Devils Lake State Park is the biggest draw in south-central Wisconsin: 500-foot quartzite bluffs, two swimming beaches, and some of the best bluff hiking in the Midwest. The catch is the camping. The park’s own campground runs electric-only or rustic sites with no full hookups, and its summer weekends book out months ahead. If you want to see Devils Lake without the reservation scramble or the dry-camping tradeoffs, the smarter move is to base at a full-hookup park nearby and day-trip into the bluffs.
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney covers that option. It sits on Terrytown Road in West Baraboo, off US Highway 12, about 10 to 15 minutes from the Devils Lake north-shore entrance. You get full hookups, 30 and 50-amp service, a pool, and a long list of on-site activities, then drive to the park for the day and come back to a shaded site with water, sewer, and power. Here is how camping at the resort compares to camping inside Devils Lake State Park, and what to know before you book.
Camping Inside Devils Lake vs Baraboo RV Resort
Devils Lake State Park’s own campground is the classic Wisconsin experience: quartzite bluffs overhead, beaches a short walk away, and sites that book out months ahead for summer weekends. What it does not have is full hookups. Sites are electric-only or rustic, there is no sewer at the site, and popular loops fill the moment the reservation window opens. That works if you want to sleep inside the scenery and do not mind managing tanks.
Baraboo RV Resort trades the other direction. Full hookups mean no tank anxiety on a multi-night stay, 30 and 50-amp service covers everything from a pop-up to a 40-foot Class A, and the on-site pool, water park, and mini golf fill the hours you are not out on the bluffs. The park sits about 10 to 15 minutes away, so most campers base here, day-trip into Devils Lake, and skip the state park’s months-ahead scramble entirely.
Day-Tripping Into Devils Lake From Your Site
From Baraboo RV Resort, the Devils Lake north-shore entrance is about a 10 to 15-minute drive down US Highway 12. That puts the two swimming beaches, the East Bluff and Balanced Rock trails, and the boat launches within easy reach for a full day and back to a shaded, full-hookup site by evening. In summer the park fills early on weekends, so arrive before mid-morning for parking, or hit the trails at first light and save the beach for the afternoon.
If your trip centers on the Wisconsin Dells waterparks rather than the Devils Lake bluffs, that is a different plan and a different base setup. See our guide to the best RV parks near Wisconsin Dells for that side of the corridor.
Honest Expectations Before You Book
Two things to plan around. First, Baraboo RV Resort runs seasonally, roughly May through October, and closes in winter, so a cold-weather Devils Lake trip means camping inside the park or another year-round option instead. Second, the office runs Wednesday through Sunday, 9AM to 5PM, and closes Monday and Tuesday, so call (608) 716-4993 ahead of an early-week or evening arrival to sort check-in. The pool runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, a shorter window than the season itself. Knowing all of this at booking beats finding out at the gate, and none of it changes the core advantage: full hookups a short drive from one of Wisconsin’s best state parks.
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney
Baraboo RV Resort sits on Terrytown Road in West Baraboo, off US Highway 12, roughly 10 to 15 minutes from Devils Lake State Park’s north-shore entrance and about 15 minutes from Wisconsin Dells. Sites tuck back into mature trees, and several guests say the layout reads more like a state park than a private campground, with the full hookups the state park does not offer. One thing to plan around: the resort runs seasonally, roughly May through October, and is closed in winter. When it is open, the on-site list runs long for a park this size, a pool, a water park with slides, mini golf, a jumping pillow, and an on-site restaurant, which makes it an easy base for a Devils Lake trip with kids.
Sites & Hookups
This is the core difference from camping inside Devils Lake State Park. RV sites at Baraboo RV Resort come in pull-through and back-in layouts with full hookups: water, sewer, and electric, in both 30-amp and 50-amp, so a small trailer and a 40-foot Class A both have what they need. The state park’s campground, by contrast, runs electric-only or rustic sites with no sewer at the site and a months-ahead booking window in summer. Tent sites are available at the resort too, and the mature tree cover holds real shade through summer. These sites are available during the resort’s open season, roughly May through October; for winter camping, Devils Lake and the area state parks are the year-round option.
What's On-Site
Camping inside Devils Lake State Park means rustic sites and few on-site amenities. Baraboo RV Resort runs the other direction. During the open season the list is long for a park this size: a swimming pool, a water park with slides, mini golf, a jumping pillow, a skate park, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, a dog park, and a pavilion for groups. There is an on-site restaurant for food without a drive, WiFi across the property, and firewood sales at the store. After a full day on the Devils Lake bluffs, the pool and a shaded site earn their keep.
What Guests Say
Baraboo RV Resort holds a 4.0-star rating across 343 Google reviews. Three 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 water park, mini golf, and the jumping pillow, which keeps families busy without leaving the campground. Third, the location: about 10 to 15 minutes to Devils Lake State Park and 15 to Wisconsin Dells. Guests who came for Devils Lake regularly mention how much easier the full hookups made a multi-night stay compared to camping inside the park.
Camping Inside Devils Lake State Park and Nearby
<p>If you would rather sleep inside the scenery, the state parks are the honest alternative to the resort. Both make strong day trips too. Confirm hookups and open loops before you commit; summer sites at Devils Lake go months ahead.</p>
Devils Lake State Park Campground
Wisconsin’s largest and most-visited state park, with 500-foot quartzite bluffs, two swimming beaches, and miles of trails. Its three campgrounds offer RV and tent sites with electric at some sites and no full hookups, and peak-summer weekends book out months ahead. Ideal if you want to camp inside the scenery and do not mind managing tanks. Reserve through Wisconsin State Parks. Visit website.
Mirror Lake State Park
A quieter sandstone-walled lake with hiking, paddling, and one of the few area campgrounds that keeps sites open through winter with reduced services. A good fallback when Devils Lake’s summer loops are full, and a genuine cold-weather option in its own right. Confirm open loops, electric availability, and water before you go. Reserve through Wisconsin State Parks. Visit website.
Things to Do Around Devils Lake State Park
Devils Lake is the centerpiece, with two swimming beaches below 500-foot quartzite bluffs, open in summer for swimming, paddling, and shoreline picnics. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available near the beaches in season. Mirror Lake, a short drive northwest, adds a quiet sandstone-walled lake for kayaking and canoeing when Devils Lake is crowded. Back at Baraboo RV Resort, the pool and on-site water park cover the warm-season water fun without a drive.
Devils Lake offers some of the best bluff hiking in the Midwest. The East Bluff Trail and the Balanced Rock Trail are the standouts, with the CCC-built stone steps and overlooks that give the park its reputation. Rock climbers work the quartzite faces, and gentler shoreline paths suit families. The wider Baraboo Range is laced with trails, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs through the area for longer treks.
Downtown Baraboo sits about 10 minutes from the resort with the Circus World Museum and the International Crane Foundation nearby. Wisconsin Dells is roughly 15 minutes north for waterparks, the Wisconsin River boat tours, and year-round attractions. Walmart and Menards sit off Highway 12 for resupply between the resort and the Dells.
Seasonal Guide for Camping Near Devils Lake
Summer (June through August)
Peak season for Devils Lake and the heart of Baraboo RV Resort’s open window. The park’s beaches and bluff trails draw crowds, its campground books months ahead, and the resort’s pool and water park run full. Reserve July and August weekends early at both. Arrive at Devils Lake before mid-morning for parking on weekends.
Fall (September through October)
The Baraboo Range turns color and crowds thin after Labor Day. The resort typically stays open into October, making this a quieter, scenic window for a Devils Lake trip. Confirm the resort’s closing date before booking a late-October stay.
Winter (November through March)
Baraboo RV Resort is closed. For a winter Devils Lake trip, the park stays open year-round for day use, and camping shifts to the state parks: Mirror Lake keeps sites open with reduced services, and Devils Lake offers limited winter access. Expect reduced services and self-reliance for heat.
Spring (April through May)
Shoulder season. The resort opens around May, but exact dates shift year to year, so an early-April trip likely falls before opening. Devils Lake’s trails are open and quieter in spring. Verify the resort’s current open dates and keep a state-park backup if your plans land before the season begins.
Practical Tips for Camping Near Devils Lake State Park
Devils Lake's own campground books months ahead in summer. Basing at Baraboo RV Resort, about 10 to 15 minutes away with full hookups, sidesteps that crunch while keeping the park close.
Devils Lake fills its lots by mid-morning on summer weekends. Head over early for beach parking, or hit the bluff trails at first light and save the beach for later.
Baraboo RV Resort runs roughly May through October, but exact open and close dates shift year to year. Call (608) 716-4993 before booking a shoulder-season trip in April or late October.
The office runs Wednesday through Sunday, 9AM to 5PM, and closes Monday and Tuesday. Call ahead of a Monday, Tuesday, or evening arrival so check-in is sorted before you pull in.
Walmart and Menards sit off Highway 12 near the resort, and Wisconsin Dells is 15 minutes north. Stock up on the way in and you can stay parked between park days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you camp inside Devils Lake State Park in an RV?
Yes. Devils Lake State Park has RV and tent sites with electric hookups at some sites and no full hookups, and peak-summer weekends book out months ahead. Baraboo RV Resort sits about 10 to 15 minutes away with full hookups and usually easier availability outside holiday weekends, which is why many campers base there and day-trip into the park.
How far is Baraboo RV Resort from Devils Lake State Park?
About 10 to 15 minutes by car. The resort is on Terrytown Road in West Baraboo, off US Highway 12, so you are a short drive from the park’s north-shore beaches and bluff trailheads while sleeping at a full-hookup site.
Does Baraboo RV Resort have full hookups near Devils Lake?
Yes. RV sites come in pull-through and back-in layouts with water, sewer, and electric. That is the main difference from camping inside Devils Lake State Park, where sites are electric-only or rustic. Call (608) 716-4993 for current site details and availability.
When should I book camping near Devils Lake State Park?
For July and August weekends, book well ahead at both the state park and Baraboo RV Resort. Devils Lake campsites open months in advance and fill fast, and the resort’s summer weekends draw families in for the pool and activities. Shoulder-season trips in May or October are easier to plan.
Is Baraboo RV Resort pet-friendly?
Yes. The resort is pet-friendly with an on-site dog park that gives dogs room to run. Dogs must be leashed elsewhere on the property. Service animals are welcome throughout the park.
What is there to do near Devils Lake State Park besides camping?
Devils Lake anchors the area with two swimming beaches, 500-foot quartzite bluffs, and miles of hiking. Downtown Baraboo adds the Circus World Museum and the International Crane Foundation, and Wisconsin Dells is about 15 minutes north for waterparks and river tours.
Book Your Devils Lake Camping Base
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney is a full-hookup base for a Devils Lake State Park trip, open roughly May through October with 30 and 50-amp service, shaded sites, a pool, a water park, and mini golf, about 10 to 15 minutes from the park. Day-trip into the bluffs and beaches, then come back to water, sewer, and power at your site.
See site types, rates, current open dates, and live availability on the Baraboo RV Resort page.
Book Your RV Site (608) 716-4993