Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 75,474	$ 58,911
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,000 and $7,615 in 2013 and 2012	158,168	159,829
Prepaid expenses	61,735	41,132
Deferred income tax assets	8,417	10,817
Other current assets	31,909	30,546
Total current assets	335,703	301,235
Property, plant and equipment	2,961,401	2,940,449
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,797,478)	(1,760,090)
Net property, plant and equipment	1,163,923	1,180,359
Goodwill	1,485,806	1,485,150
Intangible assets	445,409	468,312
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization	36,978	37,787
Other assets	42,839	41,187
Total assets	3,510,658	3,514,030
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	15,531	13,539
Current maturities of long-term debt	33,315	33,134
Accrued expenses	108,940	99,461
Deferred income	41,208	51,323
Total current liabilities	198,994	197,457
Long-term debt	2,121,557	2,127,720
Deferred income tax liabilities	100,698	107,973
Asset retirement obligation	191,519	189,659
Other liabilities	17,149	16,388
Total liabilities	2,629,917	2,639,197
Stockholder's equity:
Additional paid-in capital	2,449,453	2,432,518
Accumulated comprehensive income	5,312	5,978
Accumulated deficit	(680,304)	(674,143)
Stockholders' equity	880,741	874,833
Cost of shares held in treasury, 17,216,635 and 17,119,205 shares in 2013 and 2012, respectively	(893,832)	(889,631)
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity	3,510,658	3,514,030
LAMAR MEDIA CORP [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	74,974	58,411
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,000 and $7,615 in 2013 and 2012	158,168	159,829
Prepaid expenses	61,735	41,132
Deferred income tax assets	8,417	10,817
Other current assets	31,909	30,546
Total current assets	335,203	300,735
Property, plant and equipment	2,961,401	2,940,449
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,797,478)	(1,760,090)
Net property, plant and equipment	1,163,923	1,180,359
Goodwill	1,475,654	1,474,998
Intangible assets	444,934	467,837
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization	35,025	35,834
Other assets	37,554	35,901
Total assets	3,492,293	3,495,664
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	15,531	13,539
Current maturities of long-term debt	33,315	33,134
Accrued expenses	106,155	96,860
Deferred income	41,208	51,323
Total current liabilities	196,209	194,856
Long-term debt	2,121,557	2,127,720
Deferred income tax liabilities	133,995	141,228
Asset retirement obligation	191,519	189,659
Other liabilities	17,149	16,388
Total liabilities	2,660,429	2,669,851
Stockholder's equity:
Common stock, value
Additional paid-in capital	2,623,093	2,606,157
Accumulated comprehensive income	5,312	5,978
Accumulated deficit	(1,796,541)	(1,786,322)
Stockholders' equity	831,864	825,813
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity	3,492,293	3,495,664
Series AA Preferred Stock [Member]
Stockholder's equity:
Preferred stock, value
Preferred Class A [Member]
Stockholder's equity:
Preferred stock, value
Common Class A [Member]
Stockholder's equity:
Common stock, value	97	96
Common Class B [Member]
Stockholder's equity:
Common stock, value	$ 15	$ 15