# Circles and driving areas on US ZIP and county maps

Official GBMaps guide for the classic map maker. VectorMaps has a different interface.

Source: https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-coverage
Updated: 2026-10-03

The Radial Circles and Distance/Time tools also work on individual and combined US five-digit ZIP and county maps. Choose straight-line circles for an approximate radius, or driving areas when roads and travel time matter.

![Radial Circles panel on a combined US ZIP map, with three rings and 50-mile intervals](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/usa-circles-panel-20261003.jpg)

Place a center, choose your rings and set the miles between them. This example uses a Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri ZIP map.

## 1. Add a straight-line radius

Open Radial Circles, place the center on the map, then choose the number of rings and miles between them. US ZIP and county maps use a state-aware scale, including combinations; treat the circles as approximate distances, not exact driving routes. You can color whole ZIP or county areas within them if useful.

[Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-coverage#usa-coverage--circles)

## 2. Build a road-travel area

Open Distance/Time, search for a starting place or click the map to put down a flag. Choose miles or driving minutes, set the limit and bands, then press Create. This uses the road network and needs active access; it is different from drawing radial circles.

[Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-coverage#usa-coverage--travel)

## 3. Color ZIP areas or counties from coverage

The coverage-colouring buttons can assign whole ZIP or county polygons using their centres. A polygon touching the edge is not automatically included if its centre is outside. Choose Add to existing to keep other territory colours, or Replace colouring only when you want to start over.

[Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-coverage#usa-coverage--postcode)

### What this looks like

Real US map controls and examples. Choose View larger to see the details.

![Mile rings across a combined US map — GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/usa-circles-example-20261003.jpg?v=1791039852)

[**Mile rings across a combined US map**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-coverage#usa-coverage--circles)

Three rings, 50 miles apart, centered in Kansas. The outer ring is approximately 150 miles from the center; these are not road-travel distances.

## Related guides

- [Radial Circles: distance rings](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=circles)
- [Distance/Time: road-travel areas](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=travel)
- [Colour postcodes inside travel areas](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=travel-postcodes)
- [Combine US states: ZIP or county maps](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-combine)
- [USA county maps: choose a state](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=usa-county-maps)