Finding maps online makes a lot of sense. You’ll have the latest information updated in real time for a new street in your neighborhood or up-to-the-minute traffic reports to help you plan your trip. Step-by-step driving instructions make any trip a piece of cake. However, which online mapping site is the most important: Google, Yahoo, or MapQuest?

First let’s look at simple instructions. After all, that’s why most of us look for driving directions online, isn’t it? If you’re worried about road hazards, construction zones, and heavy traffic, then Yahoo Maps is a good fit for that feature. MapQuest lets you check boxes to avoid highways and toll roads, choose the shortest distance, or take the route with the shortest time. The simple and user-friendly nature of this site is also a nice plus for someone who wants to get directions right away.

They also recently added the drag and drop feature that Yahoo had, which helps you navigate around traffic blockages. Whether you’re walking or jogging, Ask is the only site that lets you map out your walking route. Google Maps can zoom in for close topographical views of any continent. In short, Yahoo is the best site when traffic or construction sites are a concern, while MapQuest provides quick directions from point A to point B.

So what about tourist maps? MapQuest does not currently offer satellite imagery, although if you have the directions, you can plot multiple points on your tour to discover an efficient route. Google can show you extremely close-up views of the entire world, from Nairobi and Lima to Baghdad and Tokyo.

Yahoo also takes you right into the heart of the world’s most remote continents using various sources for its images, although Google and Ask have more display pixels. In conclusion, Google Maps probably has the most comprehensive database of real-world imagery and the fastest response time for your tourism needs. In fact, there are entire websites dedicated to “sightseeing without leaving your living room via Google satellite maps.”

Another site not detailed here, but worth checking out, is the new Microsoft Windows Live Local. You can pin your favorite locations, take notes, and upload images to your sites to save or share with friends, which is kind of like Google’s map maker feature. You can also view traffic reports and get the clearest route, explore collections of famous landmarks, and tour cities in 3D.

This new player seems to take the best of the other sites and make it better. As you browse, you’ll notice that all the sites have similar interfaces (except MapQuest), but the subtle differences are what make people so adamant about their favorite map engines.