Beaver Dam State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Beaver Dam State Park is a wonder boasting an unrivaled location, perched on the edge of the rolling hills that make up the picturesque Macoupin County in Illinois. Visitors can expect a humid continental climate, with hot and humid summers and cold winters. If you are a nature enthusiast, you can explore the great outdoors with over 750 acres of rugged terrain that provide breathtaking views and endless adventure. The park's network of trails takes hikers through lush forests, across babbling brooks, and along soaring bluffs. Visitors can also marvel at the park's signature feature, a 56.6-acre artificial lake that offers fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities. Nearest cities: • Carlinville, IL • Medora, IL • East Gillespie, IL • Shipman, IL
Spring 32 F - 74 F
Summer 62 F - 86 F
Fall 33 F - 79 F
Winter 19 F - 41 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Beaver Dam State Park
Beaver Dam State Park Campground • Water hookup: No • Electrical hookup: Yes • Sewer hookup: No • Wi-Fi: No • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: 26 feet • Other amenities: Dump station Country Bend Campground • Water hookup: Yes • Electrical hookup: Yes • Sewer hookup: Yes • Wi-Fi: Yes • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: 66 feet • Other amenities: Dump station Double J Campground • Water hookup: Yes • Electrical hookup: Yes • Sewer hookup: Yes • Wi-Fi: Yes • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: 80 feet • Other amenities: Swimming pool, giant outdoor checkerboard, and playground
Beaver Dam State Park Campground
The Beaver Dam State Park Campground offers 66 RV campsites, 40 of which are reservable. Though the RV sites do not include water or sewer hookups, electric hookups of 15/20/30/50 amps are available. Flush toilets, showers, and a restaurant are available as extra amenities. Beaver Dam State Park is centered around the 59-acre lake stocked with channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, and redear sunfish. Hiking and biking trails run throughout the park. An archery range brings a lot of visitors to the park while others come to observe the wildlife.
Water Hookup: No
Electric Hookup: 15/20/30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: No; a dump station is on-site
Wi-Fi Available: No
Pet Friendly: Yes
Fee: $10-$30 per night
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
Country Bend Campground
Country Bend Campground is an RV campground that is only 40 minutes away from Beaver Dam State Park. At this facility, campers find four ponds full of fish, a temperature-controlled bathhouse, and a coin-operated laundry. Activity facilities include a basketball court, sand volleyball court, baseball field, horseshoe pits, and much more.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes; a dump station is available for RVs not in the full-hookup sites
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes
Fee: $35-$40 per night
Office hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Double J Campground
Located within 40 miles of Beaver Dam State Park is Double J Campground. The campground offers 120 full hookups in pull-through sites. The park is one of the older ones in the area. Shade trees have grown tall over the years while facility improvements have kept up with changing times. The office includes a convenience store, swimming pool, playground, and giant outdoor checkerboard.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes
Fee: $50 per night
Office hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
What to Do at
Beaver Dam State Park
Beaver Dam State Park is perfect for boating enthusiasts, as a vast lake offers plenty of space to sail, fish, or enjoy the serene surroundings. You can take advantage of the abundance of hiking trails by trekking through lush forests, babbling brooks, and across the gently rolling hills.
Inside Beaver Dam State Park
Beaver Dam State Park is considered a fishing park augmented with activities to interest campers of all ages. Hiking and biking trails loop around the lake as well as through wooded and clear areas. A boat ramp allows you to launch onto the lake to fish, or you can indulge the children and fish from the safety of a pier. An archery area, horseshoe pit, ball field, and picnic areas are included in the park. A clubhouse with a temperature-controlled bathhouse provides that extra bit of comfort that all campers crave.
Fishing
The park has a beautiful and well-maintained lake and streams home to various fish species, including bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, and more. One of the most popular fishing spots in the park is Beaver Lake, a picturesque body of water that spans over 50 acres and is known for its abundance of largemouth bass. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocked the lake regularly, ensuring that visitors have a great chance of catching fish at any time of year.
Nature Watching
You may spot majestic bald eagles soaring overhead or glimpse a shy white-tailed deer foraging in the underbrush. The park's wetlands are home to many bird species, including great blue herons, sandhill cranes, and red-tailed hawks. If you love amphibians and reptiles, the park's ponds and streams boast a variety of species, including green frogs, painted turtles, and northern water snakes.
Flora and Fauna
Beaver Dam State Park is known for its expansive oak-hickory forest stands with various oak species, including northern red, white, and black oaks. These forests are home to an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants, such as spicebush, and witch hazel, and wildflowers like goldenrod and trillium. You will also find mammals, including white-tailed deer, raccoons, and coyotes. During the fall, migratory species such as warblers, thrushes, and sparrows pass through the park on their way south.
Hiking
One of the most popular hiking trails in Beaver Dam State Park is the Lake Trail, which circles the lake and offers stunning views of the shimmering water and the surrounding wilderness. This trail is relatively easy and perfect for families with children or beginners. The lake is also an excellent spot for fishing, so hikers can take a break and indulge in some angling while enjoying the natural scenery.
Boating
Boating enthusiasts will be delighted to find that this park boasts a free boat launch and dock, providing easy access to the serene waters of Beaver Dam Lake. Visitors are prohibited from using gasoline engines on the lake, guaranteeing a peaceful and environmentally friendly experience.
Biking
One of the most popular biking routes is the 1.7-mile loop trail, which offers breathtaking views of the park's lake. Bikers of all levels can also take advantage of the park's numerous scenic routes that provide views of local wildlife, such as deer, foxes, and rabbits. These routes suit families with children and novice bikers who want to enjoy a leisurely ride along the park's picturesque areas.
How to Get to
Beaver Dam State Park
Drive south on I-55 from Springfield for about 35 miles and take exit 60 toward IL-108. Drive west on IL-108 for 13 miles and turn left onto Alton Road and Shipman Road. You will continue on this road for seven miles to turn right onto Beaver Dam Lane to find the parking lot about a mile down the lane.
Entering Beaver Dam State Park
With over 40 asphalt parking spots throughout the park, you can easily find a place to park your RV closest to your desired destination. The parking lots have been thoughtfully designed to provide easy access to the concrete sidewalk, only 30 yards away. There are no entry fees charged at the park.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beaver Dam State Park
If you love hiking and sightseeing, spring or fall would be the perfect time to visit. However, if you prefer water-related activities, summer can be an ideal time to visit, as the warmer temperatures allow swimming, boating, and fishing.
Beaver Dam State Park is home to wildlife species such as bobcats, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, rabbits, deer, and various bird species. The park's ecosystem is also home to different plant species that provide habitat and food for these animals.
Yes. The park offers hookup sites for RVs, with power connections and a dump station.
There are 40 sites at the park that you can reserve, while the other 26 are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping fees range from $10 to $30 per night.
Beaver Dam State Park is pet-friendly, but the pets must be kept on a leash and under the owner's control. You are also required to clean up after your pets.
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