Popular Online Maps

MapQuest was the first of the online maps and has changed the least over time, yet it remains the most popular site for driving directions and local street maps. Google Maps is quickly inching up in popularity, which is fair since they are the innovators of the satellite imagery and aerial photography, yet some speculate that their tie-in with the search engines is corrupting web traffic data. The major players in the mapping industry each have their own special perks.

So what about maps of sightseeing? MapQuest does not offer satellite images currently, although if you have the addresses, you can plot out multiple points on your sightseeing tour to discover an efficient route. Google can show you extremely close-up views all around the world from Nairobi and Lima to Baghdad and Tokyo.

Yahoo also takes you right to the heart of the world's most far-flung continents using a number of sources for its images, although Google and Ask have more display pixels. Conclusively, Google Maps probably has the most comprehensive database of real-world images and the fastest response time for your sightseeing needs. In fact, there are entire websites dedicated to "sightseeing without leaving your living room via Google satellite maps."

Online maps will continue to progress faster than we can review their sites. The general rule seems to be: once one site gets it, they all catch on. Even so, you will always overhear someone say, "I hate MapQuest because it always gets me lost," or "Google Maps is creepy; how you can spy on people via satellite?" Or perhaps you'll hear "Yahoo Maps local listings rock" or a "MapQuest's gas prices are awesome," or "I love the map sharing capability of Google."

Perhaps on your next trip, you can try plugging directions into each of the maps to see which site speaks to you.

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