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-   -   What map site do you trust the most? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/what-map-site-do-you-trust-the-most-636684/)

Heavens Aug 4th, 2006 02:21 PM

What map site do you trust the most?
 
A friend of mine used a map site, not sure which one, and it gave her the wrong directions to Disneyland, so she was late to a birthday party by about three hours.

I am looking up addresses to find a puppy and want good directions. Is there a site you trust above all others?

Thanks.

Suzie Aug 4th, 2006 02:26 PM

I like mapquest. I always zoom in to see what other streets and options are available too. The map is really interactive.

starrsville Aug 4th, 2006 02:26 PM

Use mapping sites to get in the general area. Call the location to get specific directions.

3 hours late to a birthday party at Disneyland has GOT to be user error.

I use www.mapquest.com.


saps Aug 4th, 2006 02:31 PM

I'm guessing that your friend was probably 1.5 hours late before he/she even left for the party.

Mapquest and yahoo are perfectly fine but of course they don't account for any recent changes/construction/detours.

happytrailstoyou Aug 4th, 2006 02:47 PM

My guess is that your friend entered the wrong informatioin or that she was late for some reason other than a map site error.

I find Yahoo to be reliable for estimating mileage and driving times on longer road trips.

I also like the Yahoo function that helps in locating businesses near an address. After entering a hotel address, for instance, this function can be used to locate nearby restaurants, laundries, etc.

FainaAgain Aug 4th, 2006 02:50 PM

I would get directions from several websites and compare.

AustinTraveler Aug 4th, 2006 02:55 PM

I like Google Maps a lot and use it all the time. It's really easy to use. For instance, you can type in something as unspecific as "Pasadena, CA, to Disneyland" and you'll get the directions. Lots of other good features too.

www.maps.google.com

kgh8m Aug 4th, 2006 03:32 PM

We all have different preferences I guess. I used to think that Google maps was good, but now I don't like it at all. It recently suggested a long route on secondary roads when I knew that the highway would be faster and easier. Yahoo maps, Mapquest, and Rand McNally all gave the quicker and easier route. When I tricked Google maps into giving me that same route, it overstated the travel time by about 2 hours on a 7 hour trip.

I generally prefer mapquest, but several years back it gave me directions and the highway was under construction to the point that it hadn't been opened yet or had been closed for several months.

Heavens Aug 4th, 2006 03:42 PM

Well, the directions had her go one way on a highway, the wrong way, and by the time she figured out she was going the wrong way, south, instead of north, it took her a while to find an exit to turn around and then head back the other way. Maybe two hours, but she went significantly out of her way before she figured it out. Too bad, too. In So Cal that can really put a dent in your time with traffic, etc, which I am sure she also ran into being it was in the afternoon. So, three hours isn't that far out of line.

mscarls Aug 4th, 2006 04:37 PM

All of the map sites have their weaknesses apparently. It is interesting to use two of them and compare the results. I got very different directions for the best route from my home in Southern California to Scottsdale.
I was looking at the web site for a winery recently, and it emphasized that Mapquest shouldn't be used to get to it and provided a map.
However, overall, I prefer Mapquest, but then I haven't tried Google, but now I will.

coconutwilly Aug 4th, 2006 04:37 PM

Don't like mapquest
Like Expedia maps or Rand McNally.
Tried GPS on my phone. It worked pretty well. You still gotta have an idea where you are going though.

jlm_mi Aug 4th, 2006 05:03 PM

I don't doubt that it's possible that an online map service could have you go the wrong way on a freeway, I'd still put that to user error. You should never trust directions from any of the sites without also looking at the maps for a basic sanity check, such as which way to go on freeways, and the aforementioned instructions to take secondary roads when highways would be better.

I use both maps.google.com and www.mapquest.com For a significant trip I check both, for both suggested routes and time estimate. I've found google is far more likely to considerably over-estimate times, and that mapquest over-estimates by roughly 10% (and I drive generally within 2mph of the speed limit, and make more frequent bathroom breaks than anyone I know).

I would never explicitly trust any of them, nor trust any one over all others to get everything right.

chicagolori Aug 4th, 2006 05:04 PM

viamichelin.com

LoveItaly Aug 4th, 2006 05:51 PM

I just went to mapquest and put in where I live and to a location I know like the back of my hand. The directions that mapquest gave made me laugh..I would never use mapquest for directions.

TravelTess Aug 4th, 2006 05:59 PM

Google. Mapquest is awful.

kswl Aug 4th, 2006 06:35 PM

Mapquest stinks, but Microsoft trips and roads (or whatever it's called, I uninstalled it and threw the disc away) is even worse.

Austin Aug 4th, 2006 06:42 PM

Don't like mapquest either. It has given wrong information on more than one occaision. I use yahoo maps, but will try others mentioned here. Thanks.

PAMom1 Aug 5th, 2006 05:35 AM

If you are a AAA member, I have found their onsite trip tix the most accurate and they are now interactive if you wish to alter your route. They seem to have more updated info on construction, etc. than other sites. With all online map sites, it's difficult when a road goes by many names/routes, etc., but with this site the mileage is always correct. (I reset my trip odometer for each leg.) Good luck!

aileen679 Aug 5th, 2006 05:54 AM

On a recent trip to our hotel in Atlanta, Mapquest gave the shortest way, which was a zig zig with a zillion turns. The Hotel sent us a map that had us stay on I85 until a ramp that was at the opposite end of the Hotel's street. Sure, it was the longer way, but it had more time on the Interstate, less through downtown streets and only one turn.

I use maps to plan my own route, using Mapquest as a guide, but not the final word.

wanderlust5 Aug 5th, 2006 06:09 AM

we use google maps


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