How To Find a United States Road Map

Travelling around the United States by road can be an exciting experience. A road trip lets you view sights and scenery that you won't be able to appreciate when flying on an airplane. United States road maps are easily accessible by various means, but it's up to you to choose which one is most appropriate for your travel purposes. These days, it's not uncommon for a traveller to check out travel itineraries and maps online. But of course, these are not your only options.

• Online Maps. Since the dawn of Google Maps and Google Earth, you can practically check out any spot in the world from a bird's eye or a satellite view. With street data being added, most states, cities and towns in the United States (and the rest of the world, even) are precisely plotted and mapped. Some external services even use map data from Google Maps, and interface this with their own database of establishments like hotels, shops and restaurants. Google Maps itself can be accessed from maps.google.com, while Google Earth needs to be downloaded from google.com/earth.
• Printable Maps. Going online is great, but when you're already on the road, you need an easy reference. You can access Google Maps on your mobile phone (for Windows Mobile, iPhone and Symbian Smartphones), but if you find this too cumbersome, you can print out maps from the Internet. Some useful resources for printable maps include mapathon.com and multimap.com. Or if you're already familiar with Google Earth and Google Maps, you can find the "Print" button or link on these, and print the current view.
• GPS. If you're a techie, then most probably a global positioning satellite (GPS) device would be the best way you can navigate through the streets, highways and interstates of the US. GPS receivers are accurate up to a few feet, so you will not likely get lost. Some newer cars are also GPS-equipped, and you can actually have a map appear on a screen on the dashboard. More advanced systems like OnStar, which gives you street by street navigation while you drive.
• Paper Maps. You can pick up fold-up paper maps from bookstores, convenience stores and even filling stations while you're on the way to your destination. These are usually not as updated as online maps are, but with the major highways and thoroughfares included, a city or state map will probably suffice.
• Book Maps. Fold-up maps can be cumbersome to carry and read while on the go, though. Most of the time, a road atlas in book format would be the easiest to store in a car's glove box or trunk. It's easier to open up, too, as there is no need to lay it on a flat surface to read. Map companies like Rand McNally regularly publish updated editions of their street maps.

Whether you're using an electronic device or a paper map while travelling, be sure not to read the map while driving. It's best to designate a travel companion as a navigator so the driver can focus on driving.