Does the USGS have 1:50,000-scale maps, like the military uses, for the United States?
The USGS has a limited number of 1:50,000-scale maps available for the United States. These are maps that the National Geospatial Agency (NGA) has released for sale to the public.
To see which maps are available for sale (or free digital download), go to the online USGS Store:
- Click on “Maps” in the left navigation menu.
- Look for the NGA Foreign Maps button (includes domestic NGA maps).
- In the "Filter by Country" box, select USA and the appropriate state.
- Click on “+VIEW FILTERS” to toggle on additional filters.
- Under "Other Filters", use the dropdown menu in the “Map Scale” box to select 1:50,000 (it's near the top of the list).
- In the "Map Types" box, select Contours.
- Click on the green “Apply Filters” button near the top of the page. You will see a listing of all available 1:50,000-scale maps for that state
The USGS does not have a complete set of NGA 1:50,000 maps for the United States. Many (but not all) of the available maps cover areas near military facilities.
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Image of 1:50,000 scale NGA Christmas, AZ topo map
Jpg image of the 1:50,000 scale NGA Christmas, AZ topographic map. Available through the USGS Store in paper and pdf format. Used as an example of the 1:50,000 military map scale.
1940 legacy topographic map quadrangle of the Spring Creek area
Scan of the 1940 legacy topographic map quadrangle of the Spring Creek area (Arran quad, 1:62,500 scale) from the USGS
...2015 version of Tupelo, Mississippi US Topo quadrangle with orthoimage turned off.
Updated 2015 version of Tupelo, Mississippi US Topo quadrangle with orthoimage turned off. (1:24,000 scale)