No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Lotus Group Area continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 9 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 26, 2026): 4 open for online reservation · 5 reserved.
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 26, 2026Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 3 fall on weekdays and 1 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026September holds the most room. 4 of 9 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 4 |
This site currently has 4 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable night is Sep 20. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
Multi-night stays. 1 2-night, 1 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 20 at site 001.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 35 ft. 1 site takes 25 ft, 1 site takes 35 ft.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 35 ft | Yes | 4 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23 |
About Lotus Group Area
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.
Getting there
From I-57, take Old U.S. Highway 50 west for 19 miles, through Salem, Odin and Sandoval. Turn north on Boulder Road/2400E. After 4 miles turn east on 1700N and continue until the road connects with 2400E. Continue south and turn right just before reaching the Coles Creek entrance road. Proceed north to Lotus Group Area.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Lotus Group Area?
Reservations for Lotus Group Area are made through Recreation.gov. 4 of 9 tracked site-nights are currently open (44.4%). Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Lotus Group Area?
1 three-night opening is showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 20 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Lotus Group Area fit a 35-foot RV?
1 of the 1 site that support RV analysis has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 35 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Lotus Group Area?
September 2026, with 4 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 9.
When is the next open date at Lotus Group Area?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Sep 20. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
We run paced availability checks for Lotus Group Area. One watch covers every matching site.
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.