Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois
Lotus Group Area
Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 electric, 1 with water
- Season
- May 1 to September 26
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 472 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Carlyle Lake
- Nearest town
- CARLYLE
- Address
- 801 LAKE ROAD, CARLYLE, IL, 62231-1267
- Phone
- 618-226-3211
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Day Use Area, Hunting, Interpretive Programs, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
The Lotus Group Area is on the eastern 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. The vast lake allows for plenty of water sports with boat ramps, courtesy docks and a swimming beach being located nearby. 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. There is an on-site playground and plenty of open space for children to play. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located a short drive away at the dam.
Facilities
Lotus Group Area offers a secluded group campground in Coles Creek Recreation Area. The facility consists of 10 full-service campsites, a playground, and a comfort station. The site can hold a single group of up to 80 people at a time. The Coles Creek Beach and Day Use Area are a short walk away.
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 25° | 1° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 43° | 29° | 1° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 56° | 40° | 17° | 75° | 5 of 11 |
| April | 67° | 49° | 32° | 83° | 1 of 11 |
| May | 78° | 63° | 46° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 87° | 70° | 57° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 88° | 73° | 66° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 85° | 72° | 63° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 83° | 66° | 56° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 50° | 35° | 80° | 0 of 10 |
| November | 54° | 39° | 16° | 68° | 3 of 10 |
| December | 43° | 32° | 5° | 60° | 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
- Coles Creek Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 0 mi · 148 sites
- Boulder Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 82 sites
- Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area · Illinois State Parks · 4 mi
- Dam East Rec. Area (Day Use) · Army Corps of Engineers · 5 mi · 1 sites
- Dam East - McNair Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 5 mi · 48 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.