McNair Campground on Carlyle Lake

Well we just could not take it any longer. We had to take the new camper out to one of our favorite local campsites. We decided on heading to McNair Campground located on the largest man-made lake in Illinois, Carlyle Lake. This lake is located approximately 1 hour from St. louis, MO. Just south of Interstate 70, West of Interstate 57, and North of Interstate 64 making it a perfect spot to stop for a few nights while in transit.

McNair Campground is one of five campgrounds we plan on covering this summer on Carlyle Lake. It offers 31 campsites. Most have water hookup and all have 30-amp and 50-amp service. The sites are fairly level and all of them are paved with a fire ring and picnic table. These sites are some of my favorite in Illinois. They are spaced out nicely and the campground is peaceful and quiet. What I like best is they are extremely affordable for what you get! Allowing for extended stays that are easy on the pocket.

If you are like us and have little ones with you, there is a well-maintained playground located on site. The playground has a clean picnic area right next to it that you can grill some food at, while watching the kids have a great time. There also is a beach that is right on the lake that allows swimming. Unfortunately, during our stay, it was still very early in the year and the beach was closed.

I recommend sites 16-19 as they have the playground right in the back of the sites. This allows the kids to run and play while you can stay at your site, enjoying from a distance. I do recommend booking in advance as these campsites book up quickly, especially on the weekends.

Enjoying Carlyle Lake

Carlyle lake is approximately 25,000 acres with a maximum depth of 35 ft. Average depth is only 11 ft deep. Be cautious if you decide to take a boat out on the water, with a slight wind the lake can become very dangerous with large waves that have been know to be very difficult to maneuver through. The lake is a great location to fish for a variety of fish including largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, white bass, sauger, channel catfish, and flathead catfish. If you are not into fishing the lake also offers a lot of opportunity for watersports or just relaxing on one of the many sandy shores.

If you plan on staying on the land, you will enjoy multiple beaches and 85 miles of perfect shoreline. It also hosts multiple campgrounds that offer a lot of amenities that we find very appealing. In the next few months I plan on covering all the campgrounds on the lake so you can decide on what one best fits your needs