View Road Maps Online
From LoveToKnow Online
Because of technology, to view road maps online, all you need to do is type in an address, click a button, and within seconds a map appears. One advantage to an online map is that it can be updated more quickly than paper maps, which usually come out once per year. The following sites offer travelers and tourists the ability to view road maps online in a variety of ways in order to get the best routes, easiest ways to see landmarks and most updated maps.
Where to View Road Maps Online
National Geographic
To use a map finder with no bells and whistles, go to National Geographic's MapMachine. You can either zoom in manually to find the map you need or you can type in a specific address, country, or state. For the United States, you can enter in a zip code. On the same map, you can view a road map, which lists road and street names, landmarks, and major areas like colleges and parks. The map is also able to show you a satellite image of the area, a bird's eye view that shows you an actual high-res picture, and a 3D view image. The 3D view option lets you fly over the area. You do have to download software to your computer in order to run this option.
Rand McNally
The Rand McNally name is synonymous with maps. Online versions of their paper maps are available to view from any computer. You can pull up a specified map or get directions with the website from an address, state or zip code. If you are familiar with the color coding of theprinted atlases, then there should be no issues with viewing road maps online from Rand McNally. After you get the map you need, you can email it to yourself, save it to disc or print it. Rand McNally also offers the option of purchasing a 24"x30" laminated map of your selection.
MapQuest
One of the oldest online map destinations is MapQuest. This website also has quite a few features to enhance your map viewing experience. After typing in the location you want (you can also search by business or type of business), a large, easy-to-read map appears. From here you can print it and send it to your cell phone, GPS or On-Star system. If that's not enough, you can locate gas stations in the area, restaurants, hotels, and more with just a click of the button. A nice feature they offer is the option to add traffic information to your map. Remember that any traffic information called up is at that moment, so periodic web page refreshing is required to get the most accurate information.
Geology.com
For more general online maps of the United States and the world, go to Geology.com. Basically, the road maps have major highways and roads listed for a simple view of your locations. For the world maps, you can view specific countries that list major cities and major roads, but won't have the road names listed. You'll be able to see boundaries and an approximation of how large a city is, but nothing more. This website also offers satellite images, which show you the topography of the land. However, most of the images are from 2005.
Historical Society
Maybe you would like to view road maps online from the past, such as seeing what roads were being developed in the 1950s. If possible, visit the website of your local historical society. Maps are an important item for historical societies to keep, so they may have scanned them into a digital format to add to their website. Another way to view old maps is to visit Historic Road Maps. There are many maps from the 1920s as well as the 1951 Route 66 map from each state. The state with the largest collection of old maps is California.
Before you hit the road, make sure you check your online map options for easy traveling.
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This page has been accessed 253 times. This page was last modified 01:51, 19 June 2009.
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