Google Mapquest Driving Directions
By Misha
Features Mapquest Driving Directions and others too... Since I have a genuine interest in driving directions and mapping software, I thought I just publish this quick review from my friend Joshua Nestor, where he compares some of the web sites where you can get driving directions. We are not talking GPS devices here, just plain old online services. For some mysterious reason he omitted Yahoo - don't ask me why...
However both Google Maps and Rand McNally are mentioned. Please note this review has been written a while ago, so mapblast or more exotic services like aa route planner are not included.
Quick Driving Directions Review
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I realize I am probably dating myself just a little... but web based mapping services like G-Maps just astonish me. Whoever found out how to map any block on the planet in 5 seconds has to be rich... if not they definitely should be.
If you never utilized this wonderful online service, go to maps.google.com right now. It doesn't matter where or when you are going... the shortest most up to date driving instructions and road maps are milliseconds away.
I have been using G-Maps service for a quite some time. Their technology continually advance, and alongside with it, even the detail of the maps has advanced considerably. There are other key web properties that also provide geo mapping with great success as well. The big 3 are Google, reknown MapQuest and the grand granddaddy of them all, Rand McNally.
I'm going to do a short cursory overview of these three services, which with any luck will hopefully save you some time when you get to the websites.
I switched to G-Maps service after using Map Quest for nearly 8 years (more about Map Quest details below). What spoiled my customer loyalty after all those years, was studying the online instructions at G-Maps. You know, when all else fails - you read the instruction?
It is really a miraculous bit of technology which will present you with both maps almost anywhere in the world and detailed driving instructions for USA, Canada - in fact probably in most countries.
To try and cover all of G-Maps in this tiny review would fail, so let's look at the focal features of this web site and you can learn all the rest when you get there.
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You can observe nice earth satellite images all over the planet and overlay streets on those beautiful satellite images, it's awesome.
You can zoom into famous Eiffel Tower in Paris and actually distinguish curious tourists walking around it or see the cars entering the steep ramp of the Brooklyn Bridge. Map overlays (sic!) can be added for almost anywhere as well.
Perhaps the most unique tool of online mapping is the users ability to alter any route that the computer shows. If you want to drive a different route then all you need to do is to drag and drop your preferred route trail to a completely different location. Many times when you want to go to alternate locations on your planned route... other sites will not easily enable you to do this, with Google it's a breeze.
Rand McNally has been making all kinds of maps and road atlases for a long time. Word has it that even Fred Flintstone used their atlas. They still prefer to produce the printed map or atlas and sell quite a lot of them. Next time you stop at any gas station check by the register, it's a safe bet you'll be able to find Rand McNally maps for sale there. Now, having said that, they too have excellent e-maps and directions. I find them especially useful for comparing routes with Google or Map Quest as a double check kind of thing.
Map Quest is the grandma of computer mapping started in the 1960's by Donnelly Advertising. Long after they were bought in 2000 by AOL.
I could not count now how many times in the past Mapquest has provided me accurate driving directions. They have excellent USA, Canada, and even European coverage but are definitely way weaker on the rest of the planet. If you use them in the United States, they are quite specific and generally dependable. The map accuracy though drops off a tad in high growth cities, mapping always lags fast growth .
Map Quest has a small "Gas Prices" icon right on the top menu bar that will search for you for the best gas or diesel prices practically anywhere in the US. This is a real world money saver and I check it almost before every fill up if I can.
Hope this short review helps you never to get lost again, and many safe travels to you always.
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Joshua Nestor
Hate my hub? Let me know! Make sure to vote if you like it, though :)
I use it all the time. Thanks.
I don't think we have that in Australia yet where it tells about gas prices as well :) Soon....maybe
Thanks, guys :)
@Rowell - I think you'll have it soon down there :)
I use Google Maps all the time, but I found some errors in them, I used Mapquest a little before but I will try and compare them both next time. Accuracy is the main thing, Google and others should verify it themselves randomly to see they give great results.
I like google maps a bit more. I've had issues with mapquest.
After looking at this I decided to use G-maps for my Las Vegas site. I like to get oriented by checking out a map before I go anywhere.
I'm not computer savvy, so I often have a problem with MapQuest in terms getting results -- but when I get the directions they are pretty accurate and helpful. Next time I'll try G-maps, which I didn't know about. Thanks for the tip.
Knowing me, I'll still get lost. But I did have my questions answered about Mapquest. Thanks for posting this. And what a great image!
This is a beautiful hub, great work misha.
J.T
Thanks everybody :)
Well done Misha. We can all use a little direction.
Pass along to your friend who wrote this review, I believe you said his name was Joshua Nestor, that he writes good material. Thanks for showing this to us!
Very interesting, thanks Misha! Like Rowell, I'm in Australia, so we have something to look forward to.
We are driving to bulgaria next year so we will definatly be having a look at the site , cheers mandy
Good hub! I use mapquest a lot.
That's a nice Hub, thanks!
I love mapquest and today was my first time to experience GPS sysyem in a car. THAT i s really cool.
Thanks guys :)
@Gamegirl
I sent him the link, so he can enjoy your comment, too :)
@Darron
Yeah, GPS is a really cool toy. It's usefullness in day-to-day commute is questionable, though. Since I go new places relatively rare, I find the price tag to be too high to justify its benefits for me... But this is just me :) If you often drive along unfamiliar routes, GPS is a great helper.
Misha, I used your Russian website www.marwrut.ru - and it works very well. I can plan my trips in advance and I have not seen any similar sites in Russian before
Thanks
I usually don't have any problems with mapquest, but one time they gave me directions that only got me 3/4s the way somewhere. We had to figure the rest out for ourselves.
Great Hub, Misha. I use Google Maps, mapquest and Yahoo for both personal trips and trips for work. Since my employer allows us to use either the miles as measured by one of these services or our own milage log for milage reimbursment I have been able to forget the milage log and just submit the miles included with the driving directions.
I have also found Google maps to be a great way to get some background on new business clients when they call. Just do a Google Map search and then click on the links for the business when it appears on the map. Having this background information about the company not only lets me speak knowingly about their business but also can give me an idea of the types of computer training services that they may need and which my employer can offer. Chuck
Thanks guys for all your comments and insight :)
Yesterday we had to drive 80 K to visit a friend to take her out for her Birthday. We had to cross under the Harbour. Get onto another motorway and continue on for 1 hour 30 mins for the journey.
Coming home we got on a different motorway, which ultimately became a another motorway. we Saved 25 minutes in time. That's the way to go in future.
I use Google Maps all the time and I had no idea you could actually adjust the route. That's kinda brilliant. I'll be using that feature the next time I have to drive through NYC and all of the map software insists on sending me on roads I hate driving in Connecticut.
great service,w/ no probs.
Thanks guys, I appreciate you comments :)
Interesting topic, well written. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Mr.Nice, I'll try :)
Nice hub! And such a cool photo :)
Thanks for stopping by :)
Your the coolest Misha NIce Hub
Thanks Coolbreeze :)
I used to use multimap for directions, but Google Maps are great, especially in hybrid view. I had to find a cricket pitch in the middle of nowhere and I could actually zoom in and see the stripes of the square in satellite view - brilliant.
I've only been lost twice in my entire long, long life so I never saw a need for a GPS system. But I have a sister who can get lost going to the grocery store so I plan on gifting her with a GPS. Thanks for the review. I wanted to find the system that was easiest to use.
dugg
Groovy Hub Misha!
I have google maps on my iphone and I LOOOOOVE IT! On computer or my iphone.... it is amazing technology.
tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon
Thanks a lot guys for your participation!
Hi, my sweet....how are you, nice hub....when will you be writing another??? I will wait patiently!
This is great info; I digg it ! Keep up the good work
Debbie, you are soooo sweeeeeet ;)
Thanks usedcars, I appreciate it!
Google also has a free phone application that I use on my Palm Treo 700P. I've used their maps countless numbers of times and love them. You can get the mobile version here. http://www.google.com/mobile/ It includes (form major metro areas) a traffic indicator as well. No looking while driving though.... :)
Nice hub.
hello who sing up website?????
by (tung kosovo)
Syvar, thanks :)
Boy niti, I can't understand you. Try to say it in different words :)
Misha,
I use Google Maps all the time. I have an iPhone and Gmaps is bulit in. I can be on the road and directions instantly. I love it.
Jonathan
I also am amazed by mapping applications, Misha. Bet your 1st computer was like mine: a fully loaded 256 K with floppy drives. Egads!
Hi Misha,
Thanks for visiting The Abundance highway, not sure what you mean about the feeds in relation to the post you have commented on?
Thanks, guys :)
Barbara, I actually started to work on Russian knock-off of Wang 2200 http://www.wang2200.org/iskra-226.html with whopping 64K of memory :)
and the first computer I ever touched was "Promin" - see pic here http://www.icfcst.kiev.ua/Museum/GL_HALL2/COMPUTER
You had to use sticks marked "read", "write", etc. to enter the program, then use numeric keyboard to enter the numbers, and you can read results on 10-positions display :D
Thanks Misha, your pages are great! Online maps are, indeed, a lifesaver. I print them out whenever I go anywhere.
Thanks for stopping by, Andy :)
Rocking on DIGG!!
Congrats...Great Work!!
you are being sooo sarcastic Misna
Andy, do you mean here or on the forums?
Hi Misha. I've just noticed a comment made in my name, but it was not me. I am always logged in when I make comments, and that comment ("you are being...") was not made by a logged in user, instead, somebody typed in my name in the comment form. That comment was either made by someone with the same name as me, or by someone who is trying to frame me.
But while I'm here, I'll just say again that google maps are absolutely terrific! Printed another one out two days ago .
these maps make the world much smaller and less complicated. Thanks Misha!
Great hub Misha! Used Mapquest many times. Must check out Google next time. Blessings.
very informative hub you have here Misha. I myself never used it much but lot of my friends make use of them. When we are invited to go to the place we never been before my friend always consult the google maps first. I should use them myself, after ready your hub, thank you.
Very good hub - Thankyou!
Thanks for the great hub Misha. Great information to help people get to where they want to go in life. When it comes to getting proper directions for building a website presence, I use and recommend Site Build It. They guide you to build sites right from the get go and believe me, it's worth every cent to get the support than to rebuild everything you did WRONG. For one, no traffic and you are a speck of sand on a mile of beach of a deserted island!! So why bother writing at all, right? If you want interested readers to find you, then I recommend leaving the search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to the Site Build It team. They optimize your pages for the search engines so people can find your little place in space. For more tips visit http://www.netrageouz.net/toolbox.htm for dozens of other resources. if you're ready to set up a sweet spot in the virtual universe check it out. Great hub!!
WhoIs Netrageouz? http://www.myspace.com/netrageouz
Great post, keep up the good work.
Hi, Misha. I used to drive long distances a lot, and I had some problems with map quest. I found randmcnally.com to be much more reliable. Maybe Map Quest is better these days. Thanks for the hub!
I love the ability to see anywhere on the earth. When we moved, my brother was able to get a bird's eye view of our new home. It was great.
I have used it before and mapquest to. Both are good in my opinion. Good article by the way. Very informative and well put together.
Thanks for stopping by and reading guys and gals :)
Hay Misha! Long time no see!Hope all is well and life is treating you good.
Truly, what do you think about the coming of Big Brother...personally I think *he* is coming now--and rather runing than walking.
Please go back and give my hubyour thoughts on the subject - ok
Melanie
Hi Melanie,
Thanks for stopping by :)
Misha good hub again
Thank you for the informative hub. There was a fascinating article in the "New Yorker" within the past year, that I read, about how people mapped out the coordinates for a GPS to work in our cars. They put dots on a grid that covered America for every sign on every street! That includes "No Parking" "No Left Turn" "Baltimore 30 miles" et al.
Hi guys, thanks for stopping by :)
James, that's really fascinating! :)
thanks for the review - i'm definately passing it along. my whole family travels everywhere in the world and while we love to just drive around country roads to satisfy the wanderer in each of us - getting to our destinations (no matter where we are) can be of the upmost importance.
Hey, you are welcome the Rope! Glad you liked it. :)
dis is a verwy informative article! i tried Google-mapping The House At Pooh Corner with no success. i will keep trying though... :)
You did not have enough dope bunny, get loaded and try again, this will help for sure, trust me! ;)
I also want to thank You for sharing this great article with us.
Regards
Oh sure, mapquest driving directions certainly helps to deal with debt :D
I wonder if anyone really uses MapQuest since Google Maps came along. I personally love the "street view" option. We laugh at the silly picture the of my neighbor in the image featured for our street.
iam ismail
maps
need help line
trying to find Scripts Cardio Clinic, out of the 50 some Clinics called Scripts. Nurse said its between Pivital road (turn right) and right again.on Syamore Ave. "You know", near one of the 50 Burlington coat factories in San Diego. No address for BCoatFactory, of course, no zip. How do I find it? How can I be on time, Nurse.
I use Big "G's" Maps which are great, I just find that they are outdated but maybe that just because of where I live (Not in the US) but anyway thanks for the great info through this hub and I enjoyed all the comments.
I love map qest
how do you work it
home
I totally agree with you that whoever thought of the idea of mapping out the planet should be rocking the world right now. I look at my iphone right now and I click on maps and it amazes me that I am actually being on seen on the maps.
LOL Yeah, did not see myself yet, but saw my cars parked at my house. :)
Great hub.. :)
Thank you Marliza :)
Great hub! I still use Mapquest for a lot of my searches although I have been using Google Maps quite a bit recently as well. I like the new traffic feature that Mapquest has added. I think it provides considerably more depth.
Hi Lender, yes traffic is good - and google has it, too. I use all three of them for any important route, cross-checking each other. :)
GPS sure has made it a lot easier to travel now a days. Great hub Misha.
Sure it did. I don't have GPS though ;)
Google is a great help but sometimes gives bad directions. is there a way of alerting the web masters so that they can fix errors?
Hey Lil, check out this link: http://maps.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en
Our rural fire dept moved to a new location June 2008 and we still are not listed in Google or MapQuest. How do we get on the map?
For Me Google is Way better
E Robinson, I guess you'll have to wait more - or find a way to contact them. :)
Rakoo, sure use g if you like it more, not that anybody objects. :)
Thanks for this great information , its really helping me.
This is not what I am looking for. Why does this page come up when I am looking for driving directions?
Misha,
This article has been stolen from you and republished here:
Well done Misha! Some nice info over here. I also love G-maps and use only that when I need to get somewhere - it doesn't matter if it's only in my home country - Slovakia, or abroad on vacation - it's quick and reliable all over the world.
Jared-Blake 4 years ago
Misha, good stuff...Thank you!
Regards, Jared Blake