Baraboo, Wisconsin sits in the Baraboo Range along the south edge of Sauk County, about 12 miles south of Wisconsin Dells. The town of roughly 12,000 people grew up around the circus trade (Ringling Bros. launched here in 1884), and these days it pulls visitors for a different set of reasons: Devil’s Lake State Park, the International Crane Foundation, Circus World Museum, and one of the best stretches of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in the state.
For campers, Baraboo offers serious outdoor recreation and small-town convenience in the same trip. Devil’s Lake draws over 3 million visitors a year, which makes it the most-visited state park in Wisconsin. The Dells waterparks are a short drive north. And the downtown square has enough restaurants, breweries, and shops to keep a rainy day interesting.
Here’s what you need to know about campgrounds near Baraboo, WI: where to stay, what to expect, and how to plan your trip.
Why Baraboo Is a Top Camping Destination in Wisconsin
Devil's Lake State Park
Devil’s Lake is the anchor. The 9,000-acre park wraps around a 360-acre spring-fed lake framed by 500-foot quartzite bluffs. Hiking trails run along both the east and west bluff tops, with rocky scrambles that reward you with views of the lake, the Baraboo Range, and farmland rolling south toward Madison.
Swimming happens at 2 sandy beaches on the north and south shores. Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and paddleboats are available for rent at the park concession. Rock climbing and bouldering on the quartzite cliffs draw climbers from across the Midwest. Fishing in the lake produces smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and panfish.
The park has its own campgrounds (Quartzite, Northern Lights, and Ice Age), but they book months in advance during summer. Camping near Baraboo at a private campground gives you quick access to Devil’s Lake without the reservation scramble.
Wisconsin Dells Access
Wisconsin Dells sits about 15 minutes north of Baraboo. The self-proclaimed “Waterpark Capital of the World” has indoor and outdoor waterparks, go-karts, mini golf, zip lines, boat tours of the Dells rock formations, and enough family attractions to fill a week. Staying in Baraboo keeps you close enough to visit the Dells for a day and far enough out to enjoy a quieter campsite at night.
Circus World Museum and Downtown Baraboo
Circus World Museum occupies the original Ringling Bros. winter quarters along the Baraboo River. The collection includes historic wagons, big-top performances during summer, and exhibits that cover over a century of American circus history.
Downtown Baraboo is a walkable square with the restored Al. Ringling Theatre (a 1915 movie palace modeled after the Palace of Versailles opera house), local restaurants, coffee shops, and the Baraboo River running through the middle of things. Fair on the Square events run in spring and fall, and the Sunday Market brings local vendors to the square from June through October.
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney
Baraboo RV Resort sits on Terrytown Road in West Baraboo, off US Highway 12, in a wooded pocket of the Baraboo Range. Devil’s Lake State Park is about 10 minutes south. Wisconsin Dells is about 15 minutes north. You’re close enough to the Dells waterparks to spend a day there and far enough out to sleep somewhere quiet.
Sites tuck back into mature trees, so the shade holds up through a humid July afternoon. Several guests say the layout reads more like a state park than a private campground.
The resort runs seasonally, roughly May through October, and books RV sites, tent sites, cabins, and yurts. Rates start at $40 a night. The on-site list is long for a park this size: a pool, a swimming pond, mini golf, a jumping pillow, a snack shack, and a themed-weekend calendar that runs the length of the season.
Baraboo RV Resort is owned by RJourney and managed by Advanced Outdoor Management.
Sites & Hookups
RV sites come in pull-through and back-in layouts with full hookups: water, sewer, and electric. Service runs 30-amp and 50-amp, so a small trailer and a 40-foot Class A both have what they need. Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table.
Tent sites carry water and electric hookups too, plus fire pits and picnic tables. One guest mentions fitting 2 ten-by-ten tents, a canopy, and 2 cars on a single tent site with room to spare.
The wooded layout is the part guests bring up most. Mature tree cover holds real shade through summer, and sites sit far enough apart that you’re not stacked on your neighbor.
What's On-Site
For a park this size, the on-site list runs long. The pool opens Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day. A swimming pond with a floating obstacle course gives kids a second way to cool off. Mini golf, a jumping pillow, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a playground, a dunk tank, and giant chess, checkers, and connect four cover the rest of the daylight hours.
The Baraboo Snack Shack handles food on-site, with pizza, ice cream, and quick options. The camp store stocks snacks, firewood, and essentials. There’s a pavilion for group gatherings, a game room for rainy afternoons, a dog park, and pedal cart rentals.
Themed weekends run the length of the season: Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, July 4th, Christmas in July, Labor Day. Activities range from water wars and glow parades to potlucks, game tournaments, and craft sessions.
What Guests Say
Baraboo RV Resort holds a 4.3-star rating across 352 Google reviews.
3 things come up again and again. First, the tree-lined sites and the shade they hold through summer. Second, the spread of on-site activities, the pool, the pond, mini golf, the jumping pillow, which keeps families with kids busy without leaving the campground. Third, the location: about 10 minutes to Devil’s Lake State Park and 15 to Wisconsin Dells.
Returning guests talk about the themed weekends. Some book specific weekends off the activity calendar. Tent campers single out the water and electric hookups at tent sites and the room to fit multiple tents and vehicles on one site.
Other Campgrounds Near Baraboo, WI
Baraboo RV Resort is our pick, but the area has several other campgrounds worth a look depending on what you want out of the trip.
Devil's Lake State Park Campgrounds
Devil’s Lake operates 3 campgrounds (Quartzite, Northern Lights, and Ice Age) with 423 sites between them. Quartzite stays open year-round; Northern Lights and Ice Age typically close in October and reopen in April. Reservations through the Wisconsin State Park system are essential during summer, and the most popular weekends sell out months ahead. If you can land a site, you’re sleeping inside one of the best state parks in the Midwest.
Skillet Creek Campground
Skillet Creek spreads across 70 acres with RV sites, tent camping, and cabin rentals along a creek. It’s a solid alternative if you want to stay close to Devil’s Lake in a quieter, more rustic setting.
Fox Hill RV Resort & Campground
Fox Hill sits on 70 acres with RV sites, tent camping, and cabin rentals. A camp store handles supplies and firewood. It’s an easy pick for RVers who want full hookups and a convenient location near both Baraboo and the Dells.
Dell Pines Campground
Dell Pines has RV sites, tent camping, and cabin rentals, plus a heated pool, mini golf, pickleball, and weekend theme events. The location splits the difference between small-town Baraboo and the attractions in Wisconsin Dells.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Wisconsin Dells
Jellystone Park in the Dells runs a resort-style camping experience built around a Yogi Bear-themed water playground with 25 water features and 4 waterslides. It’s a different flavor than Baraboo’s nature-focused campgrounds, and it fits families whose kids want waterslides more than hiking trails.
Things to Do Near Baraboo Campgrounds
Swimming at Devil’s Lake: 2 sandy beaches on the north and south shores, plus rentals for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and paddleboats at the park concession.
Paddling: Mirror Lake State Park, about 20 minutes north, offers calmer water than Devil’s Lake for easier paddling.
Fishing: Devil’s Lake produces smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and panfish. The Baraboo River has trout fishing in certain stretches.
Hiking at Devil’s Lake: The East Bluff and West Bluff trails are the signature hikes, both roughly 1.5 miles with rocky sections and bluff-top views. The Balanced Rock and Tumbled Rocks trails run along the base of the bluffs. The park connects to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail for longer treks.
Rock climbing and bouldering: Devil’s Lake is one of the top climbing destinations in the Midwest. Guided trips are available for beginners.
Mountain biking: Trails at Devil’s Head Resort and along the Wisconsin 400 State Trail (a converted rail-trail running from Reedsburg to Elroy) suit riders of all levels.
Wisconsin Dells waterparks: Noah’s Ark (outdoor), Kalahari Resort, and Wilderness Resort are the biggest. Most outdoor parks open seasonally; indoor parks run year-round.
Circus World Museum: Summer big-top performances, historic circus wagons, and hands-on exhibits for kids, on the original Ringling Bros. winter quarters.
International Crane Foundation: The only place in the world where you can see all 15 crane species. Walking trails wind through restored prairie and wetland. Open May through October.
Dells Boat Tours: Upper and Lower Dells tours run spring through fall, showcasing the sandstone rock formations along the Wisconsin River.
Seasonal Guide for Camping Near Baraboo
May Through June (Early Season)
Campgrounds open for the season in May. Devil’s Lake is less crowded on weekdays, wildflowers bloom along the bluff trails, and the humidity hasn’t arrived yet. This is a good window for hiking and climbing before the summer heat sets in.
July Through August (Peak Season)
Daytime highs reach the mid-80s with noticeable humidity. Pools and swimming areas get heavy use. Devil’s Lake hits peak attendance, and parking lots fill before noon on weekends. Book campground reservations well in advance. The trade-off for the heat: full activity calendars, all attractions open, and the longest daylight hours of the year.
September Through October (Fall Season)
Fall color in the Baraboo Range is some of the best in southern Wisconsin. The bluff trails at Devil’s Lake turn gold, orange, and red, and the crowds thin out after Labor Day. Cooler temperatures make for ideal hiking, and sites are easier to book on short notice. Fall camping near Baraboo is an underrated play.
Practical Tips for Campgrounds Near Baraboo WI
For July 4th weekend and the surrounding weeks, book 2 to 3 months ahead at private campgrounds. Devil's Lake State Park sites should be reserved as soon as the booking window opens.
Wisconsin has firewood transport restrictions to slow the spread of emerald ash borer. Buy firewood locally or at your campground rather than bringing it from home.
Coverage in Baraboo proper is generally solid on major carriers. Signal can get spotty in the valleys and wooded areas around Devil's Lake.
Walmart and Menards are both in Baraboo off Highway 12. The downtown square has specialty shops and restaurants.
The north shore lot fills first on busy weekends. Arrive early or try the south shore entrance off Highway 113. An annual state park sticker ($28 for Wisconsin residents, $38 for non-residents) saves you the daily vehicle admission fee.
Mosquitoes and ticks are active from late May through September, especially near wooded and marshy areas. Treat clothing with permethrin and use a DEET-based repellent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Baraboo, WI?
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney is a top-rated option with full hookup RV sites, a pool, a jumping pillow, mini golf, and themed weekend events. Devil’s Lake State Park has 3 campgrounds inside the park with water and electric hookups. Skillet Creek Campground sits about a mile from Devil’s Lake on 70 acres with creek access. Fox Hill RV Resort and Dell Pines Campground are also well-regarded options.
How much do campgrounds near Baraboo, WI cost per night?
Nightly rates at private campgrounds near Baraboo typically start around $40 for RV sites and tent sites. Cabin rentals range from $100 to $280 or more per night depending on the campground and unit size. Devil’s Lake State Park campsites run $25 to $35 per night plus a vehicle admission fee.
Are there campgrounds near Baraboo with full hookups?
Yes. Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney offers pull-through and back-in RV sites with full hookups (water, sewer, and 30-amp and 50-amp electric). Fox Hill RV Resort and Dell Pines Campground also provide full hookup sites. Devil’s Lake State Park campgrounds offer water and electric only, without sewer hookups.
How far is Baraboo from Wisconsin Dells?
Baraboo is about 12 miles south of Wisconsin Dells, roughly a 15-minute drive. Campers staying at Baraboo campgrounds can easily visit the Dells waterparks and attractions as a day trip while keeping a quieter campsite for the night.
Is Baraboo a good base camp for Devil's Lake State Park?
Baraboo is an excellent base for Devil’s Lake. The park entrance is about 10 minutes from most campgrounds in the area. Staying at a private campground like Baraboo RV Resort avoids the reservation crunch at the park’s own campgrounds while keeping you close to the hiking, swimming, climbing, and paddling that make Devil’s Lake the most-visited state park in Wisconsin.
Are campgrounds near Baraboo pet-friendly?
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney is pet-friendly and has an on-site dog park. Devil’s Lake State Park allows leashed pets in campgrounds and on most trails. At Baraboo RV Resort, pets aren’t allowed on the beach or in the pool area, and no non-service animals are allowed inside the cabins. Check individual campground policies for any breed or size restrictions before booking.
When is camping season near Baraboo, WI?
Most private campgrounds near Baraboo, including Baraboo RV Resort, run seasonally from roughly May through October. Devil’s Lake State Park’s Quartzite campground stays open year-round, while its Northern Lights and Ice Age campgrounds typically close in October and reopen in April. Confirm exact open and close dates with each campground before planning a shoulder-season trip.
Does Baraboo RV Resort have a pool?
Yes. Baraboo RV Resort has a swimming pool that runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, plus a swimming pond with a floating obstacle course. The resort also has mini golf, a jumping pillow, a basketball court, a playground, and a full calendar of themed weekend events through the season.
Ready to Book Your Baraboo Camping Trip?
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney puts you 10 minutes from Devil's Lake State Park, 15 minutes from Wisconsin Dells, and inside a campground with enough activities to keep the whole family busy between adventures. Full hookups, a pool, themed weekends, and wooded sites that actually feel like camping.
Check Availability at Baraboo RV Resort (608) 716-4982