RECREATION

Lakes & Marinas

• The Vandalia Lake and Marina
  Located four miles northwest of Vandalia
  618-283-2728
  Open Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend, this 660 acre lake has 12 miles of shoreline and features fantastic fishing opportunities, with large mouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill. The Vandalia Sport Fishing and Conservation Club holds several fishing tournaments each year on the lake. Other activities that can be enjoyed include picnicing, camping, boating and swimming. The marina, boat dock, campground and beach are accessed off Route 185. The marina offers boaters licenses as well as gasoline, snacks, fishing supplies and bait.  more...

Recreation Areas

• Kaskaskia River
  Located alongside the city of Vandalia
  This large tributary of the Mississippi River, named after the Native American tribe that once lived in the area, stretches 292 miles through southwestern Illinois. A quiet winding stream, it offers fantastic fishing, boating and canoeing. A boat ramp is available just south of the Route. 51 Kaskaskia River Bridge.  more...

• Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area
  Ramsey Lake Road • Vandalia, IL 62080
  Located one mile north of Ramsey, IL
  618-423-2215
  Enjoy picnicking, hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, and horseback riding in this beautiful recreation area with rolling hills, picturesque woods, and a timbered shoreline. There are secluded picnic areas, a one-mile trail that winds through the park, and a 13-mile horse trail, in the northern end of the area, complete with a small campground for horses. A variety of camp sites are available including an area with a sanitary disposal station, electricity, and a flush toilet and shower building; sites with only picnic tables, fire pads and privies; and group camping sites. Reservations are available for portions of the campgrounds. A launching ramp and boat dock give access to Lake Ramsey, although only boats with electric trolling motors are permitted. Boats are also available for rental, and fishing supplies are available at the concession stand. Fisherman will enjoy catching largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish and black crappie.  more...  map

Bowling

• Vandalia Bowl
  2605 Veterans Avenue • Vandalia, IL 62471
  618-283-9294
  Enjoy bowling with your family or friends at this popular local spot.  map

Golf

• Indian Springs Golf Club
  21347 Illinois Rural Route 185 • Vandalia, IL 62032
  Located in Fillmore, IL
  217-538-2392
  Set in a rural area this 18 hole golf course offers plenty of challenges for golfers of all abilities. It features medium-sized, undulating and fast, bent grass greens, Bluegrass fairways, and several elevation changes throughout the course, making accuracy a must. Water hazards come into play on eight holes. A clubhouse is on-site. more...

• Ramsey Lake Golf Course
  Ramsey Lake Road • Vandalia, IL 62080
  Located in Ramsey, IL
  618-423-2261
  Easy to walk because of its flat terrain, this excellent nine hole course is a great play for golfers of all levels, but especially for beginners. It features bent grass greens, along with Bluegrass fairways with mature trees lining them, and generous landing areas. Water hazards and sand bunkers also come into play.  more...  map

• St. Elmo Golf Club
  Route 2 • St. Elmo, IL 62458
  618-829-3390
  This scenic nine hole golf course is set in a wooded area and features large Bermuda grass greens and very narrow bent grass fairways. These factors combined with water hazards that come into play on three holes, makes this a tough course to play.  more...  map

• Twin Oaks Golf Club
  21916 State Route 127 • Vandalia, IL 62246
  Located in Greenville, IL
  618-749-5611
  This small nine hole golf course is a family owned, semi-private course. It features nine well maintained holes with bent grass greens and fairways. Surrounded by Carlyle Lake this very scenic course is situated on rolling hills, with many uneven lies. more...  map

• Vandalia Country Club
  1110 South Eighth Street • Vandalia, IL 62471
  618-283-1365
  This private golf course offers nine holes of golf with bent grass greens and bluegrass fairways. There are many trees lining the plush fairways, and the large greens are fast, making this well-maintained course very challenging. A lake also comes into play on one hole. A Friday night twilight rate is available during the peak season after 5 PM. There are additional sets of tees that can be used when playing an eighteen hole round.  more...  map

Hunting

• Kecks Marsh
  RR 2 Box 189 • Vandalia, IL 62471
  618-425-3740
  Hunt doves, quail, pheasants, ducks, geese, and turkies at Keck's Marsh. Guides with top quality dogs are available, or bring your own dog. You can also bowhunt deer on this property. Accomodations are in the Clubhouse, and include meals.  more...  map

Swimming

• Vandalia Public Swimming Pool
  1001 West Fillmore Street • Vandalia, IL 62471
  618-283-4211
  Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, this public pool provides a cool haven on hot summer days. Pool activities include swimming lessons, lifeguard training, aqua aerobics, parent-tot swimming and Wednesday morning free swimming. The pool is open to the public Monday - Friday and Sunday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm and 6:00pm - 9:00pm, while Saturday hours are 1:00pm - 5:00pm only. The Wednesday morning free swim is from 9:00am - 12:00 noon.  more...  map

Miscellaneous Activities

• Archway Skydiving Center
  1 Vandalia Airport • Vandalia, IL 62471
  Located at the Vandalia Airport
  618-283-4973
  Experience the thrills of human flight at Archway Skydiving Center. It offers over 36 years experience, with the highest quality USPA rated instructors, new student equipment, the best facilities, the fastest jump airplane in the area, and the largest and least obstructed landing area. Most of the instructors have over 1,000 jumps, while the equipment is constantly being updated. Archway Skydiving Center is open year round, with jumps every weekend, as well as weekdays, during the summer months, by appointment.  more...  map