Link to MapQuest is a free service from MapQuest that allows you to link directly to MapQuest.com and display interactive maps, driving directions, search results and business locations.
From someone making a personal website to a national retail site, this service is free, convenient, and available to you.
By linking to MapQuest.com you agree to the following Terms and Conditions.
How can I get MapQuest on my site?
The following are ways you can use Link to MapQuest:
Link back to the MapQuest.com home page
Create a unique link to MapQuest.com with a predefined location, route, or search
Embed the MapQuest.com map on your site
URL Structure
The base URL for the link to MapQuest is http://mapq.st/. From here we follow a format of http://mapq.st/{view specifier}?{settings}. The following are the current view specifiers available:
map - Links to the MapQuest main site with the map view.
directions - Links to the MapQuest main site with the directions view.
embed - A map page with the intention of being embedded in a web page is generated. Typically this would be the src attribute of an iframe. Ex: <iframe src="http://mapq.st/embed?q=1555+blake+st+denver" width="640" height="480"></iframe>
print - A print page is generated as if the user had clicked "print" on a MapQuest map.
If a view specifier is not given, the service will use map or directions depending on the settings given. View the Link to MapQuest Parameters section for details on the settings.
Link to MapQuest Wizard
What would you like to do?
Map a Location Get Directions Search Near a Location Map Business Locations
Link to a Map Location
Link to a single mapped location on MapQuest using the Wizard below. Replace the default data in the Wizard with your own custom data and the Wizard will generate the link in the green box above. Click "Run Sample" to execute the query and see the result on MapQuest.
Single Line Location Fielded Location
Parameter
Location (Address, Lat Lng, Search Term near: Address):
"q"
Street:
"q"
City:
"q"
State/Province:
"q"
Postal Code:
"q"
Country:
"q"
Personal Label:
"q"
Custom Center (Address or Lat,Lng):
"center"
Custom Zoom:
"zoom"
Maptype:
"maptype"
Layer:
"layer"
Create Static Map Linking to MapQuest? (requires a Key)*
-
App Key:
"key"
Size of Image (width, height)
"size"
Link to Directions
Create a link to a MapQuest map showing directions using the Wizard below. Replace the default data in the Wizard with your own custom data and the Wizard will generate the link in the green box above. Click "Run Sample" to execute the query and see the result on MapQuest.
Route using "q" Parameter Route using the "saddr" and "daddr" Parameters Route Using the "to:" Keyword
Parameter
Locations (Address or Lat Lng Seperated by "|"):
"q1", "q2", etc.
Start (Address or Lat,Lng):
"saddr"
Destination (Address or Lat,Lng):
"daddr"
Locations (Address or Lat Lng Seperated by "|"):
"q"
Personal Labels (Separated by "|"):
"q"
Custom Center (Address or Lat,Lng):
"center"
Custom Zoom:
"zoom"
Maptype:
"maptype"
Layer:
"layer"
Create Static Map Linking to MapQuest? (requires a Key)*
-
App Key:
"key"
Size of Image (width, height)
"size"
Generalization (Enter 0 for none)
"generalize"
Link to a Map Search
Create a link to a MapQuest map displaying search results using the Wizard below. Replace the default data in the Wizard with your own custom data and the Wizard will generate the link in the green box above. Click "Run Sample" to execute the query and see the result on MapQuest.
Search Around a Location Search by SIC and Franchise Code Around a Location Search Around Route Stops
Parameter
Location (Address, Lat Lng):
"q"
Search Around Location For :
"q"
Search Around Location For (SIC + Franchise Code):
Search Around Starting Location For (SIC + Franchise Code or Search Term):
"q"
Destination Location (Address or Lat Lng):
"q2"
Search Around Destination Location For (SIC + Franchise Code or Search Term):
"q"
Custom Center (Address or Lat,Lng):
"center"
Custom Zoom:
"zoom"
Maptype:
"maptype"
Layer:
"layer"
Create Static Map Linking to MapQuest? (requires a Key)*
-
App Key:
"key"
Size of Image (width, height)
"size"
Link to Business Locations
Link to a business category on MapQuest using the Wizard below. Replace the default data in the Wizard with your own custom data and the Wizard will generate the link in the green box above. Click "Run Sample" to execute the query and see the result on MapQuest.
Business Category:
"q"
Location (Address, Lat Lng):
"q"
Personal Label:
"q"
Custom Zoom:
"zoom"
Maptype:
"maptype"
Layer:
"layer"
Create Static Map Linking to MapQuest? (requires a Key)*
The base URL for linking to MapQuest map is http://mapq.st/. The following tables list the parameters that would be used in the "settings" portion of the URL.
Link to Map
Build map links and embed maps onto your site using our simple instructions and parameters to form a URL. You can also customize the default look of the map by specifying map type (map, aerial, hybrid) or by adjusting the zoom level and/or map center. When creating a link to a location, map? should be added to the end of the base URL above. Click here to view the Link to Map parameters.
Parameter
Description
Example
Available Options
q
The
"q"
parameter is used to define a location for a map. The examples to the right show the
"q"
parameter being used as a single line address, a fielded address, and a comma-separated latitude longitude.
Any text you want to use as a label for the location
center
Specifying the
"center"
parameter overrides the system-selected optimal center. If no locations are specified, this parameter will set the default map location. The
"center"
parameter can be specified as a single string address or a comma-separated latitude longitude.
NOTE: Using
"center"
without specifying a custom zoom level may result in the location or route not being visible in the resulting map window
A location string or a latitude and longitude pair separated by a comma or space
zoom
Specifying the
"zoom"
parameter overrides the system-selected zoom level. If no locations are specified, this parameter will be parsed to set the default map zoom.
Note: Zoom is helpful with when the
"center"
parameter is set to a point where the location might not be visible. It makes it easier to see the location in relationship to the center set in the request.
Build direction links using our simple instructions and parameters to form the URL. Form the URL for simple point A to B directions or create multi-point directions with up to 25 stops. Customize your map by specifying the map type (map, aerial, hybrid) or by adjusting the zoom level and/or map center. Even add a layer such as "traffic" along your route. When creating a link to a map with directions on it, directions? should be added to the end of the base URL above. Click here to view the Link to Directions parameters.
Parameter
Description
Example
Available Options
q
The
"q"
parameter is used to define locations for the route.
The first example to the right shows the
"q1"
and
"q2"
parameters being used for a simple point A to point B route.
The second example shows a multiple point route using additional numbered
"q"
parameters.
The
"q"
parameters used can be a single line address, a fielded address, and a comma-separated latitude longitude.
A location string or a latitude and longitude pair separated by a comma or space
saddr and daddr
Instead of using the
"q"
parameters, the
"saddr"
and
"daddr"
parameters can be used to define the start address and destination address, respectively, for the route.
Any text you want to use as a label for the locations
center
Specifying the
"center"
parameter overrides the system-selected optimal center. If no locations are specified, this parameter will set the default map location. The
"center"
parameter can be specified as a single string address or a comma-separated latitude longitude.
NOTE: Using center without specifying a custom zoom level may result in the values defined by the q parameters not being visible in the resulting map window
A location string or a latitude and longitude pair separated by a comma or space
zoom
Specifying the
"zoom"
parameter overrides the system-selected zoom level. If no locations are specified, this parameter will be parsed to set the default map zoom.
Note: Zoom is helpful with when the
"center"
parameter is set to a point where the route might not be visible. It makes it easier to see the route in relationship to the center set in the request.
Build Search Result links using our simple instructions and parameters to form the URL. Link to a type of business near an address, a franchise or specific business near a location. Customize the map by specifying the map type (map, aerial, hybrid) or by adjusting the zoom level and/or map center. When creating a link to a map with search results on it, map? or directions? should be added to the end of the base URL above, depending on whether the map is of a single location or if route stops are being searched. Click here to view the Link to Map Search parameters.
Parameter
Description
Example
Available Options
q and near:
The
"q"
parameter is used to define the location around which the search should take place. The "q" parameter used can be a single line address, a fielded address, or a comma-separated latitude longitude.
The "near:" parameter defines the vicinity of the area in which the item is being searched.
near: - A location string or a latitude and longitude pair separated by a comma or space
q and type: and near:
This is the same as the "q" parameter and "near:" keyword above, except the "type:" keyword is used to distinguish using an SIC and Franchise code rather than just a normal search term.
Specifying the
"center"
parameter overrides the system-selected optimal center. If no locations are specified, this parameter will set the default map location. The
"center"
parameter can be specified as a single string address or a comma-separated latitude longitude.
NOTE: Using
"center"
without specifying a custom zoom level may result in the location or route not being visible in the resulting map window
A location string or a latitude and longitude pair separated by a comma or space
zoom
Specifying the
"zoom"
parameter overrides the system-selected zoom level. If no locations are specified, this parameter will be parsed to set the default map zoom.
Note: Zoom is helpful with when the
"center"
parameter is set to a point where the location might not be visible. It makes it easier to see the location in relationship to the center set in the request.
Build business location links using our simple instructions and parameters to form the URL. With this option, you'll be able to activate business location categories as tabs within the MapQuest side panel and display the results on the map. You can also customize the default look of the map by specifying map type (map, aerial, hybrid) or by adjusting the zoom level and/or map center. Click here to view the Link to Business Locations parameters.
Parameter
Description
Example
Available Options
s
The "s" parameter is used to define the business category to be displayed. The "name" parameter must match the name of the business category as seen on MapQuest.com.
All spaces in the category name must be replaced by "+".
All "&" in the category name must be replaced by the word "and".
A string consisting of business locations as categorized on MapQuest.com.
q
The "q" parameter is used to define a location for a map. The examples to the right show the "q" parameter being used as a single line address and a comma-separated latitude longitude.
Note: For accurate results, be sure to include the country. For example, q=CO returns the Republic of Colombia whereas q=CO+US returns Colorado, U.S.
Any text you want to use as a label for the location
zoom
Specifying the
"zoom"
parameter overrides the system-selected zoom level. If no locations are specified, this parameter will be parsed to set the default map zoom.
For all of the above scenarios, embed? or print? can replace map? or directions? if the purpose is to embed a map on a site or print a map.
Logos
Whether you are going to use all the functionality this service includes or just want to link back to the MapQuest.com homepage, we have provided logo images for your convenience.
Popular Pages
In addition to just the main MapQuest page, here are some other URLs that may be of interest to link to.
