MapQuest alone refused Trump's demand to rename Lake Ontario, but I still can't leave Google Maps and Apple Maps behind for this one reason

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September 2, 2026, 9:08 PM

• •The piece says Google Maps and Apple Maps changed Lake Ontario’s displayed name after a USGS update tied to a presidential order, while MapQuest did not.
• •MapQuest posted publicly that it would keep the Lake Ontario name and also had not renamed the Gulf of Mexico.
• •The author says MapQuest briefly became the top free app in Apple’s App Store amid the controversy.
• •MapQuest general manager Doug Berger said the company kept the familiar lake name because users recognize it and supported that decision.
• •The author tested MapQuest for a New York City trip and found walking, biking, and driving routes but no subway or other transit directions.
• •Berger acknowledged demand for transit directions and said there is currently no timeline for adding the feature.

The article argues that MapQuest stood out by refusing to relabel Lake Ontario after President Donald Trump renamed it "Lake America," while Google Maps and Apple Maps adopted the change. The writer says MapQuest’s stance helped drive a surge in downloads and renewed attention for the long-running mapping service. Despite that goodwill, the author says MapQuest still cannot replace Google Maps or Apple Maps because it does not offer transit directions. MapQuest general manager Doug Berger said the company has heard requests for transit support but has no timeline for adding it.

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