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Preston R.
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GuideSouth of Sand Dunes State Forest
Got multiple spots to stop on the side of the road. Plenty of down wood to have a fire.
Camping near Mendota Heights, MN
119 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Mendota Heights is surrounded by several established campgrounds within easy driving distance, including Lebanon Hills Regional Park in nearby Eagan and Lake Elmo County Park Reserve to the northeast. The area features a mix of camping experiences, from full-hookup RV sites to more secluded tent camping areas. Campers can find accommodations ranging from basic tent sites to cabins at places like Afton State Park Campground and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. Most campgrounds in the region offer amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and access to hiking trails, with varying levels of services from primitive sites to fully developed facilities with showers and electrical hookups.
Seasonal availability varies significantly across the campgrounds, with most operating from spring through fall. Lebanon Hills Regional Park, a popular destination for local campers, operates from April 30 to October 12, while some facilities like Afton State Park and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park remain open year-round. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend stays during summer months when availability becomes limited. Many campgrounds in the area feature both drive-in and walk-in sites, accommodating different camping styles and equipment needs. "Lebanon Hills is a beautiful county park only a few minutes from Minneapolis / St. Paul. The sites are a good mix of private, and there's plenty to do with hiking, biking, and fishing available," noted one visitor.
The camping experience near Mendota Heights balances urban accessibility with natural settings. Several campers highlight the surprising seclusion available despite proximity to the Twin Cities. Lebanon Hills in particular receives consistent praise for offering private, wooded tent sites while maintaining convenient access to urban amenities. The east loop of Lebanon Hills provides more secluded experiences with sites spaced further apart and surrounded by trees, while the west loop offers full hookups for RVs with more open layouts. Wildlife sightings, including deer and turtles, are commonly reported at area campgrounds. Most locations provide access to water recreation opportunities through nearby lakes, though these may require short drives from the actual campgrounds. Campers often mention appreciating the balance of feeling removed from the city while remaining close enough for convenience.
Best Campgrounds near Mendota Heights (119)
1. Lebanon Hills Regional Park
"Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"
"We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. it has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps."
from $24 - $42 / night
Check Availability2. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve
"For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."
"Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families."
from $23 - $80 / night
Check Availability3. Afton State Park Campground
"Minnesota State Parks have just started to build Yurts for 3 campgrounds around the state; Afton, Cuyuna and Glendalough State Parks."
"It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees."
from $22 - $85 / night
Check Availability4. Willow River State Park Campground
"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
"Located 5 miles outside of Hudson, Willow Creek State Park is large park with hiking, camp sites, fishing, canoeing, and the waterfall."
from $25 - $90 / night
Check Availability5. St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park
"Minnesota is beautiful and there is so much to do here. The bathrooms are spotless and everything is new here."
"Washington County, which manages campgrounds at both the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St Croix Bluffs Regional Park, does a great job of maintaining campgrounds, trails, and bathroom facilities at both parks"
6. Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve
"Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was a our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation in 2017."
"The beaches are some of the best in Minnesota. The bike trails are nearby and plentiful."
from $25 - $120 / night
Check Availability7. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"It was very easy to find, close to the twin cities, and clean. There was good access to kindling for a fire in the nice fire pit that has a grill."
from $20 - $75 / night
Check Availability8. Town & Country Campground & RV Park
"It’s an easy on and off the interstate, super close to a gas station and RV wash bay. Also super close to some very large power lines. The kids enjoyed the compact playground and pool."
"Great spot close to attractions in the twin cities. The family friendly activities are perfect for families with younger kids, playground, swimming, crafts and games."
9. Dakotah Meadows RV Park
"The grass around the lots is very green, lush and well maintained. Campground is right next to the hotel/casino and very much within walking distance."
"Shuttle bus comes through the camp if you want to go to the casino and play- it’s also within walking distance."
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability10. Tony’s Backyard
from $45 - $60 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 12 min from Minneapolis, MN
- 1 hr 5 min from St. Cloud, MN
- 1 hr 8 min from Rochester, MN
- 1 hr 13 min from Mankato, MN
Recent Camping Photos near Mendota Heights, MN
271 Photos of 119 Mendota Heights Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Lake Elmo County Park Reserve
Town & Country Campground & RV Park
Cleary Lake Regional Park
Afton State Park Campground
St. Croix Bluffs Regional ParkD
Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park
Rice Creek Campgrounds
Champion Valley
Bunker Hills Regional Park
Willow River State Park CampgroundL
Minneapolis Southwest KOAC
Recent Reviews near Mendota Heights, MN
887 Reviews of 119 Mendota Heights Campgrounds
John G R.
ScoutFrontenac State Park Campground
Typical State Park
Electric back in site. No water. Well shaded adequate space
- DDawnScout
Peaceful Valley Campground
Hope you like your neighbor
We initially chose this location due to its proximity to Belle Plain and its reasonable pricing. The RV sites are relatively small and positioned quite close to one another. While they are long enough to accommodate a large camper, the proximity is such that one could nearly reach out and touch the neighboring vehicle, creating a sense of overcrowding. It appears that the capacity of the park is prioritized for revenue. Although we were informed about the suboptimal cell and WiFi service upon check-in, I believe the quality of service could be improved significantly by installing WiFi extenders to ensure reliable coverage throughout the area. Currently, even a passing truck or camper can disrupt the signal, forcing me to repeatedly reconnect in order to load pages or send messages. The bathrooms are satisfactory, and the shower was pleasant, providing consistent hot water for an enjoyable experience.
- AAnders H.Scout
Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve
First time
We stayed at Baker as a family for our first camping trip, and it was great. Fire pit with swivel grate for cooking, bathrooms, and plenty to explore.
WhiteBoyChaseScoutSandy Cove on the St. Croix River
Good spot
Back in 2020 I did about 3 months camping along here ! Good spot !
Tori K.
LegendLake Rebecca Park Reserve
Great Trails!
Great trails and close to home! Always a good spot for a last-minute trip for me or a place to test out new gear since it is so close to home!
Brett G.ScoutMinneapolis Southwest KOA
Basic KOA
Nice quiet campground. It's a very basic KOA. Not a whole lot of amenities. Large playground is quite good for children. Our site is right across from the campground.
Campsite is in the middle of nature. Lots of trees cover. Not much of a breeze but well protected.
Water is clean, electrical boxes are in good condition.
Gail G.GuideRiver Terrace Park
love the river views and shade
Needs alot of updates, old facility with no amenities. Shower water, barely warm, sign on mens bathroom says, bring your own toilet paper. For most part the park is quiet, shady, but again could use some improvements. There are 3 long pull-thru sites for overnight stops
Arden P.
TravelerLebanon Hills Regional Park
Nice, private stay!!
We stayed for a weekend in the East Loop and had such a nice time! They have many trails to a pretty well-kept bathroom and the sites themselves are private nooks in the trees. They had firewood available that we took advantage of, and we overall had a great time!
Guide to Mendota Heights
Camping sites near Mendota Heights, Minnesota offer a mix of natural experiences within 20-30 minutes of the Twin Cities metro area. Most public campgrounds in this region sit at elevations between 800-950 feet above sea level, creating rolling terrain with varying landscapes from prairie to woodland. Winter camping options remain limited with only three area campgrounds maintaining year-round operations, while peak season runs May through September.
What to do
Swimming in chlorinated natural pond: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve features an unusual swimming amenity. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," notes Timothy S. The park also offers an archery range and hiking trails.
Explore waterfall trails: Willow River State Park Campground across the Wisconsin border provides waterfall hiking opportunities. "Willow River falls is definitely a beautiful site to see. Definitely a place to camp if you like to be active and explore the trails. Winter, summer or fall!" shares Jessica B. The park features multiple trail systems of varying difficulty.
Kayaking on small lakes: Lebanon Hills Regional Park offers water recreation options. "Nice little lake to kayak on," mentions Chris S. The park rents single and double kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards for visitors without their own equipment.
Hiking through prairie and forest: Afton State Park provides varied terrain for hikers. "I hiked 11 miles here and it was awesome!" shares Mike K. Adam P. adds, "Terrific park. Lots of trails with a wide variety of landscapes. Prairie, forest, river, it's got it all."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park offers secluded camping spaces. "The site was large and flat with a nice fire pit. Thank you!" says Mackenzie G. Another camper adds, "Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either."
Tent camping near attractions: Afton State Park Campground provides rustic tent sites with privacy. "The hike to the campground is short and grueling. A few of the sites are in wooded areas, but we stayed in one of the prairie sites. The terrain is just hilly enough - and in August - the grass long enough to give the sites a sense of privacy and seclusion," reports Andrew C.
Full hookup RV options: Dakotah Meadows RV Park offers concrete camping pads with full utilities. "The sites are paved and have well-maintained grass," notes Chris F. Another camper explains, "Sites are 60+ feet, concrete and level. Each site has their own fire pit."
Clean facilities: Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve maintains high-quality amenities. "The bathrooms and showers are nice and clean, some of the best I've seen at a campground!" says Jennifer H. Bryan S. agrees: "The sites are good sized, and the bathroom/showers are great."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mendota Heights, MN?
What camping is available near Mendota Heights, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mendota Heights, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 119 campgrounds and RV parks near Mendota Heights, MN and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mendota Heights, MN?
Which is the most popular campground near Mendota Heights, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mendota Heights, MN is Lebanon Hills Regional Park with a 4.8-star rating from 45 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mendota Heights, MN?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mendota Heights, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Mendota Heights, MN.
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