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Dam East - McNair Campground

Carlyle Lake

🏕️ CampgroundCarlyle LakeIllinois⭐ 4.5 (402)
Dam East - McNair Campground
🟢 23 open windows as of Nov 4 — soonest Sun Nov 8–Wed Nov 11
Availability checked 8h ago · changes fast, verify before you drive
🐕 Dogs allowed — all 48 sites here that publish a pet policy say yes.
Per-site pet policy from Recreation.gov site details (RIDB), checked 2d ago.
📈 CampSage caught 7 cancellations here in the last 7 days — set an alert below to catch the next one.
Book / check availability →🧭 Directions
💡 In short

Dam East - McNair Campground in Illinois has 23 open booking windows on Recreation.gov right now, the soonest Sun Nov 8–Wed Nov 11. Reserve directly through the booking link above — cancellations go fast. To catch future openings the instant they appear, set a free CampSage cancellation alert.

📅 Open dates
Sun Nov 8 – Wed Nov 113 nightsbook these dates →👥 Spillway #35 & Spillway #36 next to each othersites #35, #36, #39, #40, #44, #45, #47
Sun Nov 8 – Tue Nov 102 nightsbook these dates →sites #43
Tue Nov 10 – Fri Nov 133 nightsbook these dates →sites #33, #46
Fri Nov 20 – Mon Nov 233 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →sites #36, #38, #40
Sun Nov 15 – Wed Nov 183 nightsbook these dates →👥 3 in a row, Spillway #39–Spillway #41 next to each othersites #33, #34, #39, #40, #41, #47
Sun Nov 15 – Tue Nov 172 nightsbook these dates →👥 3 in a row, Spillway #44–Spillway #46 next to each othersites #37, #44, #45, #46
Tue Nov 17 – Fri Nov 203 nightsbook these dates →sites #38
Wed Nov 18 – Sat Nov 213 nightsbook these dates →opened 8h agosites #36

📷 What these sites look like

Photos of sites that are open right now, from recreation.gov. Angles vary by park — usually the site and its parking pad.

Campsite Spillway #35 — Site 35
Site Spillway #35 · Site 35U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Campsite Spillway #35 — Site 35
Site Spillway #35 · Site 35U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Campsite Spillway #36 — A photo of Site 36 of Loop Spillway at Dam East - McNair Cam
Site Spillway #36 · A photo of Site 36 of Loop Spillway at Dam East - McNair CamJared Keilbach
Campsite Spillway #36 — Site 36
Site Spillway #36 · Site 36U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Campsite Spillway #39 — Site 39
Site Spillway #39 · Site 39U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Campsite Spillway #39 — A photo of Site 39 of Loop Spillway at Dam East - McNair Cam
Site Spillway #39 · A photo of Site 39 of Loop Spillway at Dam East - McNair CamJared Keilbach
Campsite Spillway #40 — A photo of Site 40 of Loop Spillway at Dam East - McNair Cam
Site Spillway #40 · A photo of Site 40 of Loop Spillway at Dam East - McNair CamJared Keilbach
Campsite Spillway #40 — Site 40
Site Spillway #40 · Site 40U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Campsite Spillway #44 — Site 44
Site Spillway #44 · Site 44U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Campsite Spillway #44 — Site 44
Site Spillway #44 · Site 44U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Campsite Spillway #45 — Site 45
Site Spillway #45 · Site 45U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Campsite Spillway #45 — Site 45
Site Spillway #45 · Site 45U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
⚡ EV charging nearby

Nearest DC fast charging: 19.4 mi away (straight line).

⚡ Tesla Supercharger19.4 midirections →
🔌 Red E11.8 midirections →
🔌 Red E18.9 midirections →

Distances are straight-line, not driving — the road can be much longer where a river, a lake or a canyon sits in between. From OpenStreetMap — community-mapped, so plug types can lag reality. Verify on your charging network’s app before counting on a charger.

🔭 Planning further ahead?

We watch the next 60 days closely — that's where cancellations show up. recreation.gov takes bookings out to about May 2027, so there may be 2+ night stays past our window.

📊 How often sites open up here

CampSage's scans caught 26 openings at Dam East - McNair Campground over the last 30 days, on 25 separate days, most of them for stays 4–29 days out and the openings typically covered 2–3 nights.

These are the openings our own scans saw — not a figure the booking system publishes. We re-check availability several times a day, so the real number can be higher.

🏕️ About this campground

Group Standard ElectricStandard Electric🎒 biking🎒 boating🎒 car camping🎒 fishing🎒 hiking🎒 swimming

Ratings

4.5★★★★☆399 ratings
5★276
4★78
3★22
2★14
1★9
Star ratings from recreation.gov (they don't publish written review text). Read & leave reviews on recreation.gov ↗

📶 Cell coverage camper-reported

Verizon3.3/4
AT&T3.0/4
T-Mobile3.0/4
Sprint retired3.2/4

💡 Insider tips from campers

❓ Dam East - McNair Campground FAQ

How do I reserve a campsite at Dam East - McNair Campground?

Dam East - McNair Campground in Illinois takes campsite reservations through Recreation.gov. On this page, use the “Book / check availability” button to open the live booking page, see which dates are free, and reserve your site.

How can I get a spot at Dam East - McNair Campground when it's fully booked?

Popular campgrounds like Dam East - McNair Campground often fill months ahead, but campers cancel every day and those sites reopen for booking. CampSage checks availability for you and sends a free email the instant a cancellation opens — set an alert on this page and you can grab the spot before anyone else.

How often do campsites open up at Dam East - McNair Campground?

CampSage's scans caught 26 openings at Dam East - McNair Campground over the last 30 days, on 25 separate days, most of them for stays 4–29 days out and the openings typically covered 2–3 nights. These are the openings our own scans saw — not a figure the booking system publishes. We re-check availability several times a day, so the real number can be higher.

Is Dam East - McNair Campground a good campground?

Dam East - McNair Campground holds an average rating of 4.5/5 from 402 camper ratings on Recreation.gov. The full star breakdown is shown above.

Is there cell service at Dam East - McNair Campground?

Of the carriers campers have reported on at Dam East - McNair Campground, Verizon rates highest at 3.3 out of 5 from 142 reports. See the carrier-by-carrier breakdown above — service can still vary by campsite, terrain, and weather.

Where is Dam East - McNair Campground located?

Dam East - McNair Campground is located in Carlyle Lake, Illinois. Tap “Directions” above for driving directions, or see nearby campgrounds lower on this page.

🔔 Get a free opening alert
We'll email you when a site opens at Dam East - McNair Campground.
🎯 Only these dates (optional): to
🌙 Minimum stay (Pro):
Skip the 1-night midweek openings — only hear about stays worth the drive.
👥 Group size (Pro):
Camping with a group? Only hear about openings with that many sites NEXT TO EACH OTHER on the same dates — consecutive numbers in one loop, not just that many free somewhere in the park.
🚫 Skip site types (Pro):


Works where the booking system publishes per-site types (rec.gov campgrounds).
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Explore

Campgrounds near Carlyle LakeNearby areas🚤 Lakeside campingSimilar campgrounds📖 Recreation.gov Booking Windows (2026)Booking guide📖 Campsite Cancellation Policies & RefundsBooking guide

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