Although I love maps, and am never comfortable traveling without real paper maps, the GPS receiver & software has made county level maps available for the entire country, either on a laptop or a dash mounted device. You can still get lost, but a GPS system will always help you back on track. This page contains links to maps & GPS information. I also have listed links to POI sources & converters at the bottom of the page.
Return to Travel & RV Links Page
Back To Jon Vermilye's Photo & Travel Page
Travbuddy (Addded 12/13/07) A site that lets you make a map highlighting countries around the world as well as US states & Canadian Provinces. It will also let you know what percent of the world you have visited. If you become a member, you can create a map that shows your future travels.
MultiSpec (Added 5/17/07) "MultiSpec (©Purdue Research Foundation) is a processing system for interactively analyzing Earth observational multispectral image data such as that produced by the Landsat series of Earth satellites and hyperspectral image data from current and future airborne and spaceborne systems such as AVIRIS. The primary objective of MultiSpec is as an aid to export the results of our research into devising good methods for analyzing such hyperspectral image data. It has also found significant use in other applications such as multiband medical imagery and in K-12 and university level educational activities. There are currently in excess of several thousand known, registered users." Freeware for both Windows & Mac.
WayMarking (Added 4/12/07) "Waymarking.com provides tools for you to catalog, mark- and visit interesting and useful locations around the world." You will get weekly email messages with updated locations if you sign up, but this is an interesting site that provides the coordinates of many places around the US & throughout the world.
RoboGEO (Added 6/7/06) So you have a GPS & a digital camera. Combine them with RoboGEO software & you can create Google Maps or build KML/KMZ files to display using Google Earth. Lots more applications described on their site.
GPSPhotoLinker (Added 8/16/06) Another photo to Google map linker. This one is an application that runs on a Macintosh (OS 10.3 or later).
Public Land Information Center (Added 4/16/06) "There is a lot to do on our public lands!! Public Lands Information Center can help you find the best recreation areas open to the public in New Mexico, Arizona, and the rest of the West. Check back here for regular updates on recreational opportunities, campfire restrictions, what's open, what's closed, and what's burning." A good source for Public Land maps.
Visited States and/or Provinces Map (Added 1/9/06) Just like those maps you see on the side or back of RVs. Add them to your web pages, etc.
Global Maps (Added 2/8/08) If you need Garmin map of Mexico, Iraq, Iran or Afganistan, this is a place to look. Not free, but compatable with Garmin's Mapsource.
SatNav for the SilkRoute (Added 2/20/08) Some interesting approaches to using a GPS with Fugawi software to load paper maps when commercial software is not available.
Open Street Map (Added 2/20/08) As its name implies, "OpenStreetMap is a free editable map of the whole world. It is made by people like you. OpenStreetMap allows you to view, edit and use geographical data in a collaborative way from anywhere on Earth. OpenStreetMap's hosting is kindly supported by the UCL VR Centre and bytemark."
Mad Maps (Added 1/2/08) From their "About Us" - "Since 1999, California-based MAD [Motor Adventure Destinations] MAPS, Inc., has been charting scenic road trip adventures along America's less-traveled byways. Featuring handpicked routes scouted by locals, MAD MAPS' print products combine the best features of bulky travel guides with the essentials of traditional road maps. Atlas-grade maps provide a variety of customizable trips complete with turn-by-turn directions, road descriptions, and safety tips. A recommended selection of must-see landmarks, quirky roadside attractions, local fare, and an entertaining "It's a MAD World" commentary all offer perfect diversions alongthe way. " Purchase paper maps or check their Garmin Link for downloads to your GPS.
Google Earth (Added 8/7/07) Google Earth is an application available for Mac, PC or Linux that provides maps of the world. There is a limited free version; for a nominal fee a full version that can be used with a GPS to serve as a full live mapping program (as long as you have an internet connection). Lots of features in either version including "flying" from place to place!
Flash Earth (Added 8/7/07) Flash Earth lets you switch between displays of Google Maps, Mictosoft VE, Yahoo Maps, Ask.com, or NASA Terra (Daily updated images). It is web based so you don't need to have an application on your computer.
Tyre (Added 7/20/07) "What do you have to do to make Google Earth and TomTom work together as a good team?
As a matter of fact, it is really simple. I wrote a small application myself. Everyone may download and use it freely.
You can use it to create itineraries (route files) and also to create files with points of interest.
Navteq Map Reporter (Added 5/31/07) Tired of incorrect roads, bridges that are not there any more, and other GPS errors? Navteq supplies the maps that most GPS software uses. Use this form to submit errors that you would like corrected.
Panoramio - Photos of the World (Added 1/14/07) At this site you can search Google maps for photos from around the world. Not only that - you can add your own!
GPS Visualization (Added 12/7/06) "This form will import your GPS data file and create a KML file that you can view in the Google Earth application." They also have a link to Google Maps, "a form that will automatically draw your GPS data (or KML/KMZ file, or plain text data in CSV or tab-delimited format) overlaid upon street maps and satellite imagery in Google Maps."
Google Maps API - (Added 1/9/06) The Google Maps JavaScript API lets you embed Google Maps in your own web pages. To use this you need to sign up for a API key at Google. Lots of help at Google Maps API Documentation.
GPS Track Photos & Maps This is an unusual site - sign up & you can overlay a GPS track in simple latitude/longitude comma separated file, Garmin Mapsource text file and Delorme Map'n'Go & Street Atlas (GPL) formats over an aerial photo or topographical map. Public tracks (samples) are available.
Franson GPS Gate (Added 10/15/06) Franson sells software designed to support GPS use on Pocket PCs & Windows computers. Their GPS Gate software will let you create virtual serial ports so that you can run many GPS applications using one GPS.
XPort (Added 5/31/07) And if you don't want to pay for the software listed above, XPort is free and also allows your GPS to connect to more than one port at a time.
TerraServer-USA Microsoft's Aerial Imagery, Topo Maps, Urban Area image viewing web site. Although is is called USA, Cananda & Mexico are available under the "Advanced Find" button. Type in your address & look at an aerial view of your house!
Google Maps Google also has a mapping program that links with satellite images. It's good to see the competition between Microsoft & Google - It can only make the maps, images & resolution get better.
Take It With Me (Added 9/23/07) "Use this tool to upload Google My Maps directly to your Garmin GPS or convert them to GPX format. Simply copy a My Maps URL into the form and click 'Load My Maps' to get started."
Adventure GPS Although their primary purpose is to sell you a GPS, this site is useful to compare many different manufacturer's products. Pretty good prices as well!
GPS Now If you are interested in a Garmin brand GPS, GPS Now is a good place to compare their products. Although they also carry a few other brands, Garmin is their primary supplier.
Garmin Street Pilot Undocumented Features You need to have a Garmin product for this site to be useful, and if you make a mistake using the information, you may have to send your unit back to Garmin to be fixed, but lots of ways to work with your Street Pilot that are not available from Garmin.
GPS Information.net Just what its name implies - a great source for information about GPS receivers & software. Particularly useful for information on older models and links to just about anything GPS related.
Tele Type GPS (Added 3/12/08) Tele Type's WorldNav Portable GPS is designed for trucks, but sounds like it is just the thing for RVers. According to the web site, you can set length, heighth, weight, etc & it will route you on acceptable roads.
GPS POIs (Points of Interest) & Editors:
The Discovery Owners Association - Even if you don't have a Discovery Motorhome, check out the Campground Information page. It is very useful locations for anyone using Microsofts Streets & Trips or Delorme's Street Atlas GPS Mapping software, and includes a list of every Walmart, Post Office and more in Excel formats that anyone can use.
GPS Passion Lots of up-to-date information about GPS receivers and software. They also have a forum you can join to get into discussions about hardware & software.
Laying Down Tracks (Added 4/12/07) This is a forum on the Adventure Riders motorcycle site that contains many GPS tracks that can be downloaded to your PC & uploaded to your GPS. Be sure to read the "Lost or confused, before you ask another dumb question, click here " Sticky for info on how to use the forum.
GPS Utilities (Added 4/12/07) A collection of utilities that can be used to enhance your GPS. Check the "Programs" menu for a POI converter, a log converter, etc. Although designed for Tom Tom owners, it may be useful for other GPS owners.
GPSBable (Added 9/23/07) GPSBabel converts waypoints, tracks, and routes between popular GPS receivers and mapping programs. It also has powerful manipulation tools for such data.
Load My Tracks (Added 9/23/07) GPS Connectivity for your Macintosh "LoadMyTracks is a piece of software that will communicate with GPS devices from many manufacturers to send and receive data. It can also be used to translate data between the popular GPX and KML (Google Earth) formats. The software provides support for Waypoints (single locations in space), Routes (lists of waypoints that can be used as instructions of where to go, Tracks (the breadcrumbs that many GPS devices keep to show where you have been) and additional data that may vary by device."
G7ToWin (Added 9/23/07) G7ToWin is an application for transfering data between your PC & GPS. Quoting the web page: "G7ToWin is compatible with versions of Windows from Windows 98 and later. G7ToWin is designed to transfer data between Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance/Eagle GPS units and a PC. Supported Lowrance/Eagle units include those which communicate via Lowrance Protocol version 1 or 2. This includes most units up to and including the GlobalMap 100. It specifically excludes most of the later LEI units including the iFinder which does not use either protocol." There is also a version for the Pocket PC, H/PC 2000, H/PC 2.11 and greater.
Mapquest Send to GPS (Added 4/16/08) "The new MapQuest.com ”Send to GPS” web destination feature gives you a convenient way to plan ahead while utilizing your Garmin GPS device. Plan a trip, search within the 16 million MapQuest® Points of Interest from your computer and send addresses and business listings to your personal navigation device by simply clicking on the ”Send to GPS” link conveniently found on results pages throughout the MapQuest.com site."
Google Send to GPS (Added 4/16/08) "The Send to GPS service allows you to search for any business address and transfer it from the Google Maps website to your Garmin device via its USB connection. The point will be saved as one of your Favorites, and you can navigate to it or view it on a map just like any other Favorite."
POI Loader (Added 4/1/07) This page provides a tutorial & general information on using Garmin's POI loader. It is part of the GPS Information.net website.
POI Friend (Added 12/12/07) POI Friends bills itself as "the point-of-interest (POI) community for GPS navigation users." Lots of POIs in many categories.
POI in USA (Added 9/23/06) This is part of the GPS Passion site that discusses & lists Points of Interest that can be added to most GPS units.
POI Factory (Added 12/19/06) Miss "Poi" maintains a site with over 1,000,000 points of interest to add to your GPS software. Also has a forum if you have questions or input.
GPS Data Team (Added 3/10/07) Free POIs for the US as well as other countries. Use it as a stand alone locater, or download POI files in many different GPS unit formats.
POI 66 (Added 3/10/07) Many world wide POIs. Use it as a stand alone locater, or download POI files in many different GPS unit formats.
GPS POI US (Added 3/10/07) Although not free like most of the other POI sites listed above, there are many available at this site; some are inexpensive.
PoiEdit (3/9/07) PoiEdit is a shareware program that manages all of your poi (places of interest) files from your desktop PC and saves/loads them to/from your Mobile Device. PoiEdit also enables you to download a vast range of poi files from the most uses poi sides in e.g. the UK, Netherlands, France.
POI Editor (Added 3/10/07) Use this to edit & convert POIs. You can also locate a point using Google Map, and add the coordinates to a POI file.
GPS Visualizer (Added 1/2/08) This page from the GPS Visualizer web site lets you enter a street address, a ZIP code, a city, or an airport code & get the coordinates as well as a button to show the location on a couple of mapping sites.
GPS Coordinate Converter (Added 10/2/07) What its name suggests - use this to convert coordinates between formats.
GPS Coordinate Converter #2 (Added 2/8/08) "This utility permits the user to convert latitude and longitude between decimal degrees and degrees, minutes, and seconds. For convenience, a link is included to the National Geodetic Survey's NADCON program, which allows conversions between the NAD83 / WGS84 coordinate system and the older NAD27 coordinate system. NAD27 coordinates are presently used for broadcast authorizations and applications." Provided by the FCC.
GPS Coordinate Converter #3 (Added 2/8/08) Another coordinate converter, this one provided by JEEEP
Map Multiple Locations by Address (Added 1/2/08) "Locate multiple addresses internationally - North America & Europe - calculate distances - make your own mashup map - instantly. Take any kind of street address list, for example copied from Excel, and geocode the addresses to get latitude and longitude coordinates using the tool below. The data can then be mapped in your browser, downloaded into Google Earth, saved to a web page, or transferred back into your spreadsheet. You can also use this tool to calculate distances to multiple addresses from a single point, or get quick driving directions to multiple destinations. Mapping multiple locations with your own custom data takes seconds, just follow the 6 steps below to plot your own data on a fully interactive multi-point map. It's fast, easy, and - free to use!" The author also maintains a Geocoding blog.
GPS Photo Linker (Added 5/2/08) "GPSPhotoLinker can be used to save location and GPS position data to a photo. The latitude and longitude recorded by your GPS unit while you were taking photos can be linked, and saved, to the photos. GPSPhotoLinker automatically enters the city, state, and country annotations into the metadata." For Macintosh only.
This page is maintained by: vermilye@oswego.edu
Last Update:
May 2, 2008