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How can I create a map to show a travel itinerary using free online tools?

What I am looking for is being able to draw each travel segment over a political map of the world such as Google Maps. So that I can connect cities with arcs showing flight paths when flying, highlight road travel following the route to be taken. Also adding paths for ferry and boat travel would be good.

Note that this is different from creating a travel map where locations are painted or marked (such as on Google My Maps) without any connection between them.

Community
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Itai
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4 Answers4

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You could try uMap. This is a free tool, based on OpenStreetMap.

It lets you add markers on the map, or you can draw lines, or polygons. It has plenty of options for customisation, you can change the style or colours of lines, or the symbols used for markers, or the style of the background map.

It can import and export data in a variety of formats. You can share the map with others, or embed it in your own website.

Note that uMap will only draw straight lines between points. ie it won't automatically follow roads or flight paths etc, unless you click to add points along the way. Or you could create a GPS track in other software, then import it into uMap.

vclaw
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Travellerspoint's mapping tool does what you're looking for. It will allow you to map out many trips on a single map. Flights are shown with an arc. Train, car, bus routes will follow the roads. You can also drill down into each of the locations you stopped at to see some information for that location. This is from guide content written by the members.

After creating your map, you will get some stats about your travels and you will also be able to embed that map on other sites. It uses the mapbox-gl mapping engine with a choice of different tile sets.

Full disclosure: I run Travellerspoint. I also think it meets your needs perfectly so is a good answer for this question.

daamsie
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One free tool that I know of to generate maps of air travel is Great Circle Mapper.

The initial UI is pretty simple but there are a lot of customization options. You can look at the many Featured Maps to get examples.

Offered since ferry travel was specifically noted as secondary.

Vince
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DTRT
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Creating an online map to showcase your travel itinerary can be a fun and engaging way to share your travel plans with others or keep track of your journey. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create an interactive map for your travel itinerary:

1. Choose a Mapping Tool

There are several online tools available that allow you to create interactive maps. Some popular options include Google My Maps, Mapbox, ArcGIS Online, and Flightmapper.io. For simplicity and ease of use, Google My Maps is a great choice for most users.

2. Create a New Map

  • Google My Maps: Log in to your Google account, go to Google My Maps, and click on "Create a new map."
  • Mapbox: Sign up for an account, go to the Mapbox Studio, and start a new project.
  • ArcGIS Online: Sign up for an account, go to the ArcGIS Online homepage, and create a new map.
  • Flightmapper.io: Go to Flightmapper.io, and start planning your itinerary by adding flight routes and destinations.

3. Add Your Destinations

Once you've created your map, start adding the destinations you plan to visit:

  • Google My Maps: Click on the marker icon and place it on your desired location. You can add a title, description, and even photos for each destination.
  • Mapbox: Use the data panel to add markers and customize their appearance.
  • ArcGIS Online: Use the "Add" button to place markers on the map, and customize them with information and multimedia content.
  • Flightmapper.io: Add your flight destinations and visualize the routes on the map.

4. Connect Your Destinations To visualize the route of your travel itinerary, you can connect your destinations with lines:

  • Google My Maps: Use the "Draw a line" tool to connect your markers. This helps to show the travel path between your destinations.
  • Mapbox: Use the line tool in the data panel to draw paths connecting your markers.
  • ArcGIS Online: Use the "Draw" tool to create lines that connect your points of interest.
  • Flightmapper.io: Utilize the tool to automatically display the flight paths between your selected destinations.

5. Customize Your Map

Make your map more engaging by customizing it:

  • Google My Maps: Change the color of your markers and lines, add layers to differentiate between different legs of your journey, and add driving, biking, or walking routes.
  • Mapbox: Customize the style of your map, including colors, fonts, and layers to match your preferences.
  • ArcGIS Online: Apply different base maps, adjust the symbology of your markers and lines, and use layers to add additional information like weather or points of interest.
  • Flightmapper.io: Enhance your map with detailed flight route information and customization options.

6. Share Your Map

Once your map is complete, you can share it with others:

  • Google My Maps: Click on the "Share" button, set the privacy settings, and share the link with friends and family.
  • Mapbox: Use the sharing options in the project settings to generate a link or embed code.
  • ArcGIS Online: Use the "Share" button to publish your map and share it via a link or embed it on a website.
  • Flightmapper.io: Share your interactive flight map with others through a shareable link.
Samy
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