Illinois
Vacation Information
Illinois Information Website
- Carlyle
Lake. 20,000 acres, Sailboating, Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with
and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary
Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel.
Visitor Information Center. Home of Eldon Hazlet State Park (on the southwestern
shoreline). Big on Sailing! 50 miles east of St. Louis on U.S. Route 50.
West Access Marina
- Cedar Lake.
10 H.P. Limit. Fishing. This 5 mile long lake features three main forks. Located
in the Shawnee National Forest along U.S. 51 6 miles south of Carbondale.
- Clinton
Lake. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply). Home of Clinton Lake and nearby Weldon Springs State
Parks. Located off I 74 at Farmer City.
- Crab Orchard
Lake. Unlimited H.P., Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric
hookup, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee
may apply). This 9 mile long lake features many coves and a campground that
sits on a fork of the lake just off S.R. 13. The Lake is located 5 miles east
of Carbondale at Illinois State Route 13.
- Devils Kitchen
Lake. 10 hp limit, Fishing. Known to be a great fishing spot. This 5 mile
long lake is located just 3 miles south of Crab Orchard Lake off Illinois
State Route 26 and 23 (south of 13).
- Lake of
Egypt. Unlimited H.P. Campsites without electric hookup, Restrooms, Drinking
Water, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply). A recreational site
sits on this 5 mile long lake and the lake itself features many coves along
with residential lots. Located near the intersection of I 57 and I 24 off
Illinois State Route 148 (east just a few miles).
- Fox Lake.
Fishing, Picnic/Day Use, Ramps (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. Fox
Lake lies on Fox River just outside and northwest of Chicago, a popular Chicagoland
boating spot. The lake is the largest of several lakes and is part of the
Chain-O-Lakes. Connected smaller lakes include Lake Catherine, Channel Lake,
Grass Lake located just north and east of the community of Fox Lake, Lake
Marie, Bluff Lake, Spring Lake and Petite Lake just south of Channel Lake,
Redhead and Brandenburg Lakes connected on the south shore and Pistakee Lake
on the southwest side leading to the Fox River. Farther south lies South RIverfront
Park and McHenry Shores Beach Park. The River flows south to the Illinois
River in Ottawa. Fox Lake is located just south of the Wisconsin border west
of Antioch off Illinois State Route 59 and 173.
- Kinkaid
Lake. 2700 acres. Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without
electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station,
Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply). Many coves and forks are
featured here and provide excellent fishing. The lake is restricted to smaller
craft and limited horsepower. 17 to 23 foot ski boats, Pontoons, and houseboats
are the mainstays of this small lake in southern Illinois. Fishing
highlights include bass, crappie, bluegill, and one of the southernmost spots
you'll find muskie. Bass minimum for a keeper is 18", muskie is 36".
The deepest part of the lake is approx. 80 feet, and the shallow ends are
around 12-15 feet deep. Several no-wake zones are available for tying
up and relaxing, as well as a 3 to 40-foot cliff for the more adventurous
divers. This 8 mile long lake is located in the Shawnee National Forest off
Illinois State Route 3 about 7 miles west of Murphysboro.
- Rend Lake.
19,000 Acres, Fishing, Swimming, Campsites with and without electric hookup,
Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use,
Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. Visitor Information Center.
Off I 57 at Benton.
Rend Lake Marina
- Lake Sarah.
27 miles of shoreline. Watersports, Fishing, Swimming, Campsites
with and without electric hookup, Showers, Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary
Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp (small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel.
Visitor Information Center. Located just west of Effingham.
- Lake Shelbyville.
11, 100 acres of water. Beach, Convention Facilities, Championship Golf Course,
Fishing, Swimming, Lakeside Campsites with and without electric hookup, Showers,
Restrooms, Drinking Water, Sanitary Dump Station, Picnic/Day Use, Launch Ramp
(small fee may apply), Marina, Fuel. Visitor Information Center. Besides the
two state parks, there are eleven Corps recreation areas. Six of those areas
are camping and day use, the others are day use only. Located 67 miles southwest
of Champaign, 31 miles south of Decatur.
- Lake Springfield.
Unlimited H.P. Fishing, Skiing, Swimming, Drinking Water, Restrooms, Picnic/Day
Use. Go to the South End of the Lake, past the Bridgeview Beach area and you
will find the local Party Cove where Boaters like to anchor and enjoy the
day. Occasionally you can find a pontoon boat with a live band playing. This
7.3 mile long lake is located in Springfield Illinois off Interstate 55.
- Little Grassy
Lake. 10 H.P. Limit, Camping without electric hookup, Fishing, Drinking
Water, Restrooms, Picnic/Day Use. Located on the east side of Grant City State
Park (which is on the far southwestern tip of the lake). Pine Ridge and Cedar
Point Camps lie off the eastern shoreline. This lake is known to have great
fishing. Located off Illinois State Route 12 and 24 southeast of Carbondale.
Illinois
Waterway Locks & Dams.
This connects
the Mississippi with the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway in Chicago. It forms
the Illinois River and runs to just north of St. Louis and is navigable through
locks from Lake Michigan. Here is a rundown of some of the features along the
river through the locks and dams.
- LaGrange.
Launch Ramp. Fuel available along the river.
- Peoria.
Launch Ramp. Fuel available along the river.
- Starved
Rock and Visitor Center. Restrooms, Drinking Water, Launch Ramp, Visitor
Information Center.
- Marseilles.
No information available on features available at this time.
- Dresdin
Island. Restrooms, Drinking Water, Launch Ramp, Visitor Information Center.
- Brandon
Rd. No information available on features available at this time.
- Lockport.
No information available on features available at this time.
- O'brien.
Restrooms, Drinking Water. In the Chicago Area. Off I 94 on East 130th Street.
Lakes
of the Illinois River include (north to south):
Ohio
River Locks & Dams. (502) 582-5736.
- Lock and
Dam # 52 and #53 are located on the southern tip of Illinois near I-24
and I-57. No features available at this time.
- Smithland
Lock & Dam. Restrooms, Drinking Water, Picnic / Day Use. Between Brookport
and Golconda. Smithland lock and dam is located between mile markers 918 and
919 on the Ohio River, just six miles from the mouth of the Cumberland River
- Mississippi
River Locks & Dams. See Mississippi River Page, (soon to be posted).
Information based
on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brochures and boaters information.
If you know of any other great spots in Illinois for boating (of all types),
or have more information, feel free to E-Mail us at Boating
America