Traverse Gap
The Traverse Gap is an ancient river channel occupied by Lake Traverse, Big Stone Lake, and the valley connecting them at Browns Valley, Minnesota.
A park & preserve, 26 mi northwest of Big Stone City
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 3°. When to go ↓
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Milbank, 27 miles south. Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 69–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Big Stone City. Green months are the mild ones.
Traverse Gap
The Traverse Gap is an ancient river channel occupied by Lake Traverse, Big Stone Lake, and the valley connecting them at Browns Valley, Minnesota. It is on the border of the U.S. states of Minnesota and South Dakota. Traverse Gap has an unusual distinction for a valley: it is transected by a continental divide, and in some floods, water has flowed across that divide from one drainage basin to the other. Before the Anglo-American Convention of 1818, it marked the border between British territory in the north and U.S.—or, earlier, French—territory in the south.
- Type
- Park & preserve
- Listed
- National Natural Landmark
- Wikipedia readers
- 9.1K a year
Where to stay near Traverse Gap
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Milbank (6) and Ortonville (5).
Compare 5 towns
| Town | From Traverse Gap | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milbank | 27 mi south | 40 min | 6 3 hotels · 2 motels · 1 campground | 3,512 | $155K |
| Ortonville | 27 mi southeast | 40 min | 5 3 hotels · 1 motel · 1 campground | 1,967 | $166K |
| Big Stone City | 26 mi southeast | 40 min | 2 2 campgrounds | 406 | $151K |
| Big Stone Township | 26 mi southeast | 40 min | 1 1 campground | 317 | $332K |
| Alban Township | 30 mi southeast | 45 min | 1 1 hotel | 613 | $242K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Traverse Gap
Other well-known places within 59 miles.
49 mi MuseumRedlin Art Center
49 mi Zoo & aquariumBramble Park Zoo49 mi Zoo & aquariumChahinkapa Zoo
33 mi MuseumInternational Vinegar Museum
59 mi MuseumDawson Bank Museum
48 mi MuseumWilkin County Museum
55 mi MuseumArv Hus MuseumPhoto credits
Redlin Art Center: Bp0 at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Bramble Park Zoo: Bp0, CC BY-SA 4.0 · International Vinegar Museum: Wtshymanski (talk), CC BY 3.0 · Dawson Bank Museum: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wilkin County Museum: Myotus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arv Hus Museum: Myotus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Visiting Traverse Gap
What town is Traverse Gap near?
Big Stone City, SD, about 26 miles southeast.
When is the best time to visit Traverse Gap?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 69–83°.
What is the closest airport to Traverse Gap?
Watertown Regional (ATY), about 49 miles away. The nearest big hub is Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP), about 182 miles.
Where should I stay near Traverse Gap?
Milbank (27 mi, 6 places to stay) and Ortonville (27 mi, 5 places to stay).
Tips from people in Big Stone City
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Big Stone City’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.