When you visit the Google maps website with your phone it gives you a link to download the free Google maps application. Once installed this gives a dedicated application on the phone rather than opening the Google maps website in the phone's browser.

The big disadvantage to Google maps is that it requires an Internet connection to work. So if you're in a location where you can't get bars on your phone it's no use at all. That means that if you're off the beaten track you might lose your ability to use your map, kind of ironic that. It also means it's not much use abroad when you are on an expensive tariff.

Anyway when there is an affordable connection you get all the functionality of Google maps. Which includes searching for whatever you want based on the map you are currently viewing. This works really well, I was able to find several soft play areas near to the campsite we're going to stay at next week. For camping this is probably the better solution as it gives you all the power of Google and makes it location based.