All current USGS topos are available only as color plots on water resistant synthetic paper, as the USGS no longer produces paper topographioc maps.
We stock all USGS 1:24,000 and 1:100,000 & 1:250,000 topo maps for all of the USA.
Plotted on water-resistant, tear-resistant synthetic paper
Index Maps. Index maps for the 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 scales are available on-line for viewing. Indexes for the 1:24,000 series are available on-line for downloading to your PC. Please note that the index map files are very large and are downloaded in .zip compressed format.
Click here for USGS 1:24,000 index maps
Symbols. A list of symbols used on U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Maps.
Sample Images Below are sample images from the three main USGS map scales - 1:24,000 - 1:100,000 - 1:250,000. The sample images cover the same spot, an interstate exit just north of Charlotte that is marked with a circle, so that you can see the difference in the level of detail in the three scales. In general, 1:24,000 are ideal for hiking, 1:100,000 for bicycling or backroad car driving, and 1:250,000 for backpacking/bicycling trip planning or a general overview of an area.
Typically, a 1:24,000 map covers about 7 x 8.75 (E-W x N-S) miles, a 1:100,000 map covers about 50 x 30 (E-W x N-S) miles, and a 1:250,000 map covers about 120 x 70 (E-W x N-S) miles.
U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Maps
1:24,000 map sample
1:100,000 map sample
1:250,000 map sample