Maps & Driving Directions
Whether you are driving to a new restaurant or planning a long road trip, finding your way with the right maps and driving directions is the best way to start. It gives you the peace of mind that you will get from point A to point B with step by step directions. Once you have those worked out, you can focus on planning the other more fun part of your trip!
Getting directions is simple; all it takes is typing in the name or address of the location you need directions from in dialog A, and then typing in the name or address of the location you need directions to, in dialog box B. While typing in theses locations, you will get suggestions that match these locations - making it very easy for you to correctly find the exact location quickly. The website features some exciting options for visitors looking to find easy to follow instructions while driving.
Maps
The driving maps website features a map next to the search bar. Visitors can use this to find their desired location on the map. The map allows you to soom in and out, view your route on the map and also allows you to use a 'street view' option - which gives you insight into what the street and location actually look like (where available). This is a popularly used feature that is not only helpful by taking the anxiety out of knowing exactly what you are looking for, but it also is a lot of fun to browse your route and see it before you ever leave for your drive.
Driving Directions
Finding driving directions on driving maps is easy!! Visitors can enter the location they need driving directions from and the location they need driving directions to in the search input fields A and B. The website will then provide accurate and easy to follow driving directions. These directsions are so easy that you will need to know nothing about eading a map to successfully reach your destination. The set of directions will tell you exactly where to go and where to turn. Not only can you follow these directions on the map, but you can also print out these directions beforehand while planning your trip... giving you a tangible copy - just like a map in the "old days"!
Real Time Traffic Information
The driving maps website factors in real time traffic information when providing you the quickest route to your destination. Getting directions will help you avoid traffic jams and routes with delays. This is a feature that can come in handy when visitors are looking for alternative routes to avoid rush hour traffic, etc.
Route Planner
Driving maps can help serve as your route planner. You can look up directions to all the places you want to visit including travel times. This can be very helpful when planning out your day so you can manage your time accordingly.
With all of these features, driving maps can help you not only when you are visiting new places but also on a daily basis. Avoid traffic with the live traffic information, and dont waste a minute of your day trying to find a location you have never been to. With driving maps, driving directions are just a click away!
Enjoy the Drive!
Google Maps vs Bing Maps vs MapQuest vs ...? Which Do I Choose
Todays online landscape for driving directions offers an amazing spectrum of options... the biggest companies working very hard to give you fast and accurate driving directions, maps, satellite imagery, live traffic, weather and more.
Google Maps
Google Maps offers a comprehensive suite of driving directions, maps, satellite views, and more. With Google being such a dominant search engine, naturally they have an endless stream of data feeding their team with ideas on what to build next. Google's acquisition of Waze also gives them a leg up with actual live traffic information with your driving direction, so their maps include data from actual drivers about road hazards, closures, accidents, bad weather and more. Finally they have an exhaustive network of cars taking pictures for real images on your route, so not only can you get directions to where you are driving to, you can see your end destination as if you've already been there! The only downside is Google Maps is a very slick interface, which after you learn how to use it - it all makes sense, but initially it can be intimidating and hard to find what you're looking for.
Bing Maps
Bing Maps is a fierce competitor to Google Maps, and competition is great for us! What we wind up with is both products producing better driving maps, with detailed information like live traffic, weather, and more. Bing's latest version includes a lot more "in-map" information utilizing cards to show off details from Yelp, Wikipedia, Tripadvisor and more to augment your maps and driving routes. With incredible "along the route" features such as photos, hotels, restaurants at a click of a button, Bing makes driving maps really easy. Their turn by turn driving directions are big and easy to read with icons for roads, interstates and more. Finally for printable directions, there's a nice big "Print" link. Bing isnt as "sexy" as Google Maps but it sure makes driving directions and maps very easy to find with explicit links.
MapQuest Maps
Good old reliable MapQuest Maps has been around for 20 years online, and actually was founded in 1967. Needless to say, MapQuest has been providing Driving Directions and Maps for a very long time and knows what they're doing. After becoming part of AOL in 2000, its popularity skyrocketed and has become the defacto standard for many people who like to stick to the maps and directions product they know best. MapQuest.com is unique in that its a site dedicated to maps and driving directions, they are not a search engine or anything else like Bing or Google Maps. What this means is very concise focus on why you are there and what they expect about you to do. Simple directions, maps, turn by turn directions, printable directions, route info and more are all easily found on www.mapquest.com!
In all there really is no stand out option for maps or driving directions. Whether you use Google Maps, Bing Maps, MapQuest or any others - chances are you will find detailed turn by turn directions to your destination. The recommendation we always make is use whatever brand's maps product you are comfortable with, and then learn all the unique bells and whistles to maximizing your journey!
Enjoy the ride!
Live Traffic Reports
For many of us travellers, knowing where to go is a smaller part of the journey. The real interest is whats involved in getting there... Is there traffic? Are there any roads closed? Are there tolls? Are there a lot of turns? Is this the fastest way!? Thankfully Google, Bing, Yahoo! and Mapquest all offer whats known as "Live Traffic Reports" including in their directions. That is, real-time driving information to not only tell you the best way to get to your destination, but to also get you there in the fastest and/or least complicated way possible factoring in the time and day that you are making your drive.
Taking advantage of live traffic real time information within your driving directions is actually really simple. Its actually already included in your search. Most driving searches will offer you several routes, and/or show you estimated time and "time without traffic" - letting you know there are differences in the time it would take you driving at 5am vs during rush hour at 5pm. Some maps even offer you the ability to pick your time/day and it will use historical information to determine your estimated travel time!
Street & Satellite Maps
In the information age, almost everything is becoming accessible from the comfort of your desktop computer or mobile phone. One of the most amazing things is the ongoing cataloging of satellite and street maps, including real images taken at the street level that you can "walk through."
Google Maps has created a whole world of street maps imagery which you can navigate through the 'real world' to see 3D images, street views, store facades, landscapes, nature and attractions throughout the world. It really is an amazing feat!
Satellite Maps offer you an above look at your area of interest. Taken from the satellites orbiting earth, these high resolution maps images are used to let users find an overhead view of their area of interest, and zoom down all the way to see what cars are in the driveway!
Enjoy the Ride!
Printable Driving Directions
Printable driving directions give us piece of mind. We are in a very connected age, where we rely on our desktop and mobile internet connections. What happens when these connections are not available miles down the road when you're in the middle of your driving directions? Well thankful not all is lost to technology and all platforms offer you printable driving directions - letting you put your journey in the comfort of a piece of paper in your pocket!
Enjoy the Ride!
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