HMM.. that's a tough one.
I've read a fair few fantasy books but not that many that are Tolkien-like with dwarvers, elves, orcs etc..
Of the ones I've read I'd suggest the following:
Sword Of Shannara - Terry Brooks. Something of a tolkien clone I guess which has been a major criticism of this author BUT it certainly has elves, druids, rock trolls, Hobbit-like central characters in a quest-like setting and maps. There's a whole heap of Shannara books Terry has since written, so you may like this series?
Tad Williams Memory, Sorrow and Thorn - A quest-like story that is fairly involved (trilogy) that has an ancient elf-like race, troll-like characters and humans in a medieval type setting and plenty of maps. This is one of my favourite series, probably still in my top 10 list of fantasy books..
Russell Kirkpatick's Fire Of Heaven trilogy. This guy is from New Zealand where you're probably aware they shot the LOTR movies. He's actually a map maker by profession so there's quite a number of detailed maps in the books!! His story is a little Tolkien-like in that it is a quest story again and he does have a number of different races the heroes meet along the way in different lands. If you're into maps and travellers passing through different landscapes and civilizations you'ld probaly like this one very much. It's his debut effort as a writer and not too bad.
Now for straight well written EPIC fantasy/saga on a large scale like Tolkien that is not so much the traditional elves, dwarves etc..but still has magic with different groups and maps but more Adult than the YA ones I've so far suggested I'd inlcude:
Robert Jordan's Wheel Of Time series. Book 11 of a reported 12 is due out by October. Critcised for dragging on at times, especially in the later books I still enjoy this work, certainly EPIC. Maps included.
Kate Elliott's Crown Of Stars series. Book 6 of 7 due within the next month or so with Book 7 due by Feb 2006, this is a well written series I think you'ld enjoy!! Certainly an elaborate EPIC plot with a number of groups involved including an ancient race, humans, reptilian-like race and a group of conspirators into dark magic. Certainly has maps.
George RR Martin's Song Of Ice and Fire. My No. 2 fantasy series of all time this is quite a gritty read and I'd suggest a more adult fantasy series. Book 4 may be out this year, Book 3 came out a few years back. Involved storyline and the obligatory maps.
Steven Erikson's Malazan Series. My No .1 fantasy series of all time. This is a fairly gritty read being a military fantasy style of book and not something I'd recommend to anyone who's never read a fanatasy novel before to begin with. Probably the most complex plot I've come across yet, plenty of world building second only to Tolkien IMHO and amazing magic systems and civilizations populate this world. A number of maps as the main story takes place on 2-3 diffrent continents. Violence can be fairly graphic and a hard world in general is described here, one of the reasons it would be an adult fantasy novel in my mind.
Hope this helps mate!!
