Forum Discussion
pnichols
Feb 08, 2019Explorer II
Another real handy mapping tool - if you're using a laptop with Windows 10 - is the free built-in Microsoft mapping tool called "Maps". I have it's icon pinned right to the taskbar at the bottom of my laptop's screen.
It's kept current along with Windows 10 updates and it's database resides entirely within your laptop, so no cell tower access or satellite access is required. You can download map databases into it from the U.S. and other areas all over the world. I currently have the U.S. and Canada map databases for it stored in my laptop's memory.
You can use a streets view in Maps or switch to a view in it very similar to Google Earth which shows terrain features that you can zoom in on just like Google Earth. Unlike Google Earth and sometimes very importantly, Maps does not require an Internet connection - so you can use it anywhere.
Maps has useful features such as Measure Distance, Directions, Ruler, etc.. We use Maps right along with: Google Earth (when we have an Internet connection for Google Earth), Benchmark hardcopy atlases, our satellite based LM3550 Garmin navigator with over 400K POIs loaded, and our satellite based InReach device.
It's kept current along with Windows 10 updates and it's database resides entirely within your laptop, so no cell tower access or satellite access is required. You can download map databases into it from the U.S. and other areas all over the world. I currently have the U.S. and Canada map databases for it stored in my laptop's memory.
You can use a streets view in Maps or switch to a view in it very similar to Google Earth which shows terrain features that you can zoom in on just like Google Earth. Unlike Google Earth and sometimes very importantly, Maps does not require an Internet connection - so you can use it anywhere.
Maps has useful features such as Measure Distance, Directions, Ruler, etc.. We use Maps right along with: Google Earth (when we have an Internet connection for Google Earth), Benchmark hardcopy atlases, our satellite based LM3550 Garmin navigator with over 400K POIs loaded, and our satellite based InReach device.
About Campground 101
Recommendations, reviews, and the inside scoop from fellow travelers.14,719 PostsLatest Activity: Mar 07, 2025