Map types you should buyįor personal preparedness, there are a few core map types that make sense to focus on first:

MyTopo maps are resilient against the elements.

Free maps at your local tourist center, library, etc.Free topographic quarter quads from National Geographic.Free topographic maps from the US Geological Survey.TrakMaps for custom topographic maps in Canada.A custom MyTopo map of the area around your house.DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer for your state.National Geographic Road Atlas 2022: Adventure Edition (choose between this or the Rand McNally atlas).Rand McNally 2022 Road Atlas with Protective Vinyl Cover.MyTopo offers large, waterproof, custom topographic maps of any area you want.Īnother quality atlas, with spiral binding and bright colors.

However, the USGS maps are very large and difficult to print.

The US Geological Survey and National Geographic both offer free topographic maps you can print yourself or have printed.

However, they’re limited in city detail, so you may have to obtain a separate map for individual cities.

DeLorme makes good state atlases for all 50 states.

For national atlases, both Rand McNally and National Geographic are good and very similar.

Large-scale maps show more detail but less area. Small-scale maps show more area but less detail.

Scale defines how “zoomed in” a map is.

Well-designed maps will build extra margin around the crease so that everything folds neatly.

If buying a laminated folding map, you don’t want ones that fail to fold flatly because the extra thickness of the laminate blocks the creases.

If you only have one or two maps total, we generally recommend going with laminated/waterproof maps because the durability benefits outweigh the cons of not being able to write directly on them.

You can also buy detailed maps of individual large cities in your area - especially if you’re likely to pass through it when evacuating.

You should at least have a national road atlas, a state atlas, and a folding topographic map of the local area you can keep in your go-bag.

Learn more about how to read a map and how to use a map and compass Tip: Maps can be more useful than people expect, especially as more of us are growing up without ever needing to actually use a map for figuring out where we are, plotting a course, or finding water.

Atlas game grid map