What Driving Directions Are Better? Google Maps or MapQuest?

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

If you never used this marvelous service, go to maps.google.com instead of regular Google search now. It doesn't matter where you are going... the shortest most up to date driving instructions and maps are moments away.

I have been using G-Maps for a quite some time. Their technology constantly improve, and along with it, the detail of the maps has improved significantly. There are other main web properties that use geo mapping with great success as well. The big 3 are Google, MapQuest and the granddaddy of them all, Rand McNally.

I'm going to do a cursory overview of these three, which hopefully will save you some time when you get to the websites.

I switched to G-Maps after using Map Quest for almost 8 years (more about Map Quest below). What killed my loyalty after all those years, was studying the instructions at G-Maps. You know, when all else fails read the directions?

It is a marvelous piece of technology which will present you with both maps nearly anywhere in the world and detailed driving instructions in many countries.

G-maps is extremely feature rich and their tutorial does a way better job of explaining it than we can. With that in mind, let's cover the main features, you will find lots more when you delve into the website.

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

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

Another exclusive feature of G-Maps is that it allows you to alter the route it has laid out for you, simply by dragging the route marking to another place. 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.

Rand McNally has been making maps since 1872, if you do the math, what you'll see immediately is that's a very long time. All truck stops in the US as well as big gas stations sell Rand McNally atlases. They are mostly in the printed map business but also have a website that provides online maps and directions. They are a great way to cross check directions from other services.

MapQuest is the granddad of computer mapping having been started in the 1960's by Donnelly Advertising. They were purchased in 2000 by AOL.

I could not count how many times this service has provided me with accurate driving instructions. They have exceptional US and European coverage but are definitely weaker on the rest of the planet. If you use them in the States, they are quite specific and typically dependable. The map accuracy drops off  slightly in high growth cities, mapping always lags hyper growth .

MapQuest has a "Gas Prices" icon right on the top menu bar that will search for the best prices prices anywhere in the US. This is a real money saver and personally, I check it before every fill up if I can.

Hope this helps you never to get lost again, and safe travels to you always.