The United States federal government manages over 640 million acres of public land — more than a quarter of the total US land area. This interactive US federal lands map lets you explore every parcel managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Department of Defence. Filter by agency to see exactly who manages the land near you, then click any polygon for its name, size, and a direct link to the official government page for that unit.
Explore US Federal Public Lands
How to Use This Map
Filter by Agency
Use the checkboxes to show or hide individual agencies. Each agency has a distinct colour — amber for BLM, dark green for National Park Service, yellow-green for Forest Service, teal for Fish & Wildlife, grey for Department of Defense, and purple for Bureau of Reclamation.
Read the Popup
Click any coloured polygon to open a pop-up showing that land unit’s name, managing agency, approximate acreage, and a direct link to its official government page. Each pop-up shows data specific to that parcel.
Find Federal Land Near You
Click Near Me to jump to your current location and see what federal land is in your area. This is especially useful in western states where BLM and Forest Service land borders private property and is not always visible on standard maps.
America’s Six Federal Land Agencies
Federal public land is managed by six primary agencies, each with a different mandate:
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) — The largest federal land manager, with 245 million acres primarily in Alaska and 11 western states. BLM land is open to recreation, grazing, mining, and energy development under a multiple-use mandate.
- U.S. Forest Service (USFS) — Manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands, open for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and sustainable timber harvesting.
- National Park Service (NPS) — Protects over 85 million acres across 400+ designated units, from Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon to small historic sites and urban recreation areas.
- Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) — Administers 560+ national wildlife refuges covering approximately 95 million acres, primarily to protect habitat but many open for wildlife observation, hunting, and fishing.
- Bureau of Reclamation — Manages 492 dams and 337 reservoirs across 17 western states for water storage, hydropower, and recreation.
- Department of Defense (DoD) — Approximately 11 million acres of military installations, training ranges, and test facilities. Most DoD land is restricted — the grey polygons on this map mark areas closed to the public.
Where Federal Land Is Concentrated
Federal land ownership is heavily concentrated in the western United States. Nevada has the highest percentage (approximately 80% federal), followed by Alaska, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. Eastern states have comparatively little federal land, with exceptions including national forests in the Appalachians and military installations across the Southeast.
BLM land in particular occupies the “gaps” — vast rangelands, desert basins, and canyon country between the more famous national parks and forests. Much of this land is accessible for free dispersed camping. For campsite locations across all public land types, see our interactive US camping finder.
For a complete picture, including state parks, county parks, and conservation easements, our US Public Access Areas Map uses the USGS PAD-US database and covers every protected area regardless of jurisdiction.
Federal Lands and Water Resources
National forests supply drinking water to roughly 180 million Americans. Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs are the primary water source for irrigated agriculture across much of the West. You can trace the drainage networks flowing through these lands with our interactive US watershed map, and monitor current river levels via the live stream gauge map.
Federal lands also host substantial energy infrastructure. Pipelines, transmission corridors, and generation facilities frequently cross or occupy public land — our US natural gas pipeline map shows the full transmission network across these areas.
Data Source
This map uses the USA Federal Lands feature layer from the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, published by Esri and sourced from the six federal land management agencies. Area figures are approximate, derived from feature geometry corrected for Web Mercator projection distortion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I camp on federal land without a permit?
Dispersed camping is generally permitted on BLM and Forest Service land unless posted otherwise — no permit or fee required. National Park land requires designated campgrounds. Wildlife refuges and DoD land are typically not open for camping. Always check with the specific land office before your trip.
Is all federal land open to the public?
Most BLM, Forest Service, and Fish & Wildlife refuge land is open to the public. National Parks have entry fees and activity restrictions. Department of Defence land (grey on this map) is generally closed. Even on open public land, specific zones may be temporarily closed for fire risk, wildlife protection, or resource management.
What is the difference between BLM land and National Forest?
Both are managed for multiple uses, but BLM land has a broader mandate including energy development and grazing, while Forest Service land places greater emphasis on watershed protection and timber management. Both are generally open for dispersed recreation, but rules vary by unit.
Why does so much federal land appear in western states?
When western territories joined the Union in the 19th century, large areas remained in federal ownership rather than being transferred to states or private landowners. Eastern states had been largely settled and privatised before federal land retention became policy — a divide still clearly visible on this map today.
How current is the federal lands data?
The dataset is maintained by Esri in partnership with the six agencies and updated as boundary changes are reported. For legally authoritative boundaries, consult the managing agency directly.
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