"FREE" USGS Topo maps

jaymeister99 · Mar 10, 2011

Just thought I would share. The USGS has free downloads on all, yes all their topo maps.

All of the maps are being updated between 2010 and 2012 with photographic images and updated roads, trails, etc. Unfortunately the new maps are not accurate (the topo for my home area has literally a few dozen roads that dont exist). But some more rural or less developed areas may be more accurate.

Fortunately, all the older maps are still available too! FREE!

Here's the catch. The free maps to download are fine to read on your computer, but you can't scale em to print on your small home printer. So USGS charges $8.00 for printed copies of the old maps, $15.00 for the new.

But I found a better way...
1. Go to US Topo on the USGS website. Download a map and then go to Staples.com. I would imagine you could also go to kinkos or office depot, etc.

2. Then upload the PDF map file and select a 24x36 blueprint size paper.

3. Voila! For $2.99 I got a full size map! Just got to go pick it up.

PDE · Mar 10, 2011

hmm, pretty neat.

darthstrevel · Mar 10, 2011

great idea!...I had been wondering how to print them better w/o ordering them from usgs...they get my taxes.

sasha · Mar 10, 2011

Would you have the URL for the maps???

NaturalMystic · Mar 10, 2011

Maybe this? http://nationalmap.gov/ustopo/index.html
or this http://topomaps.usgs.gov/

NaturalMystic · Mar 10, 2011

Or this! http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/b2c/start/(xcm=r3standardpitrex_prd)/.do

sasha · Mar 11, 2011

Thanks for the info..

NaturalMystic · Mar 11, 2011

No prob sasha. I'm not sure those are the right ones but they were the quickest I could find.

jaymeister99 · Mar 11, 2011

sasha said:
Would you have the URL for the maps???

store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator/(xcm=r3standardpitrex_prd&layout=6_1_61_48&uiarea=2&ctype=areaDetails&carea=%24ROOT)/.do?show_ustopo=true

jaymeister99 · Mar 11, 2011

I got one more way to try this. But maybe somebody else can check this now, I'll have to wait till after work.

I downloaded a PDF printer application to use on Topo USA, got to try it on the USGS maps. I'm going to try opening the map download (its a PDF file). Then "print" a section of the map using the PDF printer application, with the paper size set to 8.5x14. This saves it to a PDF file.

Now open the PDF in Adobe and print it out on 8.5x14 paper. Next try it all over again on each section of the map for a mosaic. I know it sounds tedious, but beats paying $15 for a topo map, I remember paying $3.99 for these just a few years ago.

Eyegor · Mar 12, 2011

Does anyone know if you could download the pdf to a tablet or smartphone and view it that way in the field.

I have a cheap tablet that doesn't have GPS or compass ability. Any ideas?

jackman2 · Mar 14, 2011

I have a Topo app (Topo Maps) for my iphone. Cost a few bucks ~$7, but I can download any map I want for free. They are saved on my phone and I can see them without cell service.