Free Online Mapping Tools Design Thinking

11 Places to Find Detailed Maps Online

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Whether you're hitting the open road or just letting your imagination wander, a map is essential to your sense of direction. Here is a round-up of 11 options to find detailed maps online.

Free Printable Maps & Atlas

The website Free Printable Maps offers a wide range of geography resources, including a detailed map of Texas, USA. Categories include administrative, airport, ancient, cartogram, climate, colonial and environmental maps.

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Map Mania

Still in beta, Map Mania is a side project and database for the map-obsessed. The maps are sourced mostly from Reddit and Wikipedia and ask that users respect the original copyright of the maps.

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Knowol

Knowol is a database that aggregates and disseminates knowledge by researching historical documents, works of art and books. This website's team of researchers, graphic designers and writers creates detailed maps, artwork and reproductions using the latest technology.

On the World Map

This website of free printable maps covers countries, regions, cities and resorts, including a detailed map of Catalonia. The site is intended as a resource for travelers, educators and for private, noncommercial purposes.

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Colossal

Colossal is one of the largest design, visual arts and culture blogs on the web. The site explores the beauty of the natural world through detailed maps of the Earth.

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Maps of World

This site sells printed and digital maps of the world, continents and G20 countries. Thematic maps and resources on flags of the world are also available.

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Google Maps

The 3D maps on Google Maps and Google Earth are incredibly detailed. View them in Google Earth or enable the Earth View mode in Google Maps.

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Nations Online

The mission of Nations Online is to improve cross-cultural understanding and global awareness. Its website offers geographic and political resources in addition to maps by country, continent and U.S. state.

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Apple Maps

Apple's first pass at its Maps feature went poorly, so it recently rolled out more detailed maps based on its own data. The company used iPhones to gather first-party data with a privacy-first methodology and an Apple fleet of cars with sensors and cameras.

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Federal Highway Administration

Part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration provides detailed maps across the country on its website. The government uses scenic, recreational, archaeological and other qualities to give certain roads special designations.

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Roadside America

Roadside America maps guide you to the quirkiest tourist attractions and oddities in the United States and Canada. Search by state or province, or head to the annex part of the site for features like pet cemeteries and the Hall of Immortals.

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