# Seeking good online sources of maps--for free

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-good-online-sources-of-maps-for-free/208511>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 20, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-good-online-sources-of-maps-for-free/208511 "2003-10-20T13:53:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-good-online-sources-of-maps-for-free/208511/1 "2003-10-20T13:53:11Z")

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Hey, I was looking for a map of the county I work in online and found none. Mapquest is the usual mapping service that I go to for directions & stuff, but it occured to me that their maps aren’t that great for just looking, since all the detail washes out so quickly. Can anybody recommend another source for good maps online? Preferable a free service?

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-good-online-sources-of-maps-for-free/208511/2 "2003-10-20T14:10:06Z")

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[http://www.mapathon.com/](http://www.mapathon.com/)

hope this is what you’re looking for

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**Author:** ![Mooney252](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7c8e57/32.png) [@Mooney252](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooney252)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-good-online-sources-of-maps-for-free/208511/3 "2003-10-20T14:15:54Z")

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These would be my recommendations:  
[http://www.mapsarea.com/](http://www.mapsarea.com/)

University of Texas’ collection:  
[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map\_collection\_guide.html](http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_collection_guide.html)

And, of coure, National Geographic:  
[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/maps/index.html](http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/maps/index.html)

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-good-online-sources-of-maps-for-free/208511/4 "2003-10-20T14:34:44Z")

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Also try -

[http://www.geographynetwork.com/](http://www.geographynetwork.com/)

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**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-good-online-sources-of-maps-for-free/208511/5 "2003-10-20T15:54:42Z")

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Ok, for maps of the US, you really can’t beat [The National Atlas of the US](http://nationalatlas.gov/). It is all there. Click “Make Maps” and then add the features you want. Drill down to your specific area, and then add info on Agriculture, Biology, Boundaries, Climate, Environment, Geology, History, People, Transportation, Wate, and other reference categories. A really amazing site, drills down into facts like reported incidents of Avian deaths due to Botulism(food poisoning) as well as an extensive range of demographic data. Take some time to get familiar with it, it is worth it.

Enjoy,  
Steven