Google Mapquest Driving Directions - which is better?

The younger you are, the easier it is to take technology for granted. Whether you are jaded or, like me, more easily entertained, I find mapping services like G-Maps or Map Quest simply marvelous. The people who have brought together these tools over the last 10 years are geniuses.

Take a look at maps.google.com. Even though they got into the map game only recently, they are now the 1,000 lb gorilla when it comes to maps and directions.

I have been using Google Maps for a quite awhile. Their technology continually get better, and alongside with it, the detail of the maps has advanced substantially. There are other chief web players that provide geo mapping with great success as well. The big 3 are Google, MapQuest and the granddaddy of them all, Rand McNally.

I will do a short review of these three, which hopefully will save you some time when you arrive at the websites.

After years with Map Quest I typically use G-Maps these days (although Map Quest still has one very unique feature I will let you know about in a minute). My preference for this Google service developed after finally studying their very easy to understand instructions.

If Google keeps going like they have they'll be in charge of the world in no time. Google has first-rate point-to-point mapping worldwide but their real strength comes in their satellite mapping.

To try and cover all of G-Maps in this review would fail, so let's look at the focal features of the site and you can uncover the rest after you get there.

You can see earth satellite images all over the world and superimpose streets on those satellite images, it's awesome. All the main map categories are available to view.

You can zoom into Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and actually distinguish tourists with coach handbags walking around or see the traffic entering the on ramp of the Golden Gate Bridge. Map overlays can be added for almost anywhere as well.

Perhaps the most unique tool of mapping is the users ability to amend any route the computer plots. If you need to drive another way all you have to do is drag and drop the route trail to another place. Time and again you want to go to different places on your way... other sites will not let you do this, with Google it's a snap.

Rand McNally has been publishing maps since 1872, if you do the math, what you'll see right away is that's a very long time. All truck stops in the US as well as large gas stations retail Rand McNally atlases, long before Texas defensive driving. They are mostly in the printed map business but also have a website that provides online maps and directions. They are a good way to cross check directions from other services.

Map Quest has been around since the good old days of the internet... 1996... so by e-standards, it's very mature if not antique. AOL purchased it in 2000 and remains in charge.

I have used MapQuest plenty of times and they always work. They have remarkable maps for the US, Canada and Europe but are weaker in the rest of the world in their quality and detail. US instructions are totally detailed and usually quite accurate. In some growth areas they can be a little behind, simply because of trying to stay current with new growth can be difficult.

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

Hope this helps you never to get lost again, and safe travels and no speeding tickets to you always.

Joshua Nestor