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Major city · United States

BarabooBaraboo, Wisconsin

Give Baraboo 2 nights with a car: one full day for Devil's Lake trails, one for Circus World and the town square. Without a car, skip it.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (humid, park crowds), Nov–Mar (ice, closures)
Airports
MSN · ORD
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Baraboo is a town of about 12,000 in south-central Wisconsin, the seat of Sauk County and the eastern edge of the Driftless Region. Two things pull people here: Devil's Lake State Park, with the bluffs and lake just south of town, and Circus World, on the site of the original Ringling Bros. winter quarters. Sights sit 5–15 minutes apart by car, so a car is close to essential. Most visitors come for one or two nights between Madison and Wisconsin Dells, or as a quieter base for the state park.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Baraboo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–5
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner mainTipping 18–22% is expected.$18–32
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–16
  • BeerDraught beer at a brewpub$6–9
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Museum or sight ticketDevil's Lake State Park vehicle admission$13–16 per vehicle (check)
  • Budget bedHostel or dorm bed, a night, per personUS$40
  • Mid-range bedMotel or chain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedMotel or chain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$240

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$150 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Devil's Lake State ParkCircus World MuseumRingling family historyAl Ringling TheatreAldo Leopold Shack and Farm
Airports
MSN Dane County Regional (Madison) (About 45 min by car via I-90/94 and Hwy 12; the nearest commercial airport.) · ORD Chicago O'Hare (About 3 h by car; a fallback if Madison fares are high.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Baraboo: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−3°C

−13°C

8 rd

Feb

0°C

−11°C

7 rd

Mar

7°C

−4°C

9 rd

Apr

15°C

2°C

10 rd

May

21°C

8°C

11 rd

Jun

26°C

13°C

11 rd

Jul

29°C

16°C

10 rd

Aug

28°C

15°C

10 rd

Sep

23°C

10°C

9 rd

Oct

16°C

4°C

9 rd

Nov

7°C

−2°C

8 rd

Dec

−1°C

−9°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car or bicycle is the practical way around; the town is spread out and the state park is about 5 km south of the square. Hwy 33 and Hwy 123 meet near the centre. Devil's Lake State Park charges a vehicle admission fee (2026 estimate; check current rates).

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Wisconsin Dellsgo

Door to door: About 30 min

US 12 northwest by car

Waterparks, boat tours and a busy strip; a half-day contrast to Baraboo.

Prairie du Sac

go

Door to door: About 25 min

US 12 southeast by car

Winery tasting rooms and river views; easy pairing with a Baraboo afternoon.

Madisongo

Door to door: About 45–55 min

US 12 southeast by car

State capital, farmers' market and lakes; the nearest big-city day out.

Necedah

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

I-90/94 north then Hwy 21 east by car

National wildlife refuge and whooping-crane country; check refuge hours first.

Elroy

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Hwy 33 west then Hwy 80 north by car

Trail town on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail; best with a bike.

Camp Douglas

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

I-90/94 northwest by car

Volk Field and Mill Bluff area; thin on services, plan fuel and food.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / town square

Walk to the Al Ringling Theatre, cafés and the courthouse square; few rooms, book early.

Hwy 33 east of town

Motels and chain hotels, 5–10 min drive from the square; closest to Circus World.

Hwy 12 west of town

Casino hotel and more motels; the side to pick if you are heading to Wisconsin Dells.

Devil's Lake area

Camping and cabins near the park's south shore; the choice if hiking is the whole point.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–190 excl. bed
High
$200+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or chain-hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$150US$300
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$150US$600
Devil's Lake State Park vehicle admission, one day1 × US$16 · checkUS$16
Circus World adult admission, one day2 × US$25 · checkUS$50
Rental car, one day1 × US$60 · checkUS$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$106
Trip total≈ US$291 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,162

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Diner breakfast$10–16
Sandwich or burger lunch$12–18
Sit-down dinner mainTipping 18–22% is expected.$18–32
Draught beer at a brewpub$6–9
Devil's Lake State Park vehicle admission$13–16 per vehicle (check)
Circus World adult admission$20–28 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Baraboo is a low-crime small town; the real risks are bluff edges and icy stairs at Devil's Lake, deer on rural roads at dusk, and summer heat on exposed trails. Carry water and tell someone your route.
  • Devil's Lake bluffs have exposed edges and steep, icy stairs: stay behind railings and skip the cliff trails after rain or snow.
  • Summer weekends fill the park's lots by mid-morning; arrive before 9am or use the shuttle if one is running.
  • Circus World performs seasonally, roughly mid-May to early September: check dates before you build a day around it.
  • Winter closes or ices many trails and some attractions; confirm hours before a cold-season trip.
  • Cell coverage is fine in town but patchy in the park's gorge and on the bluffs.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Sauk County non-emergency sheriff
608-356-4895
Poison control (US, 24 h)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BarabooBaraboo, Wisconsin

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Sauk County non-emergency sheriff608-356-4895
  • Poison control (24 h)1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in Baraboo; consulates sit in Chicago, and most national embassies are in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Madison airport → Baraboo by car: about 45 min, roughly $60–90 by taxi or rideshare (check)
  • Baraboo → Devil's Lake State Park by car: about 10 min, 5 km
  • Baraboo → Wisconsin Dells by car: about 30 min via US 12

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is this trail open? — Is this trail open?
  • How much is admission? — How much is admission?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the nearest restroom? — Where is the nearest restroom?
  • Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Baraboo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (humid, park crowds), Nov–Mar (ice, closures) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MSN: drive times field-checked, taxi and rideshare fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: town square, Circus World and Water St, Devil's Lake south shore, Hwy 12 west.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Circus World, Al Ringling Theatre, Devil's Lake visitor centre, International Crane Foundation) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources