Map Website Reviews
by Tom Stefano
(June 6, 2001)

------There are many websites that make maps and driving directions. They are very useful for people who travel often to small towns and unfamiliar back roads. We use sites like these all the time and you should too. We have reviewed several of the more popular ones to let you know which are the best. The map websites that we have reviewed are:


All reviews are based on a five-star rating ().

Layout: How the site looks.
Site Navigation: How easy it is to navigate around the site.
Map Design: How good the features and style of the map console are.
Accuracy: How accurately it gets you from one location to another.
Special Features: How many special features there are.
Overall: Average number of stars.

MapQuest
Layout
The overall layout of MapQuest is excellent. It's not too cluttered and has a simple, clean layout.
Site Navigation
It is extremely easy to navigate throughout the site. It has a site index too which is a plus.
Map Design
MapQuest has a very good map design and console. It's very easy to use and it even has a map legend. Sometimes it will show you which direction the roads go (we're not sure why only sometimes). It shows and labels things like cemeteries and parks which is a big plus. MapQuest also allows you to save addresses and can even give you toll-free routes. The only problem with MapQuest maps is that they don't show town borders and don't name all of the creeks and streams.
Accuracy
When we mapped our home address, MapQuest marked it right on the dot. When it comes to driving directions, all of the sites are pretty similar - sometimes giving different routes than others though. In the end, they get you where you want to go.
Special Features
MapQuest has the most special features out of all the sites we reviewed. There is a road trip planner, city guide, yellow and white pages, customizable maps, and live traffic reports. They will show what businesses are nearby and will also let you choose what type of map you want to use (street map, airport terminal map, National Parks map, scenic drive map, topographic map, and world atlas). A feature that we like a lot is how they have aerial photos of any location you want.
Overall
4.7 's
 MapQuest is the best map website on the net. No question about it.

 

MapBlast!
Layout
Overall, the layout of MapBlast! is very good. It's a little cluttered though.
Site Navigation
It is extremely easy to navigate in MapBlast!, but it's just not as easy as MapQuest since it lacks a site index.
Map Design
A thing we like about MapBlast! is that not only do they have the typical road map, but also a map that just shows the roads you'll be driving on. It makes it much easier to see your route. They also allow you to save addresses. The map labels many small streams, but it does not show or label cemeteries and parks. A feature that we like a lot is how the maps show you street numbers too.
Accuracy
When we mapped our home address, MapBlast! was off by a couple houses. When it comes to driving directions, all of the sites are pretty similar - sometimes giving different routes than others though. In the end, they get you where you want to go.
Special Features
MapBlast! has several special features such as yellow pages, a GeoSearch, customizable maps, traffic reports, and current weather. You can also get a map by typing in a phone number or latitude and longitude lines. They will also show you a few businesses around the area you map.
Overall
3.9 's
 MapBlast! is a decent map site. It's points went down a bit since its maps aren't detailed and accurate enough.

 

Maps On Us
Layout
This site looks pretty ugly and boring. It has very simple HTML.
Site Navigation
It's pretty easy to navigate around the site. It loses points due to the process they put you through to get directions. It takes much longer than other sites.
Map Design
First of all, the colors of the map are ugly. Also, there's no zoom in/out scale which makes it hard to navigate around the map. What hurts it a lot is not only does it not show cemeteries and parks, but it doesn't even show streams and creeks. A good thing about the map is that it circles and labels each step on the map so it's easy to see where you are in the route.
Accuracy
Even though Maps On Us marked our house right on the dot, it still gets a really low score since it can't map intersections. Enough said.
Special Features
Maps On Us doesn't have too many special features. They have yellow pages, customizable maps, and will show businesses around the area that you map. They keep track of how many maps you've used which seems kind of pointless.
Overall
1.9 's
 Maps On Us is a pretty bad site. There's no reason to use their maps.

 

Yahoo! Maps
Layout
We like the layout of Yahoo! Maps because it's very clean and simple. Seems like they could have done a little more though.
Site Navigation
Navigating around the site is pretty easy, due to the simplicity of the site.
Map Design
This map design is excellent. It has everything you want in a map. It shows and labels all cemeteries and parks and most small streams. What we like a lot about this map is that it even shows the borders of towns. The map is also extremely easy to use. What's interesting is that Yahoo! Maps is powered by MapQuest, yet Yahoo!'s maps are better.
Accuracy
Yahoo! Maps was off by a house or two when we mapped our home address. When it comes to driving directions, all of the sites are pretty similar - sometimes giving different routes than others though. In the end, they get you where you want to go.
Special Features
Yahoo! Maps has several special features such as yellow pages, traffic reports, weather, a city guide, and a travel page. They'll also show businesses in the area that you've mapped.
Overall
4.0 's
 We were impressed by Yahoo! Maps. We really loved the map design and how it had a clean layout.

 

Excite Maps
Layout
 
Site Navigation
 
Map Design
 
Accuracy
 
Special Features
 
Overall
Excite Maps has failed all categories because its mapping site did not work. We tried it one day and it didn't work. We tried again the next day, but once again it did not work. We checked their search engine site which worked fine. Who knows......

------We hope this review has helped you in deciding which map website to use. Here's a hint: If you're using MapQuest and something isn't labeled such as a cemetery or stream, check Yahoo! Maps. There's a chance that they may label the place you're looking for. Their maps seem to be a little more detailed - but in the end, MapQuest is the best.

 

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