Searching for an RV dump station near Baraboo usually means 1 of 2 situations: you’re passing through the Highway 12 corridor between Madison and Wisconsin Dells with full tanks, or you’re camping at a state park without sewer hookups and the weekend caught up with you. Either way, the Baraboo area has workable answers, with a private station that takes a phone call and state park stations tied to registered camping.
The anchor option is Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney on Terrytown Road in West Baraboo, just off US Highway 12. The resort runs an on-site RV dump station alongside a propane station and a camp store, which turns a tank stop into a genuinely useful 20 minutes. It operates seasonally, roughly May through October, with office hours Wednesday through Sunday, 9AM to 5PM; call (608) 716-4993 for current fees and access before you route over. Below: the area’s station options, what each costs, and a clean 5-minute dump routine for anyone new to the job.
The Dump Station at Baraboo RV Resort
The station sits on the resort property at E10545 Terrytown Rd in West Baraboo, with the propane fill and camp store at the same stop. The resort doesn’t publish a public dump fee, so call (608) 716-4993 for current pricing and access, especially if you’re not a registered guest. Timing matters here twice over: the property runs seasonally, roughly May through October, and the office closes Monday and Tuesday, so a Tuesday-morning drive-up is the 1 version of this stop that doesn’t work.
If you’re staying at the resort, you’ll likely skip the station entirely. Every RV site carries full hookups with water, sewer, and 30 or 50-amp electric, which means tank service happens at your site, not in a queue.
State Park Dump Stations Around Baraboo
Devil’s Lake State Park, about 10 minutes south of Baraboo, and Mirror Lake State Park, about 15 minutes northwest, both run campgrounds whose dump stations serve their registered campers. 2 cautions before you count on either. First, state park stations generally serve campers staying in the park, so don’t plan a drive-up dump without checking with the park office. Second, Wisconsin’s seasonal water shutoffs hit dump stations too: cold-month service gets reduced or closed even where camping stays open, and Mirror Lake’s winter camping runs with reduced services. A 2-minute call to the park settles both questions and beats arriving with full tanks at a locked station.
A Clean Dump in 5 Minutes
For anyone new to it: park with your outlet on the station side and put gloves on. Connect the sewer hose to your RV outlet first, seat the other end firmly in the station inlet, then pull the black tank valve and let it drain completely before closing it. Pull the gray valve second, so the rinse water flushes the hose. Close everything, rinse the hose with the station’s non-potable spigot, never the potable one, then cap it, stow it, and wash up. Add tank treatment and a few gallons of water to the black tank before you roll. The whole job runs about 5 minutes once you’ve done it twice, and pulling the valves in the right order is 90 percent of staying clean.
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 and Wisconsin Dells about 15 minutes north, close enough to the Dells waterparks for a day trip and far enough out to sleep somewhere quiet. Sites tuck back into mature trees, and several guests say the layout reads more like a state park than a private campground. 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 swimming pond, mini golf, a jumping pillow, a snack shack, and a themed-weekend calendar that runs the length of the season. Rates start at $40 a night.
Sites & Hookups
RV sites 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. Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table. Tent sites carry water and electric hookups too, plus fire pits and picnic tables, with one guest noting they fit two 10-by-10 tents, a canopy, and two 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 are not stacked on your neighbor. Keep in mind these sites are available during the resort’s open season, roughly May through October; for winter camping, see the year-round state-park options below.
What's On-Site
For a park this size, the on-site list runs long during the open season. 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, and the camp store stocks snacks, firewood, and essentials. There is 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, from Cinco de Mayo and Christmas in July to Labor Day, with water wars, glow parades, potlucks, game tournaments, and craft sessions.
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 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, and 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.
State-Park Camping Near Baraboo, WI
<p>Both state parks run campgrounds with dump stations for their registered campers. Access rules and seasonal water shutoffs apply, so call before you arrive with full tanks.</p>
Mirror Lake State Park
One of the few campgrounds in the Baraboo area that keeps sites open through winter, with a quiet sandstone-bluff lake and trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the cold months. Winter camping means reduced services: confirm open loops, electric availability, and water before you go. Reserve through Wisconsin State Parks. Visit website.
Devil's Lake State Park
Wisconsin’s largest and most-visited state park, with 500-foot quartzite bluffs, two swimming beaches, and miles of trails. It offers year-round access, though peak-summer campground sites book out months ahead and winter brings reduced services. A strong day-trip anchor from the resort in summer and a cold-weather option in its own right. Reserve through Wisconsin State Parks. Visit website.
Things to Do Around Baraboo Year-Round
Devil’s Lake State Park, 10 minutes south, anchors the area’s water recreation with two swimming beaches below 500-foot quartzite bluffs, open in summer for swimming, paddling, and shoreline picnics. Mirror Lake, 15 minutes northwest, adds a quiet sandstone-walled lake for kayaking and canoeing. In winter both lakes shift to a different kind of draw: frozen-lake scenery, ice activity where conditions allow, and trailheads for snowshoeing along the shore. Baraboo RV Resort’s own swimming pond and pool serve the warm-season water fun on-property.
The Baraboo Range is built for hiking and, in winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Devil’s Lake offers some of the best bluff hiking in the Midwest, with the East Bluff and Balanced Rock trails the standouts. Mirror Lake’s trails groom for cross-country skiing in the cold months. Downtown Baraboo carries the area’s history: the Circus World Museum and the International Crane Foundation are both nearby, and the Ho-Chunk and Aldo Leopold heritage sites round out the cultural draws across the seasons.
Wisconsin Dells, 15 minutes north, is the region’s marquee day trip, indoor waterparks and attractions that run year-round, so a winter base near Baraboo still has a rainy-day, or snowy-day, option close at hand. In town, Walmart and Menards sit off Highway 12 for resupply. In summer the Dells outdoor waterparks and the Wisconsin River boat tours open up the full menu, making the resort’s May-through-October window the busiest time to base here.
Seasonal Guide for RV Travelers Near Baraboo
Summer (June through August)
Peak season and the heart of Baraboo RV Resort’s open window. The pool runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, themed weekends fill the calendar, and Devil’s Lake draws crowds, so book the resort ahead for July and August weekends. This is the strongest time to base here.
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 warm-layers stay. Confirm the resort’s closing date before booking a late-October trip.
Winter (November through March)
Baraboo RV Resort is closed. For winter RV or tent camping near Baraboo, the state parks are your option: Mirror Lake keeps sites open with reduced services, and Devil’s Lake offers year-round access. Expect vault toilets, limited or no water, and self-reliance for heat. Confirm open loops with the park first.
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. Verify current open dates and keep a state-park backup if your plans land before the resort’s season begins.
Practical Tips for Dump Stations Around Baraboo
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.
Private parks close in winter here. Mirror Lake State Park keeps sites open with reduced services and Devil's Lake offers year-round access. Confirm open loops, electric, and water directly with the park before you go.
Devil's Lake's own campgrounds book months ahead in summer. Basing at Baraboo RV Resort, 10 minutes away with full hookups, sidesteps that crunch while keeping the park close.
The resort doesn't publish a public dump fee, and the office closes Monday and Tuesday. One call to (608) 716-4993 confirms pricing, access, and that someone's there when you arrive.
Drain the black tank completely, close it, then pull the gray valve so rinse water flushes the hose. Rinse with the non-potable spigot only, and add treatment plus a few gallons of water before rolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the nearest RV dump station near Baraboo, WI?
Baraboo RV Resort runs an on-site dump station at E10545 Terrytown Rd in West Baraboo, just off US Highway 12, with a propane station and camp store at the same stop. It operates seasonally, roughly May through October. Devil’s Lake and Mirror Lake state parks serve their registered campers.
How much does it cost to dump tanks at Baraboo RV Resort?
The resort doesn’t publish a public dump fee, so call (608) 716-4993 for current pricing and access. Office hours run Wednesday through Sunday, 9AM to 5PM, and the property closes roughly November through April, so a quick call before routing over saves a wasted stop.
Can I use the dump station without camping at the resort?
Call first. The station sits on resort property and access for non-guests runs through the office at (608) 716-4993 during Wednesday-through-Sunday hours. Pass-through travelers on the Madison-to-Dells stretch of Highway 12 are exactly who the call-ahead is for.
Are there dump stations open near Baraboo in winter?
Plan carefully. Baraboo RV Resort closes roughly November through April, and Wisconsin’s seasonal water shutoffs reduce or close state park dump service in the cold months even where camping stays open. Confirm current status with Devil’s Lake or Mirror Lake directly before a winter trip.
Do I need the dump station if I'm staying at Baraboo RV Resort?
Probably not. Every RV site at the resort has full hookups, water, sewer, and 30 or 50-amp electric, so tank service happens right at your site. The on-site station mainly serves travelers passing through and arrivals who show up with full tanks.
Do Devil's Lake or Mirror Lake state parks have dump stations?
Both parks run campgrounds with dump stations for their registered campers, about 10 and 15 minutes from Baraboo respectively. Access rules and seasonal water shutoffs both apply, so call the park office to confirm before counting on either, especially outside peak summer.
Plan Your Baraboo RV Stay
Baraboo RV Resort by RJourney is our warm-season pick near Baraboo, open roughly May through October with full hookups, 30 and 50-amp service, shaded sites, a pool, a swimming pond, and a full activity calendar, 10 minutes from Devil's Lake State Park. For winter camping, plan around the area state parks, then come back to the resort once the season opens.
See site types, rates, current open dates, and live availability on the Baraboo RV Resort page.
Book Your RV Site (608) 716-4993