Thompson Park

Thompson Park: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this viewpoint: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit Thompson Park

Season: October to February for cool, clear air; July to September for mist and greenery.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

Visiting Thompson Park: tips

• Go at sunrise or sunset for the best light; carry a warm layer.

How to reach Thompson Park — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 44.09346, -103.19723. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Thompson Park

• The Journey Museum · museum · Pennington · ~2 km · Must-see
• Hotel Alex Johnson · fort · Pennington · ~4 km · Must-see
• Dinosaur Park · park · Pennington · ~5 km · Must-see
• Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help · church · Pennington · ~6 km · Must-see
• Storybook Island · park · Pennington · ~7 km · Must-see
• Stavekirke Chapel · church · Pennington · ~12 km · Must-see
• South Dakota Air and Space Museum · museum · Pennington · ~14 km · Must-see
• Reptile Gardens · sanctuary · Pennington · ~16 km · Must-see
• Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns · cave · Pennington · ~21 km · Must-see
• Sheridan Lake Dam · lake · Pennington · ~30 km · Must-see
• Pactola Reservoir Recreation Area · lake · Pennington · ~34 km · Must-see
• Lakota Dam · lake · Custer · ~39 km · Must-see
• Horse Thief Lake Dam · lake · Pennington · ~40 km · Must-see
• Mount Rushmore · sanctuary · Pennington · ~40 km · Must-see
• Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center · museum · Pennington · ~40 km · Must-see
• Iron Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~40 km · Must-see
• Black Elk Wilderness · sanctuary · Pennington · ~44 km · Must-see
• Black Hills Institute · museum · Pennington · ~44 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Thompson Park

Other hill stations & viewpoints near Thompson Park

• Iron Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~40 km · Must-see
• Black Elk Peak · viewpoint · Pennington · ~46 km · Must-see
• Needles Eye Tunnel · viewpoint · Custer · ~49 km · Must-see
• Bear Butte · viewpoint · Meade · ~58 km · Must-see
• Odakota Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~60 km · Must-see
• Bear Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~63 km · Must-see
• Cicero Peak · viewpoint · Custer · ~68 km · Must-see
• Terry Peak · viewpoint · Lawrence · ~71 km · Must-see
• Polo Peak · viewpoint · Lawrence · ~71 km · Must-see
• Fuson Canyon · viewpoint · Custer · ~74 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in South Dakota

Frequently asked