What Driving Directions To Use? Google Maps Or Map Quest?

I realize I am probably dating myself just a little… but web map services like G-Maps or Mapquest simply blow me away. Whoever figured out how to map any block on the planet in 5 seconds has got to be rich… if not they should be.

If you never utilized this terrific service, go to maps.google.com right now. It doesn’t matter where you are going… the shortest most up to date driving instructions and maps are moments away.

Google Maps has been my favorite for a few years already. The technology in the geo-mapping arena has advanced amazingly yielding incredible immediate maps of most of the earth and directions to just about any point on planet Earth.

What follows are cursory reviews of G-Maps, MapQuest And Rand McNally, reading them should curtail your learning curve when you arrive at the websites.

I switched to G-Maps after using MapQuest for almost 8 years (more about Mapquest below). What changed my allegiance after all those years, was studying the instructions at G-Maps. You know, when all else fails read the instruction?

If Google keeps going like they have they will rule the world in no time. Google has first-rate point-to-point mapping worldwide but their true power comes in their satellite mapping.

To try and cover all of G-Maps in this review would fail, so let’s look at the vital features of the site and you can learn the rest when you get there.

All of G-Maps is based on actual earth satellite imagery. You can quickly locate Physical maps, Political maps, Road maps and Topographic maps anywhere on the planet.

You can see people wandering around Trafalgar Square in London or read the home plate logo at Coors field in Denver. In most parts of the world, you can also get point to point driving instructions.

Another unique tool of G-Maps is that it lets you to adjust the route it has laid out for you, simply by dragging the route marking to a different spot. We often know alternate routes, learned by experience that we want to use. All other services won’t let you change the path… with G-Maps it’s easy and immediate.

Rand McNally has been making road atlases for a long time. Word has it that Fred Flintstone used their atlas. They still favor the printed map or atlas and publish lots of them. Next time you stop at a gas station check by the register, it’s a safe bet you’ll find Rand McNally maps for sale. Now, having said that, they have outstanding e-maps and directions. I find them very useful for comparing routes with Google or Map Quest as a double check kind of thing.

MapQuest has been around since the good old days of the internet… 1996… so by e-standards, it’s very old if not ancient. AOL purchased it in 2000 and remains in charge.

I could not count how many times Map Quest has provided me with accurate driving instructions. They have outstanding US and European coverage but are definitely weaker on the rest of the world. If you use them in the States, they are quite specific and usually reliable. The map accuracy drops off a tad in high growth cities, mapping always lags hyper growth .

The last chief feature on MapQuest, is that it will search for the cheapest gas or diesel no matter where you are in the US. It’s a great way to keep an eye on your fuel budget and it only takes 30 seconds.

Between the three of these websites, you should be able to find your way around anywhere on the planet.