Transportation development in the Wuling Mountains has impacted land use changes and ecosystem services. The study looked at how transport development from 2000 to 2020 influenced the ecosystem service value (ESV) in the region. The results show that transport development has led to changes in land use patterns, with construction land and garden land expanding due to transportation growth. Different policies have affected ecological land and cropland. The ESV initially increased but then declined, with cold spots of low ESV forming around transportation areas and hot spots of high ESV along the Yangtze River. This information can help guide land-use policies and spatial planning for green development in the region.