By using Safari's bookmarking function a shortcut to a web-page can be placed on your home screen.
The first step is to navigate to Google's site and click on the more arrow at the upper right corner of the page.
A drop down menu with the Google Maps icon will appear. Clicking on this icon will bring up Google Maps.
Using the search function in Google Maps, place a search on your general area, in my case Washington, D.C. , in the search bar.
This will bring up a map of your general area.
Use Safari to bookmark this page.
Depending how you hold the phone when you do this, vertically or horizontally, you may need to scroll to the second page of the bookmark options and you will find Add to Home Screen as an option.
Click on Add to Home Screen to place a shortcut to Google Maps containing your location. After doing this you can then drag Apple's sorry *ss excuse for a map app to the last page at the back of the phone or stash it into a sub-folder of seldom used apps.
Scotty