Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Baraboo, WI

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.

We stayed at Quartzite Campground and walked to the Visitor/Center and lake.  It is about a quarter mile walk up a steep hill to the Nature Center and then 300 feet on a trail from the Nature Center to the Visitor Center parking lot directly across from the north beach.  We stayed in site 10E but I would not recommend this site or any of the other electric sites and that side of the road.  The sites are very unlevel and even with all the leveling blocks we had we could not get our motorhome level. Our neighbor a  tent camper had a hard time finding a flat spot to put their tent and travel trailers were not level either.   The other side of the road was better but not completely level either.  

The lake water is very clear.  There is a lot to  do at the park and you could spend at least 4 or 5 days here.  It is the most popular WI State park and early reservations are required to stay in an electric site.  The showers and bathrooms are very clean.  The pictures are from the Tumbled Rock trail which connects the north and south beach.   It is mostly flat and paved.  You can get a really close look at the rocks with out climbing high.  Cell service is OK.  We have both AT&T and Verizon and neither could stream video but we could connect to the internet.  We were surprised since the campground is 3 miles from Baraboo.   The town is very cute with 1850's buildings and a strong circus history as home to the Ringling Brothers.

A central playground and pool are the biggest draws for families with kids. There's also a prospecting 'sluice' that you can buy for the kids to look for 'fossils' and interesting rocks.

The campground is located just north of the main attractions of Wisconsin Dells.

Campsites are not overly generous in size -- typical KOA, where some are 'stacked like cordwood'. Don't go there if you want any privacy from your neighbors.

Cabins are available for those wanting to 'camp' without a camper.

Very small dog park area.

Friendly check in staff. However, we were given a map with our campsite noted and told to wait for a person driving a golf cart to escort us and help us get situated. We waited...and waited...and waited...golf carts came and went, but passed us by. We finally gave up waiting and found out site by ourselves.

This is a popular place in the area, the human beaches are full and the small pet beach area was well used by my husband, myself and our two dogs; Odinn & Frigga over Memorial Day. The hiking is amazing , particularly the Oakgrove trail, plenty to see with beautiful views. There is boating, canoeing, etc. Bring the strongest mosquito repellent you can get, Wisconsin in summer can be rough. We tried our Black Diamond poles and Thule day bags and we got to try cooling vests for the dogs from Ruffwear. It was so much fun. Note that there are sites to camp, cabins nearby and plenty of Hipcamp sites near. Strongly recommend Riverview Bottoms, which sits in a 500 acre property and is 10 min away.

We stayed in our 42 ft motor home with jeep tow. We drove to the park in our jeep at nine am on a Sunday to check availability. If you haven’t reserved a site, there are several sites for walk-ins but you have to be present to sign/obtain them. Check out time is three pm but weekend people often leave earlier in the day and that is what occurred for us. Several sites have 50 amp plus there are thirty amp And non electric/tent sites available. The campground has showers and bathrooms but this is a county park so understand these are not hotel facilities. They are adequate for campIng. There are biking and hiking trails in and through the park and trail users also share the restrooms. The park is close to Madison. There is WiFi but the signal is variable. The ranger and campground hosts were friendly and helpful. Four legged campers on leash can walk with you on the trails and there is s nearby dog park.

We enjoyed this park so much we have already been here twice and have a third trip planned for this coming September.   There are very wide bike/hiking paths that are paved or stone. 

The huge lake has boating opportunities and you can rent a boat in McFarland that is a short drive or bike ride.  We rented a boat to fish and then drove across the lake to eat at a restaurant with boat parking.

The nature center is across the street from the campground and has a small snack bar/restaurant.  There are cranes walking all around and the park is so big it has different types of plants to explore.  There is an observation tower and in the picnic area a playground.  The best part is the boardwalk that extents over the lake and you are walking/riding on water.

About a half a mile away is a very nice dog park that you receive admission to if you have a campsite.

Dane County has many parks in their system and we have stayed at several and all are great.

Very clean , family friendly and Pets welcomed. Small Bar and Grill.

Very cool secluded walk in sites, pet friendly, awesome trails.

Quiet, pet friendly spot with nice bathrooms and plenty of tree lined spots for some privacy. Great spot to spend a weekend.

We spend quite a bit of time here. We hunt here and camp here year round. Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range. Hunt anything from pheasent to deer. There is also a nice bar and grill just down the street. Along with dairy bar as part of the park. Showers and bathrooms are always clean.

Quiet, all drive-thrus, reasonable rates, very close to the dells, clean bathhouse.

We enjoyed our stay close to everything.  Walmart and major shopping within a half  a mile. pet friendly. I would recommend this campground

I camped here for a month in July and now a week in Sept. Nicest people ever.
20/30/50 amp service Most sites have water hook-up Restrooms Dump station Campfires in above ground fire pits supplied by you Pet friendly I like some privacy and the opportunity to let's my dogs play freely at my campsite when I can. The site I'm at has plenty of space for them to run around my site without disturbing other campers. They have a camp host on site who is very helpful. They also have events, usually on the weekend that you can visit or participate. While I've been here they've had a circus, a carnival, a flea market, and something similar to a farmer's market. Where I've chosen to camp, I am out of the way and can enjoy the event and come back to my campsite and continue my camping without being disturbed by the event.

This park gives the option of both tent and camper sites. Many of the sites are separated from others by some space and numerous trees, tucked back away in the pine forest. The secluded nature gives it the feel of a National Park with beautiful stretches of pine and rocky ledges. Most sites are quiet, with only the slightest hum of the interstate in the background (although a couple may be loud, so beware which site you book). Staff is friendly and helpful, firewood is available at the park. Many pit toilets are available, as well as running water/showers. Playgrounds are also in the park, a pet area, water fill up station, some trails (nothing much for hiking). Very very close to the Dells as well! Mosquitoes are terrible during the summer, but that’s to be expected anywhere in Wisconsin.

We have a big private site #138 it’s in the Cliffwood loop at the end where the circle is. We had electric, picnic table, (you have to fill your camper with water after you enter there’s many hoses) we had a fire pit and a private trail behind the campsite that leads to a view of the lake. It has been so quiet in this loop it’s hard to believe it’s opening week due to COVID.

The lake is nice and cold lots of kayaking and canoeing. You can launch at the boat ramp.

There is a swim beach, nice pet area and trails in the park to hike.

There are 3 loops for camping we like the one we’re in. Cliffwood loop Big sites near us ours 138, 137 big but soggy when it rains hard, 136 is nice it has a view of the lake. 139 is ok the back drops down a hill where you park for day use.

Sandstone ridge loop some nice big sites are 74, 75, 77.

Bluewater bay loop has no electric smaller sites we saw all tents in this loop.

Some sites are not level so come prepared.

We ate at Ishnala supper club it’s very pricy yet excellent food. The building is cool with some original parts from the old log cabin it once was. The service is great beautiful view of the lake from a window seat. Several bars and a little gift shop.

Good food in Baraboo at the little village cafe. The chocolate torte is so good. The owners are so nice.

We would stay here again.

This campground is nestled in 70 acres surrounded by the Baraboo, Wisconsin hills, Skillet Creek Campground offers a serene setting.  Located one mile from Devil’s Lake State Park, this campground is your best base camp this summer!  Enjoy the Baraboo area attractions, circus world,  Baraboo Zoo, Devil's lake climbing, swimming, hiking, and fishing.

Skillet Creek Campground has friendly owners, themed weekends, glow parades, Saturday activities for kids, and movies nights.

Clean bathrooms and a barn with large game room.

I wanted so badly to love this campground experience, but just didn't. Site 19 was an easy walk-in that theoretically had nearby vault toilets, parking, and water.

Each site only had space for one car to park before walking in. Not a huge deal, but annoying as there were 2 of us who drove separate and we had to problem solve. When we got to the site I was shocked to see that what was labeled as a tent site had literally NO flat space to actually set up a tent. Spacious site, but fully sloped.

Also, what I would have loved to know, is that the vault toilets are closed because they are doing construction to build something new in that space. Construction that starts loudly each day at 7am. Honestly every site from about #35 down was affected by the noise because the construction is happening in the middle of the loop (and actually blocking some of the one-way road as well).

The park in general was okay. Per the usual, the pet areas were lacking. No beach at all, just grass covered in goose poop and one cut out on the raised shore between tall grasses and foliage where a dog could potentially jump in. Certainly nowhere for a human to enjoy the water with their pups unfortunately.

I probably shouldn’t review the park because it’s busy enough as it is. But it is our favorite park and go to vacation spot. 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. The town of baraboo is picturesque and had many things to do. All of 3 campgrounds have their own charm and we’ve stayed in all three.