Free maps and travel guides by mail are still available from tourism offices across the United States, and more than 40 states currently offer some type of free statewide printed vacation-planning resource.
Depending on the state, you may be able to request a visitor guide, vacation planner, highway map, scenic-drive guide or complete travel packet. These publications are especially useful for road trips and areas where cell service may be unreliable.
What You Can Find in This Guide
- 40+ states with verified mailed travel publications
- Official state tourism request links
- Highway maps and road-trip resources
- Vacation and visitor guides
- Digital alternatives when available
- Mailing restrictions and ordering tips
Important: Printed-guide inventory, mailing countries and publication years can change. Always review the current request form before submitting your address.
1. Free Travel Guides From Alabama Through Georgia
These states currently advertise free printed statewide travel guides or planning materials.
Alabama
Alabama Tourism offers a free printed travel guide and lets requesters add the Alabama state highway map.
Alaska
Travel Alaska offers its free State of Alaska Vacation Planner in print to qualifying U.S. addresses.
Arizona
Visit Arizona offers a free travel packet that can include the Official State Travel Guide and Arizona state map.
California
Visit California offers its current California Visitor’s Guide as a free printed publication or digital edition.
Colorado
Colorado Tourism offers the free official state vacation guide by mail, with digital versions also available.
Delaware
Delaware Tourism maintains a request form for its printed travel guide.
Florida
Visit Florida offers its statewide vacation guide in print for qualifying mailing destinations as well as online.
Georgia
Explore Georgia mails its state travel guide free to qualifying U.S. addresses. A Georgia transportation map is also available through its planning resources.
2. Free Travel Guides From Hawaii Through Louisiana
Hawaii
Hawaii’s tourism authority offers an official visitor guide through its GoHawaii planning system.
Idaho
Visit Idaho mails its free Official Idaho Travel Guide. Additional brochures can also be selected on the mail-order form.
Iowa
Travel Iowa offers its printed Travel Guide and state transportation map through the same request form.
Kansas
Kansas Tourism offers its free travel guide and road map by mail, with separate instructions for some international destinations.
Kentucky
Kentucky Tourism offers a printed visitor guide for qualifying mailing destinations along with an online edition.
Louisiana
Explore Louisiana offers its current official state travel guide free by request and also provides a digital copy.
3. Free Travel Guides From Maine Through Missouri
Maine
The Maine Office of Tourism offers a free statewide travel guide through Visit Maine.
Maryland
Maryland’s tourism mail-order form lets visitors request Destination Maryland and other statewide maps and brochures.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts offers both the state Travel Guide and Massachusetts Highway Map free by mail.
Michigan
Pure Michigan offers current seasonal travel guides in print and digital formats and also provides a complimentary state map.
Minnesota
Explore Minnesota offers free travel brochures and its current statewide travel guide by mail to qualifying U.S. and Canadian addresses.
Mississippi
Visit Mississippi offers its statewide Tour Guide as a free printed publication and digital guide.
Missouri
Visit Missouri mails its complimentary official state Travel Guide.
4. Free Travel Guides From Nebraska Through North Dakota
Nebraska
Visit Nebraska offers its official state Travel Guide free by request.
Nevada
Travel Nevada offers the free Nevada Magazine & Visitor Guide and includes an official state road map with guide requests.
New Hampshire
Visit New Hampshire offers its current Visitor’s Guide free by mail and provides an online version.
New Jersey
Visit New Jersey offers its official Travel Guide free by mail to U.S. addresses, with digital options also available.
New Mexico
New Mexico Tourism offers its True Adventure Guide through the state’s official vacation-planning site.
North Carolina
Visit North Carolina lets travelers request the current state Travel Guide and other planning resources.
North Dakota
North Dakota Tourism offers a statewide Travel Guide and separate state map free through its maps-and-guides page.
5. Free Travel Guides From Oklahoma Through South Dakota
Oklahoma
Travel Oklahoma maintains a large free brochure catalog, including statewide travel materials mailed at no charge.
Oregon
Travel Oregon mails several free planning publications, including its Visitor Guide and Scenic Byways Driving Guide.
Pennsylvania
Visit Pennsylvania offers its current Pennsylvania Travel Guide as a free mailed or digital publication.
Rhode Island
Visit Rhode Island offers its official Travel Guide free through the state’s tourism website.
South Carolina
Discover South Carolina offers its current Vacation Guide by mail, online or PDF download.
South Dakota
Travel South Dakota mails its free state Vacation Guide and other trip-planning information.
6. Free Travel Guides From Tennessee Through Virginia
Tennessee
Tennessee Tourism offers its annual Vacation Guide free by request.
Texas
Travel Texas lets qualifying travelers request the official state Travel Guide and Texas Official Travel Map.
Utah
Visit Utah mails a free travel packet that can include the Travel Guide, highway map and national parks brochure.
Vermont
Vermont Tourism advertises a free vacation-planning bundle with the Vacation Guide, state attractions map and additional brochures.
Virginia
Virginia Tourism offers a free Travel Guide and State Map, with additional campground and historical guides available on the request form.
7. Free Travel Guides From West Virginia Through Wyoming
West Virginia
West Virginia Tourism offers its current Vacation Guide free for delivery to your mailbox.
Wisconsin
Travel Wisconsin mails its official Travel Guide and selected maps free to U.S. mailing addresses.
Wyoming
Wyoming Tourism offers its current Official Travel Guide as a free printed planning resource.
Why Aren’t All 50 States Listed?
This article includes states where a current statewide mailed travel guide, visitor guide, vacation guide, map or comparable official tourism publication could be verified. Some other states emphasize digital resources or locally produced city and regional guides instead.
A state may also restart or discontinue its printed-guide program at any time, so this list can change.
8. How to Order Free Travel Guides Safely
Free tourism publications are easy to request, but review each form before submitting personal information.
- Use the state’s official tourism or transportation website.
- Confirm that the publication is currently available in print.
- Check the mailing-country restrictions.
- Verify whether maps must be selected separately.
- Uncheck optional newsletters if you do not want promotional email.
- Order only the publications you actually expect to use.
- Allow several weeks for delivery when planning a trip.
- Use the digital guide if your departure date is approaching.
- Do not provide credit-card information for a standard tourism guide advertised as free.
Save the Digital Edition Too
A printed guide is great for highlighting routes and taking notes. The official website or digital guide is better for checking current road closures, attraction hours, admission prices and reservation requirements immediately before your trip.
Quick State Travel Guide Directory
Currently verified mailed statewide guide or travel-resource programs:
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · California · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · North Carolina · North Dakota · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Before You Go
Printed guide inventory, guide years, mailing regions and delivery times change throughout the year. Some states also stop mailing temporarily when a new edition is being printed. If the mail option disappears, check for the digital edition and try again later.
Final Thoughts
Free maps and travel guides by mail are still surprisingly easy to find. More than 40 states currently provide a statewide printed guide, map or vacation-planning publication through an official tourism program.
If you are planning a multi-state road trip, request guides several weeks ahead and keep the printed maps in your vehicle. Then use the states’ official websites immediately before traveling to verify current closures, hours, fees, reservations and road conditions.