A map display method whereby the contents of a road map displayed can be easily and clearly grasped regardless of the running conditions of a vehicle.In a summarized map displayed on a display screen 10, an area including a vehicle position 11, a destination 13 and a guide route 12 between them is displayed in simplified fashion. At a position far from the destination, as shown in FIG. 2A, a summarized map of a wide area is displayed and objects including a road 14 and a facility 15 are limited to a greater degree. With the approach of the vehicle position 11 to the destination 13, as shown in FIG. 2B, the contraction scale is decreased and a summarized map of a middle area is displayed, while at the same time increasing the objects displayed. With a further approach of the vehicle position 11 to the destination 13, as shown in FIG. 2C, a narrower area is displayed in summarization, while at the same time displaying substantially all the objects, thereby making it possible to grasp the neighborhood of the destination 13 in detail.