Openings · last 7 days
47
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 47 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233786
When Dam East - McNair Campground reopens
Dam East - McNair Campground's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
88
Openings · last 90 days
97
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dNo strong weekday pattern is evident in the openings Campsite Sniper has detected: 97 openings spread across the week.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 04:00 and 19:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 39 of 97 detected openings (40.2%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Central Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 15 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 6–29 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | 11 | 11.3% |
| 19 | 11 | 11.3% |
| 8 | 9 | 9.3% |
| 21 | 8 | 8.2% |
| 9 | 7 | 7.2% |
Site 37 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 11. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026 · of 47 monitored sites
Of the 4,935 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026): 1,630 open for online reservation · 1,353 reserved · 1,952 closed.
Where the open windows are
67% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 1,630 of 4,935 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026Not open online67%
Open site-nights1,630 / 4,935
Reserved (of online inventory)1,353 / 2,983
Weekday openings1,131
Weekend openings499
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 1,131 fall on weekdays and 499 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Dec 2026October holds the most room. 604 of 1,457 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 47 sites| 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 | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 9 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 9 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 9 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 15 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 15 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 15 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: 8 sites are available for the complete three-night stay. Christmas: 15 sites are available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 15 of 47 sites open on Thursday.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 46 | 80 |
| 33 | 78 |
| 36 | 78 |
| 35 | 77 |
| 44 | 76 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateFri · Sep 18
Next open weekendFri · Sep 18
The next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
1,630 open site-nights across 46 sites at Dam East - McNair Campground, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 227 2-night, 208 3-night, 35 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 18 at site C.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 117 ft. 46 sites take 25 ft, 46 sites take 35 ft, 46 sites take 40 ft. 1 site of 47 has no recorded maximum and is not counted.
All 46 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 60 ft | Yes | 80 | 40 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12 +68 more |
| 33 | 60 ft | Yes | 78 | 47 nights | Sep 20, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 12 +66 more |
| 36 | 60 ft | Yes | 78 | 61 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14 +66 more |
| 35 | 60 ft | Yes | 77 | 33 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 11 +65 more |
| 44 | 60 ft | Yes | 76 | 40 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +64 more |
| 40 | 60 ft | Yes | 75 | 33 nights | Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 25 +63 more |
| 43 | 60 ft | Yes | 75 | 40 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13 +63 more |
| 47 | 50 ft | Yes | 75 | 33 nights | Sep 24, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 18, Oct 19 +63 more |
| 39 | 55 ft | Yes | 73 | 61 nights | Sep 20, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13 +61 more |
| 41 | 55 ft | Yes | 66 | 33 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14 +54 more |
| 34 | 60 ft | Yes | 64 | 33 nights | Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 25, Oct 26, Oct 27 +52 more |
| 37 | 60 ft | Yes | 64 | 34 nights | Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 25, Oct 27, Oct 28, Oct 29 +52 more |
| 45 | 60 ft | Yes | 63 | 40 nights | Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 15, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 22, Oct 25, Oct 26, Oct 27 +51 more |
| 38 | 60 ft | Yes | 60 | 33 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21 +48 more |
| 42 | 60 ft | Yes | 59 | 38 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +47 more |
| 28 | 58 ft | Yes | 31 | 7 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4 +19 more |
| 4 | 65 ft | Yes | 29 | 7 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +17 more |
| 29 | 60 ft | Yes | 28 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +16 more |
| C | Not recorded | Yes | 26 | 6 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +14 more |
| 1 | 75 ft | Yes | 25 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 11 +13 more |
| 6 | 83 ft | Yes | 25 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +13 more |
| 27 | 57 ft | Yes | 24 | 6 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5 +12 more |
| 31 | 73 ft | Yes | 23 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +11 more |
| 25 | 65 ft | Yes | 22 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6 +10 more |
| 9 | 75 ft | Yes | 22 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14 +10 more |
| 2 | 72 ft | Yes | 21 | 7 nights | Sep 21, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 7, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 19, Oct 20 +9 more |
| 23 | 64 ft | Yes | 21 | 6 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13 +9 more |
| 11 | 80 ft | Yes | 19 | 5 nights | Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 19 +7 more |
| 22 | 61 ft | Yes | 19 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 11, Oct 12 +7 more |
| 20 | 70 ft | Yes | 18 | 5 nights | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 18, Oct 19 +6 more |
| 24 | 97 ft | Yes | 18 | 6 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 22 +6 more |
| 5 | 61 ft | Yes | 18 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20 +6 more |
| 15 | 81 ft | Yes | 17 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 18 +5 more |
| 30 | 73 ft | Yes | 17 | 6 nights | Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21, Oct 26 +5 more |
| 8 | 88 ft | Yes | 17 | 5 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 8 +5 more |
| 18 | 75 ft | Yes | 16 | 4 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 11, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20 +4 more |
| 10 | 85 ft | Yes | 15 | 5 nights | Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 18, Oct 19 +3 more |
| 12 | 80 ft | Yes | 14 | 7 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 3, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 25, Oct 26, Oct 27, Oct 28, Oct 29 +2 more |
| 14 | 70 ft | Yes | 14 | 5 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20 +2 more |
| 19 | 65 ft | Yes | 14 | 4 nights | Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 14, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20 +2 more |
| 3 | 63 ft | Yes | 13 | 4 nights | Sep 23, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 14, Oct 15, Oct 18, Oct 19, Oct 20, Oct 21 +1 more |
| 17 | 95 ft | Yes | 10 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 7, Oct 12, Oct 13 |
| 13 | 81 ft | Yes | 9 | 5 nights | Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 31 |
| 26 | 100 ft | Yes | 8 | 3 nights | Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 7, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 18 |
| 21 | 70 ft | Yes | 7 | 3 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 31 |
| 7 | 83 ft | Yes | 7 | 4 nights | Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 25, Oct 26, Oct 27, Oct 28 |
About Dam East - McNair Campground
Overview
Dam East-McNair Campground is situated on the southern 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. Boat ramps and courtesy docks are located nearby, and the vast lake allows for plenty of water sports. 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. A multi-use biking and walking trail is located a short distance away at the dam.
Facilities
Dam East-McNair Campground has one reservable group picnic shelter that can accommodate up to 80 people, as well as 47 individual campsites (1-32 located within the North and South loops of the campground, 33-47 located within the East Spillway loop below the main dam) that are available to reserve from the current day up to six months in advance. The facility also provides a swimming beach, bathhouses and laundry facilities. McNair has a nature trail and a multi-use trail, and is connected to the Dam East facilities.
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.
47 monitored sitesRVs up to 117 ft47 with hookups47 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 80
Getting there
From I-57, take Old U.S. Highway 50 west for 22 miles to the Dam East Entrance road. Turn north and continue through the four-way intersection to the McNair Group Area.
801 Lake Road, Carlyle, IL 62231618-594-5253
BikingBoatingCampingFishingHikingSwimming SiteWater SportsWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233786 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233786 · Dam East - McNair Campground · Carlyle IL12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Dam East - McNair Campground?
Reservations for Dam East - McNair Campground are made through Recreation.gov. 1,630 of 4,935 tracked site-nights are currently open (33%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 97 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. 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.
How often do new openings appear at Dam East - McNair Campground?
Campsite Sniper detected 47 site-date openings at Dam East - McNair Campground in the last 7 days, 88 over 30 days and 97 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Dam East - McNair Campground?
208 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 18 at site C. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Dam East - McNair Campground fit a 35-foot RV?
46 of the 47 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 117 ft. 46 of those 47 sites have a recorded maximum length and 1 does not; it is not counted as fitting.
Which month has the most availability at Dam East - McNair Campground?
October 2026, with 604 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 1,457.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Dam East - McNair Campground?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 15 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 6-29 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Dam East - McNair Campground?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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