Alternate Offline Mapping Options
 

I'm a long-term user of Maps.Me (formerly MapsWithMe). It's (it was) a handy reference to store and access various day routes I ride as well as touring routes.

To load a route into Maps.Me I typically develop a route in RWGPS and then export a KML file. I then email it to myself, open the kml file on my cell phone and it auto loads into Maps.Me. Within Maps.Me I see all my routes in the Bookmarks area. In years past, up until yesterday morning when it updated, I could toggle on and off a route by going into Bookmarks and tapping a check box to the left of a route and a blue checkmark would show. The route would then be visible on the map. To turn off the route visibility..go to Bookmarks and tap the checkmark and the route would disappear. Easy-peasy.

As of yesterday the app updated and all of the above is pretty much hosed..no longer works. I can still load a new route my opening a kml file from my email, but turning on and off individual routes is no longer available. The only option is to turn on all the routes in my Bookmarks (I have dozens) or turn them all off. This is useless as I have multiple routes in small regions. Turning on all routes just looks like spaghetti.

So...

Has anyone figured out the new maps.me version?** if not.. What other free offline mapping apps are available? I know of Osmand. It has a limited free service. I haven't used it recently as I used Maps.Me (which had a much simpler user interface) when I needed a reference. Google has a limited offline map download, though no so user friendly(been awhile since I used it).

I don't use my cell for navigation(I have a GPS unit for this function)..the cell-app is just a backup and handy reference.

(** If you use Maps.Me DON"T let it update. I wish I could reverse the update it did yesterday)

Garmin Edge Bike Computer and Garmin Connect App (Free) will do everything you need.

I use routes created with RWGPS directly in RWGPS on my phone in airplane mode...not sure why I would need to load it to maps.me

Having said that - I also use Mapy.cz app which allows you to download entire countries and use the maps off line.
in some cases mapy.cz has better bike infrastructure markings. For example during my Scotland trip the EV Route numbers and dotted lines accompanied the downloaded map and could be directly zoomed into for inspection to make sure I'm on the trail or off

Did you ask the maps.me developer about it? Osmand is (was?) cheap. There's Guru maps, which I like, but it's kind of expensive now. There's also Pocket Earth, which is free.

The "is my map downloaded?" might be a bit less ambiguous for some of the other mapping programs. You can also download multiple routes and see them all on the map (not sure if you can do that with the RWGPS app).

Like this.

I've been ferreting out options all morning. It appears the last time Maps.Me was sold (2020) to some holding of a holding of a holding company some of the developers split off and created an app "Organic Maps". It is, in every sense I can see, the old Maps.Me. It looks the same and functions the same.

Now to offload Maps.Me and import to Organic Maps...done.

RE..Garmin Edge..I already have a good GPS unit and don't need another. As for RWGPS app..RWGPS runs off a cell signal. I'm looking for offline map functionality. I think(?) RWGPS offline functionality is a premium service..which I don't need as I use a GPS unit for navigation. I don't like using cell phones for navigation.

For those that use Maps.Me...I think you're going to want to switch over to Organic Maps(once you experience the updated version of M.M).

The phone is a much better way to look at maps. It's cheap enough that it's a good backup.

WikiCamps lets you download maps to your phone so you do not need to be online to use them. The GPS on your phone will still function with your cell service turned off, or when you simply do not have signal. I used it for my last tour, and for someone who prefers paper maps, I liked using it. I got it to find campgrounds along the tour, and ended up using it as a map. I used it pretty much the way I would use a paper map, with the added benefit that it showed my position on the map.

https://usa.wikicamps.co

Thanks for posting this. 👍 I've been using maps.me for awhile now, and haven't updated recently. Now I think I'll just look for organic, and skip the headache. 😉

So then why do you need maps.me?

Thanks for the warning. I just turned off auto update for Maps.Me. I never used the feature that you cited, but I see no need to auto update it. But, it auto updated three days ago, thus it might have already updated to the version you have.

Maps.Me, about a decade ago that app was called Maps With Me. I paid the one-time lifetime fee to turn off all ads back then. And the ads came back, I complained to their customer support about the ads, their response was something like - you can't expect to get a lifetime without ads must because you paid a lifetime fee.

When you sent a RWGPS map to MapsMe I assume you had WiFi or cell service ?. If you have an Edge in the 30 series (530/830/1030), you can access your RWGPS routes directly from the device using the iQ app for RWGPS or with RouteCourse. You can then download a number of routes directly to the device, and no cell or data service needed once they reside on the device.

My update date appears to be 7/3/22. If your version updated you'll notice a new set of option-links on the bottom of the screen when you open the app. If you use/used it with any frequency, you'll notice differences in what options are available and where they're now located(if they exist at all). In any event, updates can't be avoided indefinitely. If you used M.M at all and liked it, then I'd take a hard look at Organic Maps..it'll look exactly the same as the old M.M from what I've seen so far. I've always used the free version of M.M (maybe 5-7 years) and have never seen an ad...one thing I liked about it.

Nope..I extract the kml file from RWGPS and email it to myself. The open the kml file and it atot-imports to M.M. However I can now choose to auto-import it to Organic Maps.

It sounds convenient, however I have no need for another GPS unit. The one I have works fine and is simple to use.

My update version is July 3. I do not think I have used that app for about three years, my last bike tour was pre-covid.

I did not use it much, I mostly used my GPS. But sometimes I wanted to see what other devices suggested for a route, so occasionally used it for that purpose.

Maybe they quit doing ads some time ago, I used it so little I might not have noticed that they quit showing ads.

An actual GPS unit is for navigation. In this mode it excels. With respect to viewing alternate routes or showing a buddy some routes while we have a beer...I don't carry an Edge around with me.

Like most folks..I do carry a cell phone with me while on the bike or off. With M.M loaded with various routes on the cell I can pull up the route we're riding and look around on a current (updated) map for services or maybe call an audible to change the route for some reason. I can also show a route to someone if the topic of conversation goes to riding and good routes we've taken. Some friends use their cell for navigation. In that case I can show them how routes can be followed with offline maps like those on M.M.

M.M is/was handy. Organic Maps will now be handy...once I offload M.M and uninstall it.

Mapy.cz is by far the best one I've tried. Better than Maps.me. I've been using it for years.

In order to send an e-mail you either have WiFi or cell service.

Discussing this would be easier if you maybe let us know what GPS unit you are using.

Wikicamps looks cool. I wasn't aware of it. I'll have to take a good look at it.

One of the files I imported to M.M was the custom map I created by downloading data from this site:

ALL US AND CANADA CAMPGROUNDS LOCATOR: STATE PARKS NATIONAL PARKS FORESTS MORE california oregon washington new york pennsylvania more

It locates and gives basic amenity info for 13,000 public(not private, with public defined as county, city, US Forest Service, National Parks, Forests, Rec Areas, Army Corps of Eng, Public Utillity, State Forests, Parks.................. campgrounds) in the US and Canada. Using this map as a background I can view any route I've ever created and note where campgrounds are versus my intend/proposed route. (For planning purposes I also do this in Google My Maps prior to finalizing a route for a tour..and loading it into my GPS.) Having all this info in M.M allows a daily review of what's ahead for the next day or two in an easily managed format and screen size.

It doesn't really matter..to me at least. I use a Garmin ETREX 20. I've had it for years and use it for hiking, kayaking, and in recent years cycling. It's small and mounts on the bars. Works perfect, waterproof, long battery life, easy to toggle through various screens. I have it set up to show the track I'm following as well as speed, miles, avg speed, and direction NSEW. I've looked at regular cycling GPS units. They have lots of additional bells and whistles and connectivity to other apps to track who is king of some mountain......none of which I care about in the least. As long as I know where I am and where I'm going..I'm good.

OK..M.M routes have been transferred to Organic Maps ( https://organicmaps.app/ ) and M.M has been uninstalled. Yay.

M.M does a direct export of your routes to O.M. Big help and made the transfer easy.

Thx to those that responded and offered some options. I learned some new stuff..always welcome.

You can do all of that with the Garmin Connect App that integrates with the Garmin Edge Bike computers and the App is free.

True but this required internet access. A big reason to use "offline" mapping programs is that they work without internet access.

Herewego is pretty good. I've only used it for car nav though.

You can download entire country maps for offline use.