Instead of looking up temporary maps, you can create custom maps with various elements like pushpins, lines, and polygons that can be saved and accessed on demand.  These maps can be accessed with a direct link or placed on a web page.

To create a custom map:
1. Go to Google Maps

Make sure you are logged into Google so that your map is saved under your account.  If you do not have a Google account, you can create one here.

2. Click on My Maps

3. Click Create  new map

4. Enter map information

• Map Title
• Description
• Privacy Settings
  • Public
  • Unlisted

5. Add additional elements to map

• Add a Placemark
  • Add text to information balloon
• Draw a Line
  • Will give you distance of line
• Draw a Shape
  • Will give you area of shape

6. Click Done to save map

Note: You can make changes to your map by clicking the Edit button.

With your own custom map, you can now embed it into your own webpage or blog. 

Check out the Embed Basic Google Maps into Websites.

To Embed a Google Map:
1.  Decide where you would like to have the map located.

I have decided to place a map on my Google Mapz page under the Create Map section.  This example is being done through Weebly (A free, simple to use website host and editor).

2. Go to Google Maps and zoom in on the extent of desired map.

I have zoomed in on the Washington, DC area.

3. Select Link from the top right hand corner of the page.

This will give you the option to copy the actual page link or embed with html.

4. Copy HTML code from embed window.

Highlight code and right click to copy or Ctrl + C.

5. Paste HTML code into web page editor.

Make sure you are placing this where HTML can be read and not directly as plain text.  To paste, right click in area and choose paste or Ctrl +V.

6. Publish web page

The map is now embedded within my web page with a matter a minutes.  Try it out today!

Related Books

Beginning Google Maps Mashups with Mapplets, KML, and GeoRSS: From Novice to Professional

Google Maps Hacks