About Mendota Hills Campground
Mendota Hills Campground covers 130 acres of woods and open fields along US 52 near Amboy, with about 200 sites ranging from rustic tent spots to full hookups on concrete. The Rogers family has run it since 2003 and is now in its third generation, and the campground marks more than 40 years of family camping.
Water is the draw. There are four small stocked lakes, and fishing is catch and release in the bass, bluegill and catfish lakes, with crappie, sunfish and albino catfish in the mix. The swimming lake has a sand beach, a 60-foot inflatable water slide and floating obstacles from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and rowboats are free to campers; check them out at the camp store, which provides vests and paddles.
Online reservations for 2026 covered April 24 through October 18. The campground schedules 26 themed weekends, plus hayrack rides and a frog-jumping contest. A 13-acre field holds basketball, gaga ball, sand volleyball, a playground, scheduled archery and a remote-control car track, and there are about 1.5 miles of nature trails. The Red Barn hosts weekly church services. Five rental campers and golf carts are available for people traveling light.
Non-campers can buy a weekday swim: in 2026 it was $5 for ages 12 and up, $3 for ages 3 to 11 and free for 2 and under. All Good Things, by Foster & Family, a lavender grower in the Amboy area, is a short drive away; check its social pages for open days.
What to do
- Swim at the sand beach with a 60-foot inflatable slide, Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend
- Borrow a paddleboard, canoe or rowboat for free
- Fish catch-and-release for bass, bluegill and catfish
- Walk about 1.5 miles of nature trails
- Try scheduled archery or the RC car track in the 13-acre field
- Join one of 26 themed weekends
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Camping April through October (2026 reservations April 24 to October 18); swimming Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend
- Hours
- Office Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri–Sat 9 a.m.–9 p.m. (posted on their website, 2026 season)
- Admission
- 2026: weekday public swim $5 ages 12+, $3 ages 3–11, free 2 and under; daily visitor of campers $5 (6 and under free)
Good to know
- Dogs
- Leashed
- Reservations
- Recommended
- Payment
- Cash, local checks and cards (card fee applies)
Tips for your visit
- Public swimming for non-campers is Monday through Friday only
- Dogs are not allowed on the beach or in buildings, but may swim in the ponds and run off leash in the large field
- Firewood cannot cross county lines; buy it at the camp store
- Each reservation takes a non-refundable $25 deposit that can be moved to another 2026 date
Pair it with a lavender farm
All Good Things, by Foster & Family · about 10 minutes away
Camp here for a summer weekend and add the nearby Amboy lavender farm once its open days are posted on its social pages.
Getting there
Questions
Can you swim without camping?
Yes, on weekdays. In 2026 a public swim was $5 for ages 12 and up and $3 for ages 3 to 11.
Are the boats extra?
No, paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and rowboats are free; check them out at the camp store.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes on a leash, except in the 13-acre field where they may be off leash. They are not allowed on the beach, in buildings or in rental campers.
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
