Beaver Dam State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(217) 854-8020
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Macoupin County, about 7 miles southwest of Carlinville, Beaver Dam State Park covers about 699 acres.
The official site lists about 8 miles of trails.
Fees and passes
Free: 'The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) does not charge an Entrance Fee to any state owned or operated land.' Camping, cabins and shelters are fee-based.
Statewide fee rule from Illinois's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)
There are 40 reservable campsites; all others are first-come, first-served.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
Reserve Your Campsite
The Beaver Dam State Park trailer camping area has electricity at each pad and a sanitary dump station. A shower building with flush toilets is located in the center of the trailer camping area. Water is available, but individual sites do not have water hookups. There are 40 reservable campsites; all others are first-come, first-served. Tent camping is in a separate area, with nearby restrooms and water. A designated area for youth-group camping, such as Boy or Girl Scouts, features restrooms, water, fire pads, and picnic tables. When youth groups plan to use the area, make a reservation using the ExploreMoreIL™ website.
All camping is situated in wooded areas with large oak and hickory trees, which provide shade throughout most of the day. Located next to the shower house is a rent-a-cabin, available for reservation. The Rent-A-Cabin and many campsites are available for reservation using the ExploreMoreIL™ website. The park does not rent tents.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
Hiking Trails
Approximately 8 miles of hiking trails within Beaver Dam State Park encircle the lake, lead past the marsh, and extend through various wooded areas in the park. Map1 Map2
Boating and paddling
Boating
Beaver Dam: Boat ramp for public access to the lake. Trolling motor only. Dock next to the ramp to load and launch boats, kayaks, and canoes. Onsite boat, kayak, and paddle boat rentals are handled by the concession stand, the Beaver Dam Café, 217-854-0046.
Fishing
Fishing
Beaver Dam State Park’s 59-acre lake, which has a maximum depth of 10 feet and 1.7 miles of shoreline, is a great fishing destination. Over the years, the lake has been stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and channel catfish. A free boat launch and docks are available for public use. No gasoline engines are allowed, only electric trolling motors. Check the information kiosk display for daily catch and size limits.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Park or camp store
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Accessibility at Beaver Dam:
•
Parking - Parking lots are asphalt with a 30 -yarddistance to the concrete sidewalk.
•
Restrooms - Accessible vault toilets are available throughout the park. Flush toilets are available in the campground.
•
Camping - Campsites 27H and 28H are designated ADA with wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and grills. These campsites can be reserved online through ExploreMoreIL™. The campground also has accessible showers and toilets available.
•
Fishing - The park offers wheelchair-accessible fishing docks at the boat launch area and the concession/bait shop area. There is a 10-yard distance from the parking area to the docks using the concrete sidewalk.
•
Hunting - Accessible archery deer hunting is available upon request from October 1 to December 31 of each year. Please call 217-854-8020 for more information.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 14548 Beaver Dam Lane
Plainview, IL 62685 - Nearest town
- Carlinville — about 7 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.2090, -89.9740
- Phone
- (217) 854-8020
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Illinois State Parks (IDNR state parks and recreation areas) — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- IDNR All Parks list (AEM content-fragment list JSON) + each unit's landing page for official title, coordinates, address, phone
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology