Collecting Maps From The 50 States - An Experiment

Last updated February 15, 2016

I like to collect maps. I have a modest collection that includes a few state maps, a map of the Willamette National Forest in Oregon, and some trail maps I've picked up during camping and hiking trips. I am also interested in planning future adventures around the United States.
How can I get the benefit of paper maps AND plan my trips? (hint: the answer is below)

After browsing the shelves at Barnes and Noble in early December, I decided I wanted to get a map from each state. However, individual state maps cost around $5-10. I don't want to pay that kind of money. Was there anything available on the web?

Turns out, yes, there is. Many states offer travel guides by mail, including state maps. States maintain websites from their tourist boards and commissions where you can enter your mailing info, and you'll get maps in the mail. Bingo! Many of these guides include a wealth of information on regions, campgrounds, attractions, and other things to see. Since it is in a nifty guide, it helps you focus your efforts so you're not paralyzed by typing "things to see in XYZ state" into Google. Guides provide a whole inventory of cool stuff in each state, the best things they have to offer.

So, I submitted requests to each state. If a state didn't have a request page on the web for a package that indicated it included a highway map, I emailed the Department of Transportation to request a map. This page is a writeup of this experiment to see what kinds of travel info and maps I receive.

Plus, everyone likes getting mail.

The free state maps page from Hey, It's Free really helped get me started. The person running this site did a lot of the up-front research to get the ball rolling. Thanks for finding all those links!

Time to fill this baby up. My map bag is cool, no?

What They Sent

Here is what each state sent. I will post pics of things too if I can.

State		Status		What they sent		Photos
Alabama		Waiting
Alaska		Received (1-16-16)		State vacation guide Map Received from the state DOT, late January
Arizona		Received (12-31-15)		State visitor's guide State transportation map
Arkansas		Received (1-8-16)		An informative set of books with pretty photos: Arkansas Tour Guide State Highway Map Arkansas Adventure Guide Arkansas Fall/Winter 2015-2016 Calendar Arkansas State Parks Guide More information cards (postage required)
California		Received (12-28-15)		California vacation guide, with tear-out state map California "road trips" insert Requested a state highway map of DOT since it was a tear-out map
Colorado		Received (1-4-16) (1-15-16) (1-16-16)		State travel guide (1-4-16) State map (tear-out from the guide) (1-4-16) State bicycling and scenic byways map (1-15-16) State highway map received (1-16-16)
Connecticut		Received (Feb. 2016)		Travel guide Request in to DOT for highway map
Delaware		Received (Jan. 2016)		State travel guide (small booklet) State highway map
Florida		Received (12-31-15) (1-4-16) (1-14-16)		State visitor's guide (12-31-15) State highway map, by request to the DOT (1-4-16) State camping guide (Camp Florida) (1-14-16)
Georgia		Received (1-4-16)		A large package from Georgia! Includes the following: State travel guide State highway map Letter from the governor Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Georgia's Atlanta Campaign Trail (civil war) Visit Savannah Atlanta street map
Hawaii		Received (1-15-16)		Hawaiian Islands travel guide No state map apparently available, emailed HI DOT to ask
Idaho		Received (1-11-16)		State RV and camping guide, with tear-out Idaho map State travel guide and 2 highway maps Directory of guided outdoor adventures (Feb. 2016)
Illinois		Received (12-29-15)		Illinois travel guide State highway map Brochure of IL state parks
Indiana		Received (1-16-16)		State travel guide State highway map Indianapolis travel guide
Iowa		Received (12-31-15)		Iowa state travel guide State transportation map
Kansas		Received (1-4-16)		Kansas official travel guide Kansas state travel map Kansas state parks Kansas outdoors Byways of Kansas Kansas River Water Trail Map
Kentucky		Received (12-26-15)		Visitor's Guide State Highway Map Kentucky State Parks Brochure (Feb. 2016)
Louisiana		Waiting		After requesting a map from the DOT, I was informed that the state does not mail paper maps anymore.
Maine		Received (1-9-16)		State travel guide State highway map
Maryland		Received (12-29-15)		Maryland sent a whole goodie bag! Of note, there were five brochures on the civil war, each unfolding into a map of it's topic. An African-American heritage brochure has maps on things like the underground railroad and other points of interest. Maryland visitor's guide State highway map Road trips brochure African-American Heritage points of interest Civil war brochures Civil war trails Baltimore: A house divided Gettysburg John Wilkes Booth  1864 Attack on Washington
Massachusetts		Received (1-11-16)		State highway map (after request to DOT)
Michigan		Received (1-11-16)		State highway map (after request to DOT) State travel guide and map (sent after DOT map request)
Minnesota		Received (12-24-15) (1-5-16) (1-7-16)		Visitor's Guide State Highway Map State Bicycle Map Southern Minnesota Guide Minnesota ATVventures offroad trail rider book Minneapolis / St. Paul guidebook, city map, and Institute of Art brochure (1-5-16) Visit Grand Rapids, MN guidebook (received 1-7-16)
Mississippi		Received (1-4-16)		State travel guide State highway map Mississippi Blues Trail map/brochure
Missouri		Received (12-26-15) (12-29-15)		State Highway Map (by request to the DOT) (Received 12-26-15) State travel guide and state highway map (Received 12-29-15)
Montana		Received (1-7-16)		Valuable package of resources for outdoors people! State visitor guide book State highway map National Geographic Greater Yellowstone Region map - Includes Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and surrounding areas in MT, WY, ID (geotourism map) National Geographic Crown of the Continent map - Glacier National Park and Canada above Glacier area (geotourism map)
Nebraska		Received (Jan. 2016)		State travel guide Highway map after request to DOT (received one week later, Feb. 2016)
Nevada		Received (12-28-15)		Nevada travel guide Requested a highway map from DOT on 12-28-15 since one was not included
New Hampshire		Waiting
New Jersey		Received (Feb. 2016)		State travel guide Request in to DOT for state highway map
New Mexico		Received (12-26-15) (1-9-16)		State Highway Map (by request to the DOT)(received 12-26-15) State travel guide (1-9-16)
New York		Received (12-28-15)		New York travel guide State highway map Winter travel guide (Feb 2016)
North Carolina		Received (1-14-16) (1-15-16)		NC State Winery Guide (1-14-16) State highway map (1-15-16) Travel guide (Feb. 2016)
North Dakota		Waiting
Ohio		Received (12-31-15)		2 state maps after a request to the DOT State travel guide Pull-out state map Arts in Ohio Fall/Winter 2016 - In Ohio
Oklahoma		Received (1-4-16)		Oklahoma's package was very impressive! They had so many things that it was shipped in a parcel box. Large, glossy and embossed leather-appearance travel book Oklahoma state map Oklahoma Indian Country guide Oklahoma western experiences brochure Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma map and info - Western Oklahoma Scenic Drive Map Oklahoma State Park and Outdoor Recreation Guide (a thick book!)
Oregon		Received (12-26-15) (1-15-16)		"Passport to Bounty" - a literal passport book that has "stamps" you can put in it when you visit certain locations (12-26-15) Oregon Scenic Bikeways map (12-26-15) Oregon travel guide (1-15-16) Oregon state highway map (1-15-16)
Pennsylvania		Received (12-28-15)		Two state highway maps, one for a friend! (by request to the DOT)
Rhode Island		Waiting		After a request to the DOT, the state informed me that they do not print paper maps anymore.
South Carolina		Received (1-4-16)		State travel guide State highway map
South Dakota		Received (12-30-15)		South Dakota vacation guide State highway map
Tennessee		Waiting
Texas		Received (1-4-16)		State travel guide State highway map
Utah		Received (12-26-15) (12-30-15) (1-8-16)		Moab Travel Planner (Received 12-26-15) Bryce Canyon Travel Guide (Received 12-30-15) Two identical packets received (Received 1-8-16) Life Elevated - State Travel Guide  State Highway Map
Vermont		Received (1-5-16) (1-14-16)		Vermont state travel guide Vermont Campground Guide Vermont State Parks State highway map received separately after request to DOT (1-14-16)
Virginia		Received (Feb. 2016)		State travel guide State highway map State scenic roads & byways map State campgrounds brochure Virginia's Civil War pamphlet
Washington		Not Coming		The State of Washington does not send travel guides or state maps for free anymore.
West Virginia		Waiting
Wisconsin		Received (1-4-16)		A treasure trove of resources! Wisconsin travel guide Wisconsin state highway map State campground directory Official biking guide Wisconsin State Park visitor activity guide Wisconsin state lodging directory Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail (Central Sands Region) Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail (Southern Savanna Region)
Wyoming		Received (Jan. 2016)		State travel guide State highway map