Dam West Campground
Carlyle Lake · Illinois · 108 sites
Photos: US Army Corps of Engineers via Recreation.gov
Overview
Dam West Campground is a US Army Corps of Engineers campground in Carlyle Lake, Illinois, with 108 sites. Very shady: nearly every site is under trees. T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T report coverage at every site.
103 of 108 sites shaded
1 of 108 sites in full sun
11 of 108 sites with clear sky
Map of the campground
Every site from the Recreation.gov listing. Choose a layer to see it across the campground; tap a site to open it in Roam.
Layers
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Questions
Which sites at Dam West Campground are the shadiest?
Nearly all of them. 103 of 108 sites at Dam West Campground have good shade from the trees, including from the hot afternoon sun.
See the tree canopy in RoamWhich sites at Dam West Campground get the most sun?
Only a few. 1 of 108 sites is truly sunny and 7 more get some sun; the rest are shaded.
See the tree canopy in RoamWill Starlink work at Dam West Campground?
Only at a few. About 11 of 108 sites have a clear gap in the trees for Starlink and 22 a partial one; most sit under tall trees. Satellite texting on a phone needs less open sky, but still works best from the most open spot you can find. This is our estimate from tree heights — check with the Starlink app's obstruction check when you arrive.
See the tree canopy in RoamWhich sites at Dam West Campground are the most level?
57 of 108 sites are flat, and 37 more have a gentle slope most RVs can level with blocks; 14 are steeper, better for tents. Sites that take RVs or trailers fit rigs up to 79 ft.
See the slope at each site in RoamDoes Dam West Campground have cell service?
Yes. T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T all report coverage at every site at Dam West Campground. That's the coverage each carrier reports to the FCC, not a measured signal, so under trees or below a ridge it can be weaker.
See the coverage map in RoamWhat’s the weather like at Dam West Campground in October?
In October, expect highs around 69°F and lows around 46°F, with about 3.2 inches of rain over the month. Every month’s averages are in Roam Premium.
Open Dam West in RoamCampground facts
- Sites
- 108
- Kinds
- 108 for RVs or trailers
- Hookups
- 108 with electric
- Longest rig
- 79 ft
- Accessible
- 2 sites
- Elevation
- 451–461 ft
- Every site
- Picnic table · Fire ring · Pets allowed · Campfires allowed · Check-in 5 PM, check-out 4 PM
- Managed by
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov
How we know Sources and limits
Shade, sun and Starlink are our estimates from Meta and the World Resources Institute’s canopy-height model (about 2 m pixels, from satellite imagery calibrated with space lidar; CC BY 4.0). From 2 m above each site we trace 72 lines out to 60 m and note the tallest tree in each direction. Shade counts trees overhead, the canopy within 30 m and how much of the afternoon sky is blocked. Sun counts how open the southern sky is. Starlink needs open sky above 35°, with the northern half counted twice because US dishes tilt north, and we keep the best spot within 8 m of the site’s post. The model sees tree heights only, not trunks, buildings or hills, so check with the Starlink app when you arrive.
Slope is the ground at each site’s post over about 4 m, from USGS 3DEP 1 m lidar: level under 2%, gentle to 4% (most rigs level on blocks), sloped to 8% (fine for a tent), steep beyond.
Cell coverage is from the FCC Broadband Data Collection (carrier filings as downloaded May 2026): each site is tested against each carrier’s modelled outdoor 4G/5G coverage. It is what the carriers report, not a measured signal.
Weather is NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for the campground. Sites and facts are from Recreation.gov’s open data (July 2026). Map imagery: USGS The National Map. Photos: Recreation.gov.
From the campground’s Recreation.gov listing: “Dam West Campground contains 109 reservable campsites. It provides modern amenities and access to a marina and boat storage facility. The adjacent Dam West Spillway and Dam West Day Use Area offer additional recreational opportunities. Visitors can also walk or bike across the dam to the Dam East facilities and McNair Group Area. 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.”
Page data as of October 15, 2026. Full source notes are in each layer’s info in the app.