Graham district, Arizona, United States

Places to visit near Thatcher

Thatcher is a town in Graham district, Arizona, United States, home to about 4,992 people. Within 50 km by road there are 109 places to visit — 25 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 5 hill stations & viewpoints, 30 forts & heritage and 27 churches. The must-see places are The Gila Valley Arizona Temple (4 km), Roper Lake State Park (14 km) and Frye Mesa Reservoir Dam (16 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Thatcher on the map

Thatcher, Arizona
Thatcher, Graham district, Arizona, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Thatcher at a glance

Location
Graham district, Arizona, United States
Population
about 4,992
Coordinates
32.8492° N, 109.7592° W
Places within 50 km
109 (7 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches

Top places to visit near Thatcher

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Thatcher: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Thatcher, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Thatcher

51 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Thatcher. The closest is Frye Creek Retarding Dam (3 km); the best-known is Roper Lake State Park (14 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Thatcher

51 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Thatcher. The closest is San Simon Valley (16 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Forts & heritage near Thatcher

38 forts & heritage within 100 km of Thatcher. The closest is Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home (1 km); the best-known is Point of Pines Sites (5 km). Best time: october to february.

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Churches near Thatcher

30 churches within 100 km of Thatcher. The closest is Catholic Newman Center (1 km); the best-known is The Gila Valley Arizona Temple (4 km). Best time: year-round.

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Parks near Thatcher

12 parks within 100 km of Thatcher. The closest is H. Lyle Grant Thatcher Park (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Thatcher

8 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Thatcher. The closest is Memorial Bell Tower (1 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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A one-day trip from Thatcher

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 62 km on the road.

  1. Start in Thatcher
  2. 4 km The Gila Valley Arizona Temple · church, Graham
  3. 16 km Frye Mesa Reservoir Dam · dam, Graham
  4. 15 km Roper Lake State Park · lake, Graham
  5. 11 km San Simon Valley · viewpoint, Graham
  6. 15 km Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Seminary · church, Graham
  7. 1 km Back to Thatcher

Plan a longer trip from Thatcher — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Thatcher

No traveller has reported from around Thatcher yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Thatcher

    All places near Thatcher by distance

    Within 15 km of Thatcher

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Thatcher by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs2551Frye Creek Retarding Dam (3 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints551San Simon Valley (16 km)
    Forts & heritage3038Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home (1 km)
    Churches2730Catholic Newman Center (1 km)
    Parks1112H. Lyle Grant Thatcher Park (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens58Memorial Bell Tower (1 km)
    Other attractions16The People (6 km)
    Museums25Eastern Arizona Museum and Historical Society (10 km)
    Caves15Ice Caves (28 km)
    Waterfalls25Grant Creek Falls (31 km)

    Thatcher: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Thatcher?

    The Gila Valley Arizona Temple (church, about 4 km), Roper Lake State Park (lake, about 14 km), Frye Mesa Reservoir Dam (dam, about 16 km), San Simon Valley (viewpoint, about 16 km), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Seminary (church, about 1 km), Frye Creek Retarding Dam (dam, about 3 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Thatcher?

    109 places on Spotwander: 25 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 5 hill stations & viewpoints, 30 forts & heritage, 27 churches, 11 parks.

    Which is the nearest lake to Thatcher?

    Frye Creek Retarding Dam, about 3 km by road; Central Detention Dam (5 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Thatcher?

    San Simon Valley, about 16 km by road; Mount Graham (24 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Thatcher?

    Spencer W. Kimball Childhood Home, about 1 km by road; Point of Pines Sites (5 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Thatcher?

    Start in Thatcher, visit The Gila Valley Arizona Temple, then Frye Mesa Reservoir Dam, then Roper Lake State Park, then San Simon Valley, then Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Seminary, and drive back — about 62 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Thatcher?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for churches.

    Towns near Thatcher

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Thatcher’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Thatcher on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.