Free Online Maps
From LoveToKnow Online
Looking for free online maps? All you need is a computer with Internet access and a destination in mind. Whether you are looking for maps for a vacation, school or general interest, searching on the Internet for free online maps can be narrowed down to a few good websites. The following websites offer the best of all worlds for those looking for basic maps or those looking for detailed online maps of all kinds.
Where to Look for Free Online Maps
Maps.com
Maps.com is one of the largest free online maps websites on the Internet. Besides the general map of the location you seek—which can be entered in by city and state, city and country, zip code or street address—you will find a number of other kinds of maps to peruse.
- Maps in the News - See where popular news stories from around the world take place. Usually only about five to ten stories are listed, but Maps.com sometimes pulls some unique stories.
- Reference - Looking for historic maps or topographical maps of a certain country or of the world? Then check out the reference maps available from this site. For example, you can find maps of who explored North America during the 1500's and 1600's. There are also political maps of countries as well as maps of the oceans.
- Map Games - Tired of just looking at maps? Try some of the map games. Take a quiz on the capitals of the United States or the location of countries in Latin America, Africa and more.
Multimap.com
By typing in an address, town or a postcode then selecting a country, you can find maps at Multimap. You can get more detailed maps, especially if you are looking for specific roads, or cities. Even local Ordnance maps are available. The Bird's Eye Views let you view real locations with street names and building names overlaying the picture. Within each map, you can add in points of interest like local favorite places, hotels, restaurants, railroad stations or even tourist attractions.
Multimap is powered by Bing.com, so expect lots of rich detail if you desire it.
ViaMichelin
ViaMichelin offers maps and directions as well as tourist attractions and the Michelin Guide, which adds in restaurants based on user reviews and ratings. The main site is a little busy, but in the middle of the page is where you need to enter search information for the map you want. For the best search, include information in all the fields, especially in the Country field. While ViaMichelin provides nice maps, it will usually throw in European locations first if no country is specified.
Altapedia
Altapedia provides maps of countries and world maps so you can see the physical makeup or political look. All countries are accessible. Besides the map, you also get an informational page about the country. For teachers, Altapedia provides high quality JPEG pictures of maps that include a physical map of the world, political map of the world, and a map of the Continental United States.
National Atlases of the United States
For interesting maps of the United States, go to National Atlas. You can customize maps for just about any detail you can think of. Political districts, economy, and even crime rate. You can print these free online maps out or order larger copies for your wall.
Major Websites
You've probably heard of the following websites that let you find maps online. Use them if any of the above websites can't get you the map you need:
- Yahoo Maps
- Google Maps
- Bing Maps Note: Use Multimap first because it is powered by Bing and it offers more detail in some locations.
- Mapquest is one of the oldest mapping websites on the Internet. The site is accurate and updated daily so you are sure to get the most current map.
Whether you're searching for driving directions to your destination or researching a far-off country, with so many maps available online, you're sure to find one that fits your needs.
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This page has been accessed 288 times. This page was last modified 07:02, 13 July 2009.
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