Campgrounds near Baraboo, Wisconsin range from developed state park facilities to private RV parks, with most concentrated around Devils Lake State Park and Mirror Lake State Park. Devils Lake offers three distinct campgrounds—Quartzite, Northern Lights, and Ice Age—each providing different camping experiences with varying levels of privacy and amenities. Most campgrounds in the area accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several private campgrounds like Skillet Creek and Fox Hill RV Park offering cabin rentals for those seeking additional comfort. The region's camping options benefit from proximity to natural attractions while remaining close to the small-town amenities of Baraboo and tourist destinations in Wisconsin Dells.
Reservations are essential for camping in the Baraboo area, particularly during summer months when Devils Lake State Park experiences extremely high visitor numbers. The most popular campgrounds often fill months in advance for summer weekends and holidays. Most state park campgrounds in the region offer electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities, though amenities vary between campgrounds. Weather conditions remain pleasant for camping from May through October, with July and August being the busiest months. Cell service is generally available throughout the area but can be spotty in some campground locations. A visitor noted, "Devils Lake State Park is extremely overcrowded. It makes me sad to see it so crowded and such careless people damaging things and leaving their trash, not following rules. Still love the park, just not the crowds."
Campers consistently praise the natural beauty and recreational opportunities available near Baraboo campgrounds. Devils Lake State Park features clear water swimming beaches, rock climbing opportunities, and extensive hiking trails including segments of the Ice Age Trail. Many campsites in the area offer varying degrees of privacy, with walk-in sites typically providing more seclusion than drive-in options. Several visitors mentioned road noise as a consideration when selecting campgrounds, particularly those near highways. Mirror Lake State Park receives positive reviews for its calm waters ideal for paddling and fishing. A camper described Skillet Creek Campground as "nestled in 70 acres surrounded by the Baraboo, Wisconsin hills, offering a serene setting. Located one mile from Devil's Lake State Park, this campground is your best base camp for summer activities."
"We stayed at Quartzite Campground and walked to the Visitor/Center and lake. "
"The lake had 2 beaches for swimming and a dog beach also. Canoe and row boat rental. Rock climbing and a variety of hiking trails in various degrees of difficulty."
"Much to do at Devil's Lake and surrounding area. features multiple campgrounds and multiple areas for swimming. A beach at the North and South of the lake."
"It is up and away from the rest of the park a bit and typically almost every site has full shade. This is important in the summer months."
"We camped at the Ice Age trail sites. We did an evening hike up the bluffs to watch the fireworks from Baraboo. Cool nights warm day."
"The lake itself is clean, clear, and beautiful. Swimming, kayak, sailing, also rock climbers are common here. This is a non-motorized boating lake. The hiking is amazing."
$15 / night
"Echo Rock trail is a great hike around rock formation. I was disappointed when I realized how far away the shower/toilets are away from ever loop in the campground."
"One group of younger people next to us that were pretty respectful with noise level. There is a dump and potable water fill for rvs between the entrance and this campground."
"Very nicely kept wide hiking trails, good beach area, boat rentals, and lots of campsites. Most sites were spaced apart well with enough separation in between."
"The lake, when we went in late August/Early September had a lot of algae on it and wasn't really good to swim, but they do have boat rentals and fishing. It is generally a beautiful lake."
"My family and I stayed at this Wisconsin Dells KOA location for two nights (site 61) as the first stop on a 3+ week trip, and it fully met our expectations"
"We stayed at KOA in Wisconsin dells, which was about a mile away from everything. We called to RSVP. Which was a breeze."
$43 - $136 / night
"It's just a couple miles from Devil's Lake State Park and a few more miles from Baraboo, where you can find shopping and conveniences."
"This campground is nestled in 70 acres surrounded by the Baraboo, Wisconsin hills, Skillet Creek Campground offers a serene setting. "
$30 - $60 / night
"Lake is fed by river then exits over dam toward the Wisconsin Dells. Great fishing, photography, hiking, and camping."
"Pros: Nice, quiet loop,
Little traffic,
Close to a bathroom with showers and the paved trail
Private path in the back of the site leading to an area overlooking the lake,
Nice fire ring,
Garbage"
$45 - $85 / night
"We had full hook up, a picnic table & fire pit, our friends camped next to us in #5. The store had supplies, and firewood they deliver it to your site."
"It took two 2x6 and a 1x6 under the camp side to be level. That made the first step into the coach, and last step out of the coach extremely high off the ground."
"This is a good park and it's close to all the waterparks, great scenery and lots of stuff for everyone to do. Clean park family friendly."
"We are a 33.6 ft rig so navigating around parked cars was a challenge as people had their vehicles right to the road."
ScoutBrand new campground with a large Sandy beach swimming pond, fishing pond and a large lodge building with farm shop and excellent restrooms and showers. Planned activities on the weekends and a short drive to Devils Lake State Park and city of Baraboo.
ScoutThe park has a peaceful, natural atmosphere and the wooded sites give a nice sense of privacy compared to many larger campgrounds. It’s a great spot if you’re looking for a quiet outdoor experience with simple amenities and access to scenic hiking and biking trails. Being close to the town of New Glarus is also a nice bonus if you want to explore the area during your stay.
speed run
TravelerWe were lucky enough to have this beautiful little gem all to ourselves. The campground is super quiet, clean and very well maintained. It’s located about 40 minutes away from the Wisconsin Dells and has easy access to the 400 State bike trail. We took the Dells boat tour and enjoyed biking through the beautiful surrounding countryside and sampling the delicious goods at Wonewoc’s farmer’s market. Everywhere we went, people were so kind and helpful. We look forward to stopping in again.
LegendThe campground is near Beaver Dam lake and you get a pass to the boat landing with the camping fee. The sites are clearly marked and level. Some have more shade than others, the descriptions at reservation are accurate. Site 4 has nice grass and plenty of trees along the back. The site sizes are adequate but there isn’t much room between sites. Overall the campground was quiet, except for a few RVs running things all night. It was not dark, the RVs keep their lights on all night and there isn’t enough foliage to block it. We are the only pop up here, there are no tents. The space certainly allows grass for tents, I think the culture is just a little different. The shower house is clean, but showers only have a curtain and a central drain in the building means the toilet stall floors get wet too. There is a small playground and a GaGa ball pit. Overall, this is a well kept campground and perfect for spending a night on the way to somewhere. There isn’t much draw for a longer stay.
TravelerIn 2024 just before Memorial Day, I needed to leave the campground I was in and started calling around for openings at private campgrounds. I was getting worried that it was not possible for me to find a site. I remembered ( light bulb moment) that Sleepy Dragon Campground may have openings. I called and was shocked to hear they still had openings for that weekend. Drove to the campground and set my sights on a pull through site. I enjoyed it so much decided to stay permanently. My original site was 120, then moved to 114, it’s a corner site. Has shade and sun at different times of the day. Large to medium camp sites, grassy, concreted if that’s what you like, plus electric and water at each site. Sewer at selected sites. Personally I came here as a child, back in the later 60’s to early 70’s. Changed owners a couple of times, now it is veteran owned, upgrades are being completed as time allows.
Travelercost at end of september, sunday night was $76/night PLUS $16 parking fee so $92 for a night at a mediocre campground with no privacy. i rarely write negative reviews, but ive been camping for a while now, and never experienced this high of a cost for just a regular campground.
LegendNot the most elaborate campground or the best I stayed at, but the price was right for what you get. The sites are large. You could add a tent or RV to any of them, but some are tighter to get into than others because of the road and how it turns.
There's a little playground and lots of open space. Each site has a fire pit, but I don't believe there's firewood available for purchase. There are some vault toilets here.
Cost is only $15 cash and it's first come first serve. No reservations.
I believe that they raised the rate on April 1st. It's now $15, but in this day and age of price gouging that's actually a bargain for a campsite. It's primitive, but it's nicely kept.
A little train noise from the distance, but if you like the sound of a train horn, it's very soothing.
LegendKOA Journey. We didn't feel like tackling Illinois at the end of the day, so we planned a stop here.
Check in was pleasant. We were in the back by the bathroom, which was my request. Lots of shady trees. This is a well established campground. As others have noted there is Interstate noise. It's easy on- easy off though.
There's a Loves nearby.
GuideWe usually stay at the east shore sites but tried the west shore this time. The shore was not as level as the east side sites but still sandy and shallow for swimming. We could hear the bar blaring music across the lake until 10 or 11pm . There are more trees now than the website pictures show so there is some privacy between sites. Mosquitos were the worst i have ever experienced. The second we got out of the car they were all over us. We used the heaviest deet possible nonstop.
Camping sites near Baraboo, Wisconsin primarily cluster around Devils Lake State Park and Mirror Lake State Park, with sites positioned within varying proximacy to the lakes and surrounding bluffs. The area sits within the Baraboo Hills, an ancient quartzite mountain range dating back 1.6 billion years, with campgrounds positioned at elevations ranging from 850 to 1,200 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during peak camping months, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 55-65°F.
Paddling on Mirror Lake: The no-wake lake provides a calm environment for water activities. At Bluewater Bay Campground, campers can explore the lake's sandstone cliffs. A reviewer noted, "The lake is great for kayaking. Lots of sandstone cliffs."
Hiking Ice Age Trail segments: Access segments of this National Scenic Trail directly from Ice Age Campground. A camper explains, "The Ice Age trail passes right through this camp loop. We followed it out and back after setting up camp. The ranger said the east and west bluff trails are the most popular."
Disc golf and trail exploration: Beyond just the lakes, Fox Hill RV Park offers additional outdoor recreation with "nature trails, disc golf, and a good size dog run" according to reviewers.
Large, wooded campsites: Many campgrounds offer spacious sites with natural shade. A visitor to Cliffwood Campground praised site #138 which features "a private trail behind the campsite that leads to a view of the lake."
Clean facilities despite high usage: Despite being heavily trafficked, campgrounds maintain clean facilities. At Wisconsin Dells KOA, a reviewer appreciated that "the facilities were very clean, and we appreciated that the showers each had separate entrance doors - you don't see that often."
Proximity to attractions while maintaining natural settings: Campers value being close to both natural and commercial attractions. As one camper at Skillet Creek Campground said, "This was such an incredible experience, and the campground is really close to everything...it's a very quick drive to Devil's Lake, and the area it's in (Baraboo) is really adorable with plenty of things to do."
Highway noise impacts certain sites: Several campgrounds, particularly at Mirror Lake State Park, experience road noise. A camper at Sandstone Ridge Campground warned, "The traffic noise is loud and some military jets kept flying overhead."
Site selection matters for privacy: Many campgrounds have a mix of secluded and exposed sites. A Northern Lights Campground visitor advised, "If you want privacy, some spots are better than others. There are a lot of wide open sites with no trees or vegetation, so it's like staying on someone's yard with a bunch of strangers."
Reservation timing is critical: Most campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer. A reviewer at Quartzite Campground observed, "The sites here are large but get reserved quickly! You need to book 11 months in advance, especially for holiday weekends."
Kid-friendly programming: Some campgrounds offer organized activities. At Yogi Bear Camp-Resort, a family enjoyed their Halloween-themed weekend: "There was trick or treating, a haunted house, dance party... lots of stuff. My fav thing as an adult is the 'Hey ride!' They pile people onto a trailer turned wagon and drive around the park."
Playground proximity considerations: When booking sites, consider proximity to play areas. A Wisconsin Dells KOA camper recommended their experience: "We stayed at site 61...and it was across the road from a wonderful bathhouse/restroom. The kids loved the pool and splash pad as well."
Quieter alternatives during peak times: For families seeking less crowded experiences near Devils Lake, consider alternative campgrounds. A camper at Skillet Creek Campground shared, "We stayed at this campground because the reviews were good...Located one mile from Devil's Lake State Park, this campground is your best base camp."
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require significant leveling. One RVer at Mirror Lake noted, "Our site was very unlevel side to side. It took two 2x6 and a 1x6 under the camp side to be level."
Utility positioning considerations: The placement of hookups varies between campgrounds. At Fox Hill RV Park, "All site are pretty level with gravel pad and logically positioned utilities," while another campground had hookups "on the wrong side so we had to back in sideways to make it work."
Water access protocols: Some campgrounds have specific water filling procedures. A camper at Northern Lights Campground mentioned, "You have to fill your camper with water after you enter there's many hoses."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds near Baraboo, WI?
Baraboo offers several excellent camping options. Skillet Creek Campground stands out with its 70 acres surrounded by the Baraboo hills, just one mile from Devil's Lake State Park. It features a fishing pond, hiking trails, and a barn with games and movie screenings. Fox Hill RV Park & Campground is another top choice, offering full hookup sites with picnic tables and fire pits. Their camp store provides supplies and firewood delivery to your site. Both campgrounds offer clean facilities and serve as perfect base camps for exploring local attractions like Circus World and the Baraboo Zoo.
What camping options are available near Devils Lake State Park in the Baraboo area?
Devils Lake State Park offers multiple camping areas within its boundaries. Northern Lights Campground features special Ice Age trail sites and provides opportunities for evening hikes up the bluffs. Quartzite Campground is conveniently located about a quarter mile from the Visitor Center and North Beach area. Both campgrounds serve as excellent bases for enjoying Devils Lake's clear waters, non-motorized boating, swimming beaches, and extensive hiking trails with stunning views. The park's camping areas fill quickly during peak season, so reservations are recommended.
Are there cabin rentals available at Baraboo campgrounds?
While traditional campgrounds in the Baraboo area primarily offer tent and RV sites, cabin options do exist. Yogi Bear TM Camp-Resort & Waterplayground near Wisconsin Dells/Baraboo offers cabin rentals alongside its camping sites. For a state park option, Mirror Lake State Park has cabin facilities available for visitors seeking more sheltered accommodations. These cabins typically provide basic amenities like beds, electricity, and sometimes kitchen facilities, offering a comfortable middle ground between tent camping and hotel stays. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially during summer months.
Where can I rent a camper or RV in Baraboo?
While Baraboo itself has limited RV rental facilities, several options exist in the surrounding area. The Wisconsin Dells, just a short drive away, offers multiple RV rental businesses that serve the Baraboo region. For those planning to stay at Ice Age Campground or other Devils Lake State Park camping areas, reserving an RV from these nearby services is convenient. Additionally, online peer-to-peer rental platforms like RVshare and Outdoorsy list privately-owned RVs available for rent in the Baraboo area. Book well in advance during peak summer months when demand is highest.
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