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Baraboo, WI Road Trips

Plan drives from Baraboo, WI with practical route pages for distance, drive time, fuel cost, road character, and places to stop along the way.

Downtown Baraboo, WI, WI

Photo: Tom Fisk

Trip Routes

1

Longest Drive

140.6 mi

Racine, WI

Quickest Drive

2h 53m

Racine, WI

Plan Around Baraboo, WI

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Baraboo, WI is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Baraboo, WI by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

12,506

Median Income

$73,515

Median Home Value

$201,800

Median Age

40.2

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Baraboo, WI at a Glance

Founded

1838

Elevation

2,917 ft

Area

7 mi²

Notable People from Baraboo, WI

A sampling of people born in Baraboo, WI.

Daryl Morey

Daryl Morey

1972

American basketball executive

May Wood Simons

May Wood Simons

1876–1948

American writer, teacher, and socialist (1876-1948)

Stuart Palmer

1905–1968

American writer (1905-1968)

Landmarks & Historic Sites

Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Baraboo, WI.

Al. Ringling Theatre

Al. Ringling Theatre

theater and former movie theater in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Circus World Museum

Circus World Museum

circus museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States

National Historic Landmark National Register of Historic Places listed place
Gust Brothers' Store

Gust Brothers' Store

commercial building in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Walworth D. Porter Duplex Residence

Walworth D. Porter Duplex Residence

house in Baraboo, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Sauk County Courthouse

Sauk County Courthouse

county courthouse in Baraboo, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Manchester Street Bridge

Manchester Street Bridge

camelback steel truss bridge in Baraboo Wisconsin in Sauk County

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Baraboo station

Baraboo station

historic railway station in Wisconsin, U.S

National Register of Historic Places listed place
William Clark House

William Clark House

house in Baraboo, Wisconsin

National Register of Historic Places listed place

City data from Wikidata (Q1023544), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to Baraboo, WI

Baraboo is a town in south-central Wisconsin at the eastern terminus of Southwest Wisconsin's Driftless Region. A town of about 12,000 people, Baraboo's most popular attractions are Devil's Lake State Park and Circus World Museum. Baraboo is the county seat of Sauk County.

1 Al Ringling Theater, 136 4th Ave (Northwest corner of the town square), ☏ +1 608-356-8864, [email protected]. 2 Aldo Leopold's Shack. 3 Circus World Museum, 550 Water St, ☏ +1 608 356-8341. Step into the magical world of the big top at Circus World in Baraboo. Discover the National Landmark Site and original buildings of the Ringling Bros. Circus. See skilled acrobats, horses, jugglers, dogs, clowns, aerialists and elephants in 10 shows daily, May 18 to September 2. 4 International Crane Museum, E11376 Shady Lane Rd. 9AM-5PM, April 15th through October 31. 5 Ochsner Park & Zoo, 903 Park St. Winter: 8AM-5PM; Summer: 7:30AM-7:30PM. Animals at the zoo include Prairie Dogs, Capuchin Monkeys, Llamas, Black Bear, White-Tail Deer, and various species of birds and other animals. Free. 6 International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center, 102 4th Ave, ☏ +1 608 852-6767. (updated Feb 2019) 7 Man Mound. The only surviving humanoid figure mound in North America, built between 750 and 1200 AD by Late Woodland people. (updated Jan 2025)

Devils Lake Climbing Guides, South Shore Rd, ☏ +1 608 556-1135, [email protected]. Rock climbing and rappelling trips and instructional courses for beginning and experienced climbers. 1 Devil's Lake State Park, S5975 Park Rd (at the south end of Hwy 123, south of town), ☏ +1 608 356-8301. 6AM-11PM daily (visitor center open 8AM-11PM daily during summer, 8AM-4PM daily rest of the year). 2 Devils Lake Rock Climbing (Midwest Outside). (updated Oct 2020)

1 The Little Village Cafe, 146 4th Ave (Northwest corner of the town square), ☏ +1 608 356-2800, [email protected]. M-Th 11AM-8PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM (closed Su). Fantastic food in an old corner store with character. (updated Nov 2023) 2 Mama Mia Pizzeria, 113 3rd St, ☏ +1 608 355-0373. Tu-Sa 11AM-9PM. Pizzas, calzones, pastas and Italian dishes. (updated Nov 2023)

1 Al Ringling Brewing Co., 623 Broadway St, ☏ +1 608-448-401, [email protected]. M-Th 4-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-7PM. Brewpub. (updated Nov 2023)

1 Ho-Chunk Casino Hotel, S3214 Hwy 12, ☏ +1 933 592-5744. A small full-service casino and hotel. 2 Duward's Glen, W11876 McLeisch Rd, ☏ +1 608 356-8113, [email protected]. The pristine 40-acre property offers scenic hiking trails, picturesque picnic areas, a pond, a rambling brook, and a white oak tree over 350 years old. The Glen also offers dorm-style lodging for small or large groups.

The nearest airport is in Madison. From there, reach Baraboo via Hwy. 113 and the Merrimac Ferry; Hwy. 113, 19, and 12; or I-94.

Visitors will need a bicycle or car to get around Baraboo and the surrounding area. The intersection of Highway 33 and Highway 123 is near the center of town. Most lodgings are off Highway 33 east of town or Highway 12, west of town. Affluent visitors can choose to fly into small airports in either Baraboo or Wisconsin Dells.

Travel tips adapted from Baraboo on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.

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