Will a raised garden stay dryer than the ground?

If you raise them higher and put in a real good layer of gravel on top of the soil, it should allow for good drainage and also keep it above the soggy soil level. As long as you have the soil well above the level that would get soggy you should be good to go. Make sure you have a barrier under the gravel or stones.

Much drier, and depending on where you live, and how much rain you normally receive, you may have to water.

It depends on how high your raised beds will be. If they are ground level they will still be soaked. You might try building them high enough above ground, with drainage holes in the bottom, so a few things can happen.

1. The raised bed won't be soaked but you will need to water.

2. If they waist high it will save on your back.

3. Virtually no weeds.

4. You can plant plants that require a lot of water; ie. watermelon.

We have 20 inch high raised beds and have no problem with them . Also much better on our backs. They are also 24 inches by 8 feet. We have one for tomatoes and other has other vegetables. We plan on building a 3rd one next year.

Raised bed should definitely help somewhat. The problem will still exist unless you find some way to redirect the water, or plant a couple trees that require lots of water. ie: weeping willows

We went with only raised beds about 5 years ago and won't ever go back. Ours are about 18 inches high and we built them with a 6" wide ledge around the top so you can sit down and weed or pick your bounty. Another bonus if you are far north is that they warm up much earlier in the spring than ground level. I have literally planted most of my garden less than 2 weeks after last snow fall... and yes the drainage is great.

part of staying dry is to have a soil mix that will let water run thru. put down landscape fabric, layer rocks gravel, put down landscape fabric over the gravel. this will slow down the dirt infiltration into the rocks. put a good fairly well draining soil mix to plant in.