Coles Creek Campground

Photo · USACE

Not publishedStatus

ReservableAccess

148Sites

115 ftMax rig

The place

Coles Creek Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Carlyle Lake, a prime getaway for city-dwellers and families. Located 50 miles east of St. Louis and a few miles from the town of Carlyle, the area offers the peaceful retreat of a small town combined with the grandeur of Illinois' largest man-made lake. Recreation Coles Creek Campground 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. Keep reading

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 are multiple playgrounds on-site, as well as a swimming beach and an amphitheater for educational programs. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located a short drive away at the dam. Facilities Coles Creek Campground offers 119 campsites and two group camping areas. Each campsite comes eqipped with electric hookups and provides a picnic area with picnic table and fire pit. All sites are either directly on the shoreline or a short walk to the lake. Modern amenities like showers and flush toilets are provided. The campground is adjacent to the Coles Creek Day Use Area which features a reservable picnic shelter, as well as a designated swimming beach with its own shower facility. 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 The 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 Between 05/02/2025 and 09/27/2025 this location is staffed. Please call (618) 228-2197 to speak with local staff. From 09/28/2025 to 05/01/2026 this location is unstaffed. Please call (618) 594-2484 for general information. Charges & Cancellations Camping No Show - Camping no-show customers who do not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by check out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date will be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit their reservation. If the no-show service fee is greater than the reservation amount, the customer will not be charged any additional service fees. Cancellations - A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

The sites · 148

Loop	Site	Type	Max rig	Electric	ADA
Coles Creek Group Camping Area A	Group Camping Area A	management	80 ft	20/30/50
Coles Creek Group Camping Area B	Group Camping Area B	management	72 ft	20/30/50
L1	001	standard electric	40 ft	20/30/50
L1	002	standard electric	83 ft	20/30/50
L1	003	standard electric	40 ft	20/30/50
L1	004	standard electric	78 ft	20/30/50
L1	005	standard electric	82 ft	20/30/50
L1	006	standard electric	75 ft	20/30/50
L1	007	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L1	008	standard electric	70 ft	20/30/50
L1	009	management	90 ft	20/30/50
L1	010	standard electric	90 ft	20/30/50
L1	011	standard electric	84 ft	20/30/50
L1	012	standard electric	100 ft	20/30/50
L1	013	standard electric	80 ft	20/30/50
L1	014	standard electric	77 ft	20/30/50
L1	015	standard electric	67 ft	20/30/50
L1	016	standard electric	100 ft	20/30/50
L1	017	standard electric	76 ft	20/30/50
L1	018	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L1	019	standard electric	80 ft	20/30/50
L1	020	standard electric	80 ft	20/30/50
L1	021	standard electric	83 ft	20/30/50
L1	022	standard electric	95 ft	20/30/50
L1	023	standard electric	83 ft	20/30/50
L1	024	standard electric	85 ft	20/30/50
L1	025	standard electric	115 ft	20/30/50	yes
L1	026	standard electric	95 ft	20/30/50
L1	027	standard electric	78 ft	20/30/50
L1	028	standard electric	83 ft	20/30/50
L1	029	standard electric	82 ft	20/30/50
L1	030	standard electric	80 ft	20/30/50
L1	031	standard electric	43 ft	20/30/50
L1	032	standard electric	73 ft	20/30/50
L1	033	standard electric	90 ft	20/30/50
L1	034	standard electric	100 ft	20/30/50
L1	035	standard electric	85 ft	20/30/50
L2	036	standard electric	64 ft	20/30/50
L2	037	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L2	038	standard electric	50 ft	20/30/50
L2	039	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L2	040	standard electric	80 ft	20/30/50
L2	041	standard electric	50 ft	20/30/50
L2	043	standard electric	60 ft	20/30/50
L2	044	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L2	045	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L2	046	standard electric	64 ft	20/30/50
L2	047	standard electric	64 ft	20/30/50
L2	048	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L2	049	standard electric	50 ft	20/30/50
L2	050	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L2	051	standard electric	72 ft	20/30/50
L2	052	standard electric	60 ft	20/30/50
L2	053	standard electric	60 ft	20/30/50
L3	054	standard electric	65 ft	20/30/50
L3	055	standard electric	70 ft	20/30/50
L3	056	standard electric	66 ft	20/30/50
L3	057	standard electric	70 ft	20/30/50
L3	058	standard electric	67 ft	20/30/50
L3	059	standard electric	68 ft	20/30/50

SHOWING 60 OF 148 SITES

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

SRC · Rules verified against recreation.gov · 2026-08-24

Your representative

This campground sits in IL-12. This member’s public-lands record →

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