (746 reviews, ★ 5.0). Not written or edited by us.
“I love this site 3 & 41. The staff is very knowledgeable, polite, very helpful. Grounds are clean at all times! I can’t stop talking about Camping here. Thank you for all you do!☺️”
“It was pretty windy and chilly but the lake was beautiful. Lots of very nice people. We love Dam West in Carlyle”
“Great campground hosts. They were very friendly and helpful! Wonderful amenities and we had a great stay!!”
| – |
| $20 |
| 113 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 021 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 036 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 006 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 057 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 045 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 008 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 043 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 047 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 102 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 013 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 112 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 050 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 066 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 026 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 067 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 012 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 004 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 073 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 058 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 111 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 027 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 110 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 033 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 017 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 056 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 108 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 010 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 025 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
| 104 standard electric | – | – | $20 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights1 site open for every night
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights56 sites open for every night
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights3 sites open for every nightAn idea to start from, built from this campground's listing and real tours nearby. Times, openings and prices change, so check each before you go.
Rentals that may deliver here and whose listed length fits sites up to 75 ft. Delivery may be available — confirm fees and dates with the owner before you book.
Travel trailer · 16 ft · sleeps 4 · 60 mi from campground
$80/night listed · Outdoorsy · Delivery may be available
View rental
Travel trailer · 36 ft · sleeps 10 · 71 mi from campground
$124/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available
View rental
Travel trailer · 29 ft · sleeps 8 · 74 mi from campground
$120/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available
View rentalPaid experiences on Viator. Distances are from this campground when the tour lists its own start point.
Illinois area · 1 hr · from $27/person
Illinois area · 50 min · from $20/person
Illinois area · 1 hr · from $25/person
stays up to 14 nights (Recreation.gov rules).
For May weekends, book about 175 days ahead. Three in four May Friday and Saturday arrivals were booked later than that, and half were booked 90 days or less before arrival. Past timing is guidance, not a guarantee of what is open now.
| Arrival month | Fri/Sat arrivals: half booked at least | A quarter at least | Other days: half booked at least | A quarter at least |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 82 days ahead | 159 days ahead | — | — |
| April | 82 days ahead | 170 days ahead | 55 days ahead | 167 days ahead |
| May | 90 days ahead | 175 days ahead | 49 days ahead | 180 days ahead |
| June | 68 days ahead | 168 days ahead | 52 days ahead | 181 days ahead |
| July | 46 days ahead | 166 days ahead | 35 days ahead | 178 days ahead |
| August | 43 days ahead | 173 days ahead | 25 days ahead | 179 days ahead |
| September | 54 days ahead | 173 days ahead | 36 days ahead | 181 days ahead |
| October | 54 days ahead | 174 days ahead | 20 days ahead | 173 days ahead |
| November | 21 days ahead | 54 days ahead | — | — |
Months with fewer than 30 reservations of that kind are left blank. Sites where nearly every booking was made the day of arrival (pay on arrival) are left out. Closed seasons, windows not yet released for booking, and currently unavailable nights are separate from this history.
Based on Recreation.gov reservations, FY2015–2025 (43,017 reservations in the years scored). Counts reservations made, not nights actually camped: cancellations aren't in the data, and nights a site was closed count as not booked. FY2020–21 (COVID) are left out of the scores.
108 individual reservable campsites from Recreation.gov, checked Nov 7. Rates are the listed nightly rates.
Tent or RV, with power
108 sites · $20, $60/night
Loops: DAM WEST loop (108)
0 open Nov 13–Nov 15
