US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 143249470).
The red circle marks Lake Mendota.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official Wisconsin DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Fish species listed by the Wisconsin DNR (with DNR abundance rating): Panfish (abundant), Largemouth Bass (common), Smallmouth Bass (common), Northern Pike (common), Walleye (common), Catfish (common), Musky (present), Sturgeon (present).
Maximum depth and Average depth not published.
DNR lake class: Complex - Two Story
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lake Page for Lake Mendota (WBIC 805400); maximum depth and acreage from the DNR lake classification data. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 143249470), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Wisconsin DNR boat access sites. Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 16.4 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Lake Mendota shoreline, mostly along the south shore.
No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Lake Street Boat Ramp, right on a shoreline trail (Wisconsin DNR boat access data).
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 11 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Mendota, 2 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
RVs welcome · Tent sites · Showers · Drinking water
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Dump station · Wi-Fi
Electric hookups · Showers
Electric hookups · Showers
RVs welcome
All campgrounds & RV parks in Wisconsin
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (43.1102, -89.4117). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Mendota. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.
11 public access sites listed, 8 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor Nelson State Park Boat Landing | Westport | Gov. Nelson State Park | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.1302, -89.4335 |
| Lake Street Boat Ramp | Westport | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating | 43.0769, -89.3990 |
| Marshall Park Boat Ramp | Westport | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.0940, -89.4835 |
| Mendota County Park Boat Launch | Westport | Dane County Parks Division | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.1085, -89.4701 |
| Spring Harbor Park Boat Ramp | Westport | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating | 43.0810, -89.4700 |
| Tenney Park Boat Ramp | Westport | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Paved ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.0953, -89.3702 |
| Warner Park Boat Ramp | Westport | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.1251, -89.3765 |
| Willow Drive Boat Launch | Westport | Madison Parks Dept. | Boat ramp · Concrete ramp | — | — | Boating | 43.0803, -89.4250 |
| Governors Island | Westport | Mendota Mental Health | Carry-in (hand launch) | — | — | Boating | 43.1279, -89.4023 |
| Middleton Boat Ramp | Westport | Recreation Dept. | Carry-in (hand launch) | — | — | Boating Handicap accessible | 43.1041, -89.4833 |
| Veith Avenue Carry-In Access | Westport | Property Supervisor | Carry-in (hand launch) | — | — | Boating | 43.1371, -89.4093 |
Wisconsin DNR boat access sites
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
On OpenStreetMap: 6 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake Mendota not marked private, residents-only or members-only.
| Beach | Type | Access | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianola Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Warner Park Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| James Madison Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Spring Harbor Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Willow Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
| Beach (unnamed on OpenStreetMap) | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.
Reported on or near Lake Mendota
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database
USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.
Lake Mendota covers about 9,788 acres in Westport and Madison, Wisconsin (Dane County).
Wisconsin DNR Lake Pages lists Walleye, Musky, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Panfish, Catfish and Sturgeon.
Yes. 8 public trailer launches are listed: Marshall Park Boat Ramp, Tenney Park Boat Ramp and Willow Drive Boat Launch. Check posted fees and parking rules.
OpenStreetMap shows 6 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.
Yes. We list 11 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 2 of them within 5 miles.
Lake Mendota touches Westport and Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Know Lake Mendota? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Wisconsin lakes & ponds · All waters in Westport