How to Read a Thomas Guide

Thomas Guides provide more detailed, street-level maps for navigating.

Thomas Guides offer a detailed street map view of a specific area. The maps are available for locations in California, Oregon, Arizona, Washington, Nevada, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The guides come in book form, making them easy to keep track of and use. Know your starting point and destination beforehand so you can plan ahead, and consult the map before getting lost. Once you understand the basic principles of reading grid maps, reading Thomas Guides proves easy.

Things You'll Need

• Thomas Guide

Instructions

1. Purchase the Thomas Guide for the area where you will be traveling. Choose a map that has a view of city streets so you can determine exact locations.

2. Look over the Thomas Guide to get a sense of its layout, and study the index so you know how the sections are set up. Be familiar with the guide so you can use it quickly if necessary.

3. Look up the street you are trying to find in the index. Across the page from the street name, find and remember or write down the page number and grid number.

4. Turn to the page number indicated for the street you're seeking. Use the grid on the appropriate page to determine the exact location of your street. For example, if the index gives your street location as page 14, grid C4, turn to page 14. Locate C at the top edge of the map. Once you find C, stay in that column and look down along the left or right edge of the grid for section 4. The street will be in the box where the two lines intersect.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using a street map in the Thomas Guide, know the exact address for your destination. Because the maps are so detailed, some offer different grids for different numbered sections of the same street.

References

• Ron Dexter: Map Reading Basics
• Thomas Maps: Welcome to Thomas Maps
• Thomas Guide Books