Free Online Distance Maps
From LoveToKnow Online
Free online distance maps are ready at a touch of the keyboard. By entering in a couple of addresses, you can find pictorial routes with distances between each new turn. Many of the mapping services you already use probably offer some sort of free online distance map. If your favorite service isn’t listed below, don’t worry; you can probably find the distance on any search or direction you input.
What is a Distance Map?
A distance map is a map that highlights a route of your choosing. The most common distance maps people use are to find directions. Mapping sites provide a road map of the route with the starting point and ending point dotted for easy reference. The site calculates the total distance, but when giving the directions, the mapping system gives you the distance between each turn or change in route.
Free Online Distance Maps
Some of the better sites that provide free online distance maps use top-of-the-line technology to give you the most accurate route and calculated distance.
- Google Maps - Google Maps is one of the more popular mapping websites on the web. With many different options to customize a map, you can find just about any kind of information from a map search or a distance query. After setting your route, you will see a line from your starting to your ending point. A calculated distance is displayed in the margin and you can select quickest route or shortest route. If you wish to see what the distance is using a straight line, call up Google’s Distance Calculator to do so.
- Mapquest - One of the first mapping and directions website was Mapquest. Working like most other websites that give you maps, Mapquest calculates both shortest route and quickest distance. One unique feature of Mapquest is that if you have a broadband card and access to the Internet wherever you go, then you’ll be able to update your route at any time while traveling in the air card’s range. You can still use this feature if you don’t have the broadband; you just need access to a WiFi spot to get intermittent distance updates.
- Bing Maps - Bing gives you an accurate distance just like Mapquest and Google Maps, but you can also add points on your route and add that distance to the original calculated distance. While you are looking at your free online distance map from Bing, you can peruse the margin to add or subtract destinations by category, such as restaurants, rest areas or other businesses.
Travel Distance Calculators
- Map Crow - If you just need to figure out the distance between two cities, then MapCrow is a good choice. Enter in point A and point B and click Submit. The site figures distance in a straight line, but it is accurate enough for most needs. You can also select your points by city for major destinations.
- Google Distance Calculator - This distance calculator works just like the one from Map Crow. Enter in your cities to display the distance. Again, this measurement is a straight line. One thing you can do with the Google Distance Calculator is get more details. For example, as you zoom into an area, you can select two new points or even add points in between your original spots. This means if you want a more accurate measurement, you can add points into a route-like format. One of the examples given was measuring an outdoor track. Points were selected on the curve and two points on each straightaway. Google measured the track at a little over one-third of a mile. The actual distance of the track: .34 miles.
Foreign Distance Maps
The above mapping services also let you find distances overseas. Google Maps and Bing have Street Views and Birds-Eye views respectively, which are real pictures of the area you want to view. You are able to add points on either map to figure out distances from 500 feet and above.
Whether you're planning a trip or just curious about the distance between two points, online maps will help you chart your course.
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This page has been accessed 334 times. This page was last modified 07:50, 30 July 2009.
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