US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 148710561).
The red circle marks Thompson Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official Michigan DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Fish species stocked here by the Michigan DNR since 2010: Northern pike.
Stocked: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024; 1,722 fish in all, fry included
Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Fish Stocking Database (records for Thompson (Howell) Lake, Livingston County, since 2010) and the DNR Institute for Fisheries Research inland lake deepest-point data. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 148710561), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Michigan DNR boating access sites. Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 0.3 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Thompson Lake shoreline, mostly along the north and west shores.
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 20 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Thompson Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
RVs welcome · Tent sites
RVs welcome
RVs welcome
RVs welcome
All campgrounds & RV parks in Michigan
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (42.6113, -83.9136). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Thompson Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/Detroit), and accurate to within a few minutes.
1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson Lake boating access site | Oceola | — | Boat launch · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 42.6097, -83.9204 |
Michigan DNR boating access sites
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Reported on or near Thompson Lake
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database
USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.
Thompson Lake covers about 264 acres in Oceola and Howell, Michigan (Livingston County).
The maximum recorded depth is 52 feet, according to the Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records.
Michigan DNR stocking and lake depth records lists Northern pike.
No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.
Yes. We list 20 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.
Thompson Lake touches Oceola and Howell in Livingston County, Michigan.
Know Thompson Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Michigan lakes & ponds · All waters in Oceola