When was the last time you used a paper map?

[KJQ6945]

Gps has killed the map.
I have used maps most of my life. Road maps, lake maps, topo maps, etc. If I was going out of state, I always made sure I had my road atlas in the truck, now, not so much. The smart phone has probably put Rand McNally out of business.

The second time I went to Dale Hollow Lake, I had my trusty lake map, and a hand held gps. Come to find out, the trusty lake map is worthless if you can't pin point where you are on it. The first trip was very memorable.


The lake maps were my hold out maps. I never went to a big lake without a map. Until I got GPS and a map package in the electronics in the boat, that put the waterproof paper map to shame.

Who still uses a real map? The art of map folding might be lost forever.

 

[TB1999]

15 years or more

 

[eldirector]

I keep a Gazetteer the vehicle. Have them for most states we visit frequently.

GPS is fine if you know where you are going. Maps are best if you don't. The iPhone only works when you have a data connection, too. Worthless when the whole point is to "unplug".

 

[Sylvain]

I still do! Last time I used it was a few months ago.

Either for a road trip with the car or for a hike on foot, no GPS only a paper map and a compass.

A few times I had to stop to ask people for direction.
You get to meet some nice people, and the locals know the area better than your GPS.
They know which road to avoid because of rush hour traffic or because there is a new construction site not mentioned on your GPS or paper map.

 

[bocefus78]

I use an Indiana backroads atlas quite a bit. Very handy in bfe areas where you don't have cell service.

 

[GregD]

The last time for me was just a few weeks.

 

[BogWalker]

Last week helping direct somebody to a building on campus they'd never been to. I always carry a paper campus map.

 

[Leadeye]

I use them all the time, road maps and topos in particular. Also own and use a compass.

 

[Sylvain]

I used a car with built in GPS a few times and I wasn't impressed.
I'm in a rural area and sometimes you need to use trails to go to some places, and your GPS don't consider those to be roads so it will tell you do make a very long detour to only use major roads.

Also I'm outside of the US so some areas are not up to date and properly maped by the GPS.
I have been to recently built places, parked on a parking lot or on the street and the GPS said I was in the middle of a field and needed to find a road for it to lead me to my destination.

 

[mom45]

I have never used GPS. Paper maps still work pretty well, but I usually print off the map/directions online.

 

[foszoe]

Every time I cross a state line, I get the free map

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Yesterday. Corn field maze...

 

[indybrownsfan]

I used mine last month on the way to Gatlinburg TN..I keep it in the seat back of my passenger seat...Sometimes GPS on my phone wont get a signal.
Now it is an outdated map but it serves the purpose.

 

[eldirector]

Yesterday. Corn field maze...

HA! Forgot about that.

Used 2 different maps yesterday, then. Prairie grass maze, and trail map for the park. Before that, GPS on Friday night to find an address. Gazetteer afterwards to explore the area. I keep compass in the car, but rarely use it. Usually just need to find north, and that's good enough to get around.

 

[churchmouse]

I have a road atlas and state map in both vehicles. You never know when the cell will go down.

 

[GLOCKMAN23C]

About 4 weeks ago. Or if I'm hunting, I like to have a topographical map with me.

 

[Bigtanker]

We've been headed to stations around Indy for deliverys over the past few weeks. We get "station maps". They are a layout of the property so we know how to get in/out and where the tank fills are. Pull in the wrong way and you can screw yourself real easy. Ask me how I know.

 

[KJQ6945]

Ok, it sounds like everybody but me still uses maps.

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

Used a map just last week to navigate back to the Nickel Plate Trail from about 10 miles away. Always carry county maps on my bike and state maps in my cars. GPS is nice but I always study the maps prior to a trip.

 

[KJQ6945]

I carry an iPad in my work truck. Put the address in, drive until the blue dot hits the red dot.

Not that long ago, we had a street guide book. You had to look anything up that you didn't know off the top of your head. If they sent us out of town, they gave us maps on arrival.