Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois
Dam East Rec. Area (Day Use)
Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Season
- May 1 to September 30
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 492 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile good · AT&T good · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Carlyle Lake
- Nearest town
- CARLYLE
- Address
- 801 LAKE ROAD, CARLYLE, IL, 62231-9703
- Phone
- 618-594-5253
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Day Use Area, Fishing, Picnicking
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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.
Recreation
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.
Facilities
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.
Natural Features
Created in 1967, the 26,000-acre lake is recognized as one of the nation's top ten inland sailing lakes and hosts several annual races and regattas.
Carlyle Lake is home to an array of wildlife that can be seen throughout the year. Its waters and shores are a resting spot for migratory waterfowl and other birds. There are six established Watchable Wildlife Sites with viewing towers open to the public around the lake.
Nearby Attractions
Carlyle Lake Visitor Center, located in the Dam West Recreation Area, has information available and nature exhibits on display, including a 215-gallon aquarium with native fish.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (618) 594-2484.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 26° | 1° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 45° | 28° | 1° | 74° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 59° | 39° | 17° | 80° | 6 of 11 |
| April | 67° | 48° | 31° | 84° | 2 of 11 |
| May | 79° | 62° | 45° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 69° | 55° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 72° | 65° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 71° | 62° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 84° | 66° | 54° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 49° | 34° | 84° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 55° | 39° | 16° | 75° | 4 of 10 |
| December | 45° | 32° | 5° | 65° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Dam East - McNair Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 48 sites
- Dam West Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 109 sites
- Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area · Illinois State Parks · 4 mi
- Coles Creek Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 4 mi · 148 sites
- Lotus Group Area · Army Corps of Engineers · 5 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Illinois · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.