happy birthday camping
Ford
9/20/2026
Slightly disappointed
The bathroom facilities were not cleaned at all during my stay. The shower curtains were so moldy they looked like a science experiment. Also the shower head in the large stall of the ladies room was broken.
Wildwoods
9/19/2026
Overall Experience
3.3
Services
5.0
Facilities
3.7
Camping at the Lodge
Happy Camper Fam
9/16/2026
Lake Thompson
Fred
9/16/2026
Lake Thompson
The east bathhouse has some issues. The lights have been strobing for over three years, and the men's showers were having trouble getting even warm water. The rest of the park was very nice with a large open area for games and the sites were very level.
boater
9/11/2026
Overall Experience
3.8
Services
3.3
Facilities
3.9
Happy Camper
Happy Camper
9/2/2026
Terrific staff
Senior camper
9/1/2026
Great camping weekend
Retired campers
8/27/2026
Reservation Survey
The tree branches over our fire pit were too low and could have easily caught on fire. Should trim low hanging tree branches around fire pits and campsites.
Also, please spray for insects such as jiggers. My spouse got jigger bites the first day just from sitting with shorts on in a lawn chair. Two weeks ago, our young nephew, got jigger bites while staying at Lake Thompson.
Camper
8/26/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
3.9
Peaceful
First time visiting- very clean and peaceful. Rented cabin 5 and found it to be secluded enough for myself and dog, had access to the walking trail and water a few feet away. Walking trail was nice to enjoy scenery. Playground was nice for the kids to play, there is even a spot for horse shoes. Overall a nice and relaxing week- would recommend and will be back.
Ajae
8/24/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
5.0
Great weekend
Jack Burton
8/21/2026
No dogs
You guys need to quit allowing dogs inside the cabins because the cabins are really starting to smell. Thank you for your attention to this matter
Camping
8/17/2026
Overall Experience
2.0
Facilities
1.0
A beautiful place
Lake Thompson is a beautiful place, one that I hope to visit again. The grounds were immaculate but the two shower house/bathrooms could use a good cleaning. In fact, they were not cleaned the 4 days we were there. The shower drain didn't drain very well. I didn't see any staff while I was there.
Kamkak
8/14/2026
Overall Experience
4.0
Facilities
4.4
Great experience-we’ll be back next year!
Class of 81
8/12/2026
They made me
BrandoLakes
8/12/2026
Camping
We like Lake Thompson a lot. The only issues we had was the water heater for the bathhouse we we close to wasn't working very well. Had to go to town to get firewood whi h about a 15 mile round trip as the office was open only on Saturday. Had I known I would have taken my own firewood. Some other State parks have self serve firewood.
Camping guy
8/7/2026
Overall Experience
4.8
Services
5.0
Facilities
4.2
No one to contact as host or no one stops by.
We love coming to Thompson it’s our third time this year. Sores are widespread and not on top of each other. BUT no one stops by to sell firewood nor is there a place to visit. My nephew also had issues with his plug in amp had to use a 50 on a 30 amp camper no one answered when we went to talk to the host when he arrived after 9 pm.
SDGirl
8/5/2026
Overall Experience
4.8
Services
5.0
Facilities
4.8
fishing 2026
Shower had issues, hot water was hard to come by
Russ
7/31/2026
Overall Experience
4.3
Services
5.0
Facilities
4.2
I Tented at Lake Thompson (And so can you!)
The tent site at this park was lovely, we rented two sights as we had a big group and it was absolutely perfect. We had a beautiful view of the neighboring lake, the facilities were super clean, and everything was very easy to find. Very happy we went, and we can't wait to go back!
MickeyJ
7/27/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
5.0
Week
Really can't believe that there is no place to purchase ice at this park. Usually the campground host would have ice available to purchase or at the check-in house.
Coach B
7/22/2026
Overall Experience
4.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
3.6
Church Campout
Drywaller
7/22/2026
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes as big as horse fly’s. Could not be out in evening at all unless you had a screened tent. Out of firewood but you couldn’t sit at a fire anyways due to the bugs. Didn’t matter if you had bug spray on or not. Walking path well kept and enjoyable if you could weather the bugs. Did not appear they had done any spraying for mosquitoe control.
GL
7/16/2026
Overall Experience
4.3
Services
5.0
Facilities
4.4
Nice
We come here every year. But this year the bathrooms Sunday weren’t cleaned I don’t think at all.
DB
7/9/2026
Overall Experience
4.3
Services
5.0
Facilities
4.5
Nice place
Red605
7/8/2026
Terrible campsite selection workability - plus can't get a live person - 1st try the site shut me down?????
Luke
7/6/2026
Tree trim
Very nice park and swimming and fishing area. My only complaint is some of the trees that are close to the pads need branches trimmed as we have a large fifth wheel and the branches had to rub on our camper all weekend
Camper
7/4/2026
Overall Experience
4.8
Services
5.0
Facilities
5.0
Wonderful Experience
Wonderful experience! We were there for one night, but could have stayed the whole summer!
Katie
7/4/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
5.0
Bugs Carry you Away
our site was unmowed. tall grass full of bugs. kuds git ate up even with bug spray
Camper26
7/1/2026
Overall Experience
3.5
Services
3.3
Facilities
3.3
Repeat visit
This is on of our favorite state areas. I feel its well taken care of. Newly planted trees. Good grass around the rv pads.
Refugee
7/1/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
5.0
Good and bad
The campground and beach were very nice, but the bathrooms were filthy and it did not appear anyone cleaned them
Rae
6/30/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Love SD state park camping
The campground continues to be well kept up. The staff was busy throughout the park with tree debris cleanup from the previous storm & additional preventative trimming.
The GF&P needs to get a handle on better managing the fishery. There are MANY small walleyes in the lake & all the fish caught are very thin compared to a couple years ago
Campstratos
6/29/2026
Overall Experience
4.3
Services
4.0
Facilities
4.0
Peaceful
Clean well maintained and peaceful, at least in the middle of the week. Only thing that wasn't clear to me was coming in, I had a reservation but the sign made it seem like I needed to also buy a day pass? Never saw anyone to talk to and it was just an overnight stay, no big deal just unclear.
JDtheDude
6/26/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Mosquitoville
Grass always seemed to be mowed and the mosquitoes are terrible at this location.
Rich
6/24/2026
Overall Experience
3.0
Services
4.0
Facilities
3.7
Beautiful time
Nova
6/23/2026
Great campground
Maps at the kiosk would be nice. Larger printed and sturier tickets would be appreciated. Flimsy and difficult to read instructions as well as keep places on my dash. South dakota is known for its wind.
Bubba
6/22/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
5.0
Great stay.
Great facility. Clean restrooms. Playground for the grandkids. Spacious and level sites. We have stayed in the past and will stay again.
Happy Campers
6/19/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
4.9
Busy Weekend at Lake Thompson
It was a busy weekend at Lake Thompson. I believe there was a fishing derby, and we feel fortunate that we were able to secure a site.
The two things I would bring to the attention of the park staff would be:
1) thank you for cleaning the bathrooms, and even more than once. I saw them at the restroom, cleaning, at least twice during the day. But the first time being in the morning when the usage was at its busiest. 2) for whatever reason, there were dead fish scattered along the shoreline. There was even one in the swimming area all weekend long! We walked on the shoreline trail and saw others. They appeared to have been caught and left on the shore, likely an undesirable catch. Seagulls seemed to be the only cleanup committee for the shoreline littered with fish.
Nuthouse Adventures
6/12/2026
Overall Experience
3.8
Services
4.7
Facilities
4.8
Great place
Peterbilt143
6/12/2026
We love Lake Thompson
We always love camping at Lake Thompson. Beautiful sites with lots of trees and space for our kids. Only downfall is the showers at the shower house don’t get hot enough and the algae that blows in to the beach with the wrong wind.
Ktie27
6/10/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Great employees
They try to keep the location clean. I come back twice a year and the employees always great me. The only thing i might change is a early shift restroom cleaning.the bugs around sinks are terrible in morning and showers were used at night.maybe a 0500 cleaning of restrooms would help
Charles E
6/10/2026
Overall Experience
4.7
Services
4.7
Facilities
3.3
Great location & amenities
The lodge at Lake Thompson was a great place for our family to stay. It had plenty of beds and was clean, cool, and comfortable. We enjoyed the large yard and outdoor campfire area in the evening, where our little family members took part in the annual tradition of s'mores by the fire. There was a nice grill included with the property, which we also used. The only thing that could use some improvement is the pans in the kitchen could stand to be replaced. But overall, we would pick this place again for our next gathering.
KFamily
6/2/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
4.8
Camping
Several times a cream colored side by side came into and left the park through the trees along the highway from straight across the highway. This could be prevented by putting a fence post in the middle of the path. Site 159.
Love camping
5/23/2026
Overall Experience
3.3
Services
4.3
Facilities
4.3
Camping
Side by side going threw trees along highway and going down bike path to and from across highway. If you put a fence post in the middle of the space maybe that would help.
Love camping
5/23/2026
Overall Experience
3.3
Services
4.0
Facilities
4.0
Camping
Need a bathhouse closer to site 95!
Love camping
5/23/2026
Overall Experience
3.3
Services
2.8
Facilities
2.6
Very nice park
I find the SD parks system but expensive compared to similar parks in adjoining states but they are also well maintained and cared for.
Teresa
4/16/2026
Overall Experience
4.5
Services
5.0
Facilities
4.8
Ice fishing trip
A washer and dryer would be really nice when ice fishing for wet gear.
Happy Camper
1/14/2026
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
4.4
Facilities
3.7
Nov camping cabin stay
The campground in November was typically empty for this time of the year. The camping cabins are very convenient. The outhouse toilets were clean, well stocked with supplies & the automatic motion lights in are appreciated. The bunk liners though had a fair amount of dust on them, many strands of pet hair, & a fair amount of stains. I’d recommend bringing an extra sheet or some sort of liner to go on them
NovCamper
11/27/2025
Overall Experience
4.3
Services
3.0
Facilities
4.1
Satisfied
SDHunter
11/26/2025
October 2025 Trip
Overall very very nice stay! Glad the showers and flush toilets were open in late October. Very nice maintenance man! Had pretty much the entire park to ourselves. We stayed in a cabin that was very clean. I just wish we didn’t have to pay $60 for the entrance fee for the days we stayed. We bought an annual because it was just as much as the daily fees.
Austin
10/29/2025
Overall Experience
4.8
Services
5.0
Facilities
5.0
beautiful park
Drew
10/16/2025
Great experience
Happy camper
10/12/2025
SD State Park camp sites are the BEST
Night trapper
10/8/2025
great place to stay, good fishing . 5 of us stayed grilled out and had deer in front yard each night.
if you get the chance rent the lodge
Pete
9/29/2025
Overall Experience
5.0
Services
5.0
Facilities
5.0