The site is leased by the Department of Natural Resources from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , which built the 26,000-acre lake. It is named for a Carlyle attorney who organized the Kaskaskia Valley Association. Annually, more than 800,000 visitors come to the park to camp, boat, fish, hunt, picnic, birdwatch and to hike the 7.5 miles of trails in the park, or attend the sailboat regattas held almost every summer weekend. Whatever type of recreation you choose, it's probably offered at Carlyle Lake. Some of the Class A campsites are accessible to individuals in wheelchairs.
Many campers keep their boats in the protected coves that are located along the campground.
Three shower buildings are located in the campground, plus numerous privy toilets. Plenty of parking is available for vehicles and boat trailers. To register for a campsite see one of the campground hosts or a site security officer. Individual sites may be reserved for up to 14 days, and reserved sites must be claimed by 10 p.m. of the first day. Contact the park office for further information.