About Dam East Rec. Area (Day Use)
Dam East Recreation Area is situated on the southern shore of Carlyle Lake, a prime getaway for city-dwellers and families. Located 50 miles east of St. Louis, the area offers the peaceful retreat of a small town combined with the grandeur of Illinois' largest man-made lake. The area provides fun both on the water and on shore. Boat ramps and courtesy docks are provided, and the vast lake allows for plenty of water sports. Fishing is a popular pastime, and the lake offers year-round varieties of fish such as bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, freshwater drum, carp and walleye. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located a short walk away. Dam East has a courtesy dock and two boat ramps, including one of the best high water ramps on the lake. Visitors can walk or bike across the dam to the Dam West facilities. Created in 1967, the…
- Managed by: Carlyle Lake, USACE
- Where: 4 mi east of Carlyle, IL · 38.60833, -89.30833
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Dec–Feb.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Good to know
Verizon 5G · AT&T 5G · T-Mobile 5G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way is clear overhead but fades toward town glow.
Class 4 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 3 mi
Water fill-up: 3.2 mi
Propane: 12.2 mi
Camps nearby
- Dam East - Mcnair Campground 0.9 mi
- Dam East Spillway (Day Use) 2.3 mi
- Dam West Campground 3 mi
- Carlyle Village Campground 3.2 mi
- Illini Campground 3.4 mi
- Idnr Hazlet State Park 3.4 mi