RV Rental Carlyle Lake, IL

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Sitting at 25,000 acres, Carlyle Lake is undoubtedly the largest lake in the state of Illinois. Situated just an hour east of St. Louis, MO, the lake is a very popular camping destination among the Illinois motorhome camping circles. The man-made Carlyle Lake was completed in 1967 as a result of damming the Kaskaskia River as a flood controlling measure. The lake is now a multi-use wonderland offering outdoor lovers with a multitude of fun activities to engage in. Search for an RV in Clinton County, and explore northwestern Illinois at your own pace.

Whether you’re an Indianapolis, IN resident going on vacation, or you’re a globetrotter traversing the good old Route 66, Carlyle Lake is one of the best places to camp in an RV when exploring the region. The lake is located within proximity to St. Louis while still being far enough for comfort. If you’re an avid hiker searching for the best trails and views, the Mark Twain Natural Forest, Shawnee Natural Forest, and Hoosier Natural Forest are all within a short drive. Get your hands on the finest Carlyle camper rental and make memories hopping from one campground to another.

Discover Carlyle Lake


Getting Outdoors

After renting an RV in Carlyle, an extensive list of activities await you at the Carlyle Lake. Fishing is the most popular activity here with channel catfish being the specialty. The lake also hosts a variety of other fish including flathead catfish, crappie, and white bass. Just ensure that you have a fishing license or any other permits you should need.

Carlyle Lake is home to four marinas and a couple of sailing clubs making it an obvious boating paradise. If that doesn’t seem impressive enough, the lake hosted the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival Sailing Competition. Don’t be left behind if you do not have a boat trailer in your campervan, as the marina’s rent out boats and kayaks.

Hunting is a popular past time activity at the Eldon Hazlet State Park. Depending on the sanctioned season, some of the animals you’re able to hunt are white-tailed deer, mourning doves, and pheasant.

Camping at Carlyle Lake

While prepping for your adventure RV camping at Carlyle Lake, get up to tabs with the various RV campgrounds in the area. That way, you’ll be able to avoid last-minute cancellations due to small things such as the park not being dog-friendly. If you’re all about access to the lake, the Boulder Recreational Area Campground might spark some interest within you.

When it comes to amenities for your RV rental, the RV Park is stacked. The back-in sites are equipped with electric, water, and sewer hookups complete with lake-waterfront access. The big-rig accessible campground also offers good mobile connectivity, laundry facilities, and showers. Pets are welcome, and there’s a playground for the little ones.

Coles Creek Campground is also located within the shores of Carlyle Lake. When camping with an RV here, some of the basic amenities to expect here are full hookups on the paved and leveled pull-thru sites. The lots are set far apart for maximum privacy, and campers get access to fire rings and large patio areas. As with most parks in the area, there is a playground and pets are allowed.

Exploring the Area

Before embarking on the next leg of your journey north to Springfield or south to Carbondale, be sure to extensively tour the city of St. Louis. If you’re a bucket list kind of person, the gateway arch is a must-see. While at the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of downtown St. Louis as well as the Mississippi River. To save time, bypass the ticket line by getting your tickets online.

Point your travel trailer towards the St. Louis Zoo, where you’ll soon find out why it was named best in the country by Parenting Magazine. The 90-acre zoo is home to more than 16,000 animals from 600 diverse species. Young kids will love the train ride around the park, and that will also save your feet from walking around the massive zoo. The best part of it all is that admission to the zoo is free.

The city has its fair share of museums but if you’ve got to choose one it has to be the City Museum. The artifacts here are bits and pieces of industrial and architectural objects which have been repurposed into a massive playground for kids and adults alike.

Pick up your travel trailer today and embark on an amazing outdoor adventure in Illinois with the family.

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Popular nearby hiking trails and campgrounds


  • Hiking TrailLocation
  • Little Prairie Nature Trail, ILCarlyle, IL
  • Chipmunk Trail, ILCarlyle, IL
  • Illini trail, ILCarlyle, IL
  • Carlyle Lake and Eldon Hazlet State Park Trail, ILCarlyle, IL
  • Silver Lake Boy Scout Trail, ILHighland, IL
  • Bryan Memorial Park Nature Trail, ILSalem, IL
  • Washington County State Recreation Area, ILNashville, IL
  • Julius J Knobeloch Woods Nature Preserve Loop, ILBelleville, IL
  • Devil's Prop, ILMount Vernon, IL
  • MCT School House Bike Trail, ILCollinsville, IL

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