Read the symbol definitions in the legend, and search your map for the symbols. Use a magnifying glass when reading the legend, if necessary. General-use maps include symbols for points of interest such as parks, rest areas, airports, schools and hospitals.
Look at the symbols in the legend that represent roads, highways, railways and bridges on your map. Note the line thicknesses, shapes and colors the legend uses to distinguish between different types of routes, such as multi-lane highways and scenic routes. Using a map to identify roads can help you choose driving routes between cities and other points of interest.
Measure the distance between locations on your map, accounting for curves in roads, using a ruler. Compare that measurement to the map's scale to determine the real-world distance between locations. The map scale may say "1 inch equals approximately 15 miles," for example.
Review shading colors and fill patterns that your map uses to indicate city and state limits and national park boundaries. Maps also use shading to indicate elevation or other natural features, but elevation can also be indicated by contour circles (an overlay of concentric circles on valleys or mountains to indicate increasing or decreasing elevations), such as on topographic maps.
