Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) are important maps for boondockers because they explain where free, dispersed camping is allowed within a national forest or national grassland, and where it’s not.

• MVUMs are published by the U.S. Forest Service, and therefore apply only to national forests and national grasslands.
• MVUMs are “legal documents” as far as the USFS is concerned, and hence reflects the USFS’ official policy.
• Because they are “legal documents” they are drawn precisely to scale with GPS coordinates marked out in grid pattern.
• An MVUM tells you which roads are authorized for street legal vehicles only.
• An MVUM tells you which roads are authorized for all vehicles, including off-road vehicles.
• An MVUM shows you where USFS lands (public land) are versus inholder lands (private property).
• Most MVUMs will explain which roads are authorized for dispersed camping, or if any dispersed camping is allowed.
• Each national forest and grassland compiles and updates its own MVUM. While all MVUMs have a consistent appearance, they don’t all consistently show the same information.
• Each forest or grassland visitor center will provide printed copies of MVUMs.

Motor Vehicle Use Maps Archive by State

Motor Vehicle Use Maps Archive by Forest/Grassland