The present invention is characterized by the provision of a traveling course setting system for a moving vehicle comprising a light reflector that is moved along the peripheral outline of the work area for reflecting light in the direction of incidence, and a light beam generator mounted on the moving vehicle for circumferentially scanning a light beam around the moving vehicle. The system detects the distance between the moving light reflector and the moving vehicle and the azimuth of the moving light reflector relative to the moving vehicle on the basis of the light reflected from the moving light reflector, calculates the position of the moving light reflector based on the distance and azimuth with respect to the moving vehicle which are detected while the moving vehicle is stopped, stores the calculated position as a locus thereof, and sets a traveling course in the work area recognized on the basis of the stored locus of the moving light reflector. The travel locus of the light reflector, or the outline of the work area, can be recognized and a traveling course for the moving vehicle can be set in the work area while the vehicle is stopped.