Campgrounds and RV parks near Damiansville, IL

Carlyle Lake is the primary draw. Eldon Hazlet State Recreational Area attracts visitors for camping, boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking, birdwatching, and hiking on more than 9 miles of trails. More than 30 species of fish occur at the lake, including white bass, channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, carp and buffalo. Sailboat regattas run on summer weekends, and a public swimming pool with a zero-entry design operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day near the Illini Campground. At Washington County State Recreation Area, a trail circles the lake, and fishing piers and boat ramps are open to campers, with an accessible fishing pier and dock at Dean's Point. Kaskaskia River Camping & RV Park suits travelers who want river-front sites, a marina next door, and easy access to New Athens restaurants such as Bullpen Bar & Grill and Village Pizza & Deli.

The primary camping season across the region runs from spring through late fall. At Washington County State Recreation Area, the shower building is open April 1 through October 31, and the on-site store operates on the same schedule. Sites remain available outside those months, but potable water and full amenities scale back once freezing weather sets in. At Kaskaskia River Camping & RV Park, the park is generally open year-round, but water is shut off in the cold months, so off-season stays require a self-contained rig. The riverside location can also close temporarily during Kaskaskia River flooding, which is most common in spring after heavy rain. Summer weekends fill fast at Eldon Hazlet State Recreational Area, especially when regattas are scheduled on Carlyle Lake. Fall offers cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and lighter crowds, though a controlled pheasant hunting program at Eldon Hazlet typically runs from early November into early January, Wednesday through Sunday, and closes portions of the site to other uses.

Eldon Hazlet State Recreational Area is a large, family-oriented campground. The Illini Campground has 328 Class A campsites with 30 and 50 amp electrical hookups, 36 Class C campsites for walk-in tent camping, and seven Class A campsites that are wheelchair accessible. A campground store, three shower buildings, a dump station at the entrance, and a public swimming pool are located at the campground. Washington County State Recreation Area is smaller and quieter. Shady Rest - Washington County State Recreation Area provides RV sites with 30 amp electrical hookups and is the more developed loop, while Lonely Oaks - Washington County State Recreation Area serves campers without hookups. Most sites include a picnic table and fire ring, and a potable water fill and dump station are available at the campground entrance. Kaskaskia River Camping & RV Park is a compact, level, gravel-site park directly on the river with full hookups and basic restroom facilities.