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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Thompson Springs
Skip unless you are driving I-70 and want a 30-minute stop for the Sego Canyon petroglyphs. Not a base: no lodging, one gas station.
Thompson Springs is a former railroad town with a population of 39 (2020). The main draw is the Sego Canyon Petroglyphs, a short drive north, and the ghost town of Sego. There is no lodging, one convenience store, and no restaurant. Plan for a quick stop, not an overnight.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $0–10 (stop only) · Mid $10–30 (with fuel and snacks) · High $30+ (if you stay in Green River or Moab) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
| Snack or drink | $2–5 |
| Petroglyph site | Free |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CNY · Canyonlands Regional Airport (Moab)
- About 45 min south via US-191; limited flights from Denver and Salt Lake City.
- SLC · Salt Lake City International
- About 3 h west via I-80 and US-6.
Typical fares
- I-70 exit 187 to Sego Canyon Petroglyphs
- About 5 miles north on unpaved road; 15 min.
- Thompson Springs to Moab
- About 45 min via US-191.
- Thompson Springs to Green River
- About 20 min via I-70 west.
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car only. The petroglyph site and ghost town are on unpaved roads; a standard car is fine in dry weather.
See and do
Known for
- Sego Canyon Petroglyphs
- Ghost town of Sego
- I-70 rest stop
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Moab | US-191 south, about 45 min | 45 min |
| Green River | I-70 west, about 20 min | 20 min |
| Goblin Valley State Park | I-70 west to exit 147, then Temple Mountain Road, about 1 h | 1 h |
Sleep
- Green River
- About 20 min west on I-70; motels and budget chains.
- Moab
- About 45 min south; wide range of lodging, busy in peak season.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the petrol station? | Where is the gas station?where is the gas station |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No fuel or food after the Out West Food and Fuel closes (hours check).
- Cell service is patchy; download maps before you leave I-70.
- Sego Canyon Road can be muddy after rain; check conditions.
Very low crime. Risks are heat, dehydration, and wildlife on the road. Carry water and a spare tyre.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Thompson Springs yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sego Canyon Petroglyphs
- Ghost town of Sego
- I-70 rest stop
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Thompson Springs, revision 4944144 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4944144
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Thompson Springs
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Nearest consulate: Denver, CO (about 4 h).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/thompson-springs). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.