How many people still use paper maps?

[SHOZ]

Do paper Lake contour maps count ?

My county is flat as a pancake for the most part, and almost square at 32x34 miles. Only contours are the rivers and streams. But the NW and SE corners are hilly. And the lowest point is a river running north (kind of odd). Highest point is ~750', lowest ~500'.

I have a contour map.

 

[02SE]

I used maps before GPS was a thing. I still use maps because 'Google Maps' often gives poor or just plain wrong directions. I recall one time in Denver, Google Maps had me literally driving in circles around my destination.

In fact Google Maps STILL doesn't know where I live. I've tried too many times to count to get them to correct their error. They think they know better.

 

[Al]

Maps are readily available at ever gas station.

 

[K-Man]

Printed road atlases are still around at truck stops. Barnes & Noble and the few remaining other new-book sellers usually have a map section as well.

 

[Lubener]

I never got bad directions from a paper map. I can't say that about a GPS device.

 

[Greenbeforeblue]

The DeLOME state atlas series is my favorite for scouting cycling and motorcycling roads. They also provide topo lines.

 

[shortyb]

I usually get a new Rand-McNally US road atlas every couple years just to have. When we DO travel, I always have the "route less traveled" memorized by using one and have a far better trip because of it. Get to see all kinds of neat stuff on the backroads that you'd NEVER see on the interstates. When my wife used to travel for work before we were married, I'd accompany her on most trips. I'd grab a paper map and pour all over it to know my way around. Always amazed my wife that (coupled with my Magellan-like sense of navigation) : (1) I always knew where we were, (2) knew how to get wherever we needed to go, and (3) never got lost. I learned Las Vegas in a morning and went all kinds of neat places by that afternoon just by having read the map. Ah, the good ole days.

 

[BMW Dom]

I forgot paper maps were even a thing.

You guys make me feel too young

 

[Arc]

I forgot paper maps were even a thing.

You guys make me feel too young

You have to have a good navigator wife sitting in that passenger seat saying turn here or they don't work very well. even today I still make my wife call out the directions after her iPhone says where to go.

 

[Arc]

I never got bad directions from a paper map. I can't say that about a GPS device.

Those first map apps would show you driving in a field or even worse send you flying down a road that abruptly ended. I'm glad they work better now.

 

[rstcso]

I bought a paper map a few months ago. It was an original map of London from 1897. I had it framed and it's hanging in our living room.

 

[Chris142]

I used a Thomas guide until I got a smart phone about 12 years ago

 

[Sam_Julier]

Map pocket on our trip from Connecticut to Alaska. Picked up the Alaska highway in Dawson Creek.

 

[John105]

I don’t but in the 2006 and 2011 factory navigation, I set them to a northward orientation as if a map. I doubt we’ll do that in the new car as it has google maps and Apple CarPlay, android auto. Sad but I bet many can’t read a map.

 

[bovine1]

I use maps. I will mapquest or google the route sometimes. Our boys gave my wife a Garmin GPS dealie. She tried to use it twice and it just frustrated her and we never got it to work. We walk and ride bikes a lot. We run into semis in the middle of residential neighborhoods from following GPS. One tore a bunch of power lines down near here. I hate GPS.