diff --git a/src/app/globals.css b/src/app/globals.css
index 8e770ff..86fa421 100644
--- a/src/app/globals.css
+++ b/src/app/globals.css
@@ -207,4 +207,62 @@ html {
   font-weight: 500;
   box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.07);
   z-index: 1;
+}
+
+/* Range slider styles */
+.slider {
+  -webkit-appearance: none;
+  appearance: none;
+  background: transparent;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.slider::-webkit-slider-track {
+  background: #e5e7eb;
+  height: 8px;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+}
+
+.dark .slider::-webkit-slider-track {
+  background: #4b5563;
+}
+
+.slider::-webkit-slider-thumb {
+  -webkit-appearance: none;
+  appearance: none;
+  background: #2563eb;
+  height: 16px;
+  width: 16px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  border: 2px solid #ffffff;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
+}
+
+.slider::-webkit-slider-thumb:hover {
+  background: #1d4ed8;
+}
+
+.slider::-moz-range-track {
+  background: #e5e7eb;
+  height: 8px;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  border: none;
+}
+
+.dark .slider::-moz-range-track {
+  background: #4b5563;
+}
+
+.slider::-moz-range-thumb {
+  background: #2563eb;
+  height: 16px;
+  width: 16px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  border: 2px solid #ffffff;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.slider::-moz-range-thumb:hover {
+  background: #1d4ed8;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/MapLayerSettings.tsx b/src/components/MapLayerSettings.tsx
index c3dd0f7..927f878 100644
--- a/src/components/MapLayerSettings.tsx
+++ b/src/components/MapLayerSettings.tsx
@@ -147,6 +147,30 @@ export default function MapLayerSettingsComponent({ onSettingsChange }: MapLayer
             <span className="text-sm text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300">Show all neighbors</span>
           </label>
 
+          {/* Path stroke width */}
+          <div className="mb-3">
+            <label className="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 mb-1">
+              Path stroke width
+            </label>
+            <input
+              type="range"
+              min="1"
+              max="8"
+              step="1"
+              value={settings.strokeWidth}
+              onChange={(e) => updateSetting('strokeWidth', parseInt(e.target.value))}
+              className="w-full h-2 bg-gray-200 dark:bg-neutral-600 rounded-lg appearance-none cursor-pointer slider"
+            />
+            <div className="flex justify-between text-xs text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 mt-1">
+              <span>1px</span>
+              <span className="font-medium">{settings.strokeWidth}px</span>
+              <span>8px</span>
+            </div>
+            <p className="text-xs mt-1 text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400">
+              Controls the thickness of neighbor connection lines
+            </p>
+          </div>
+
           {/* Use colors - indented sub-option */}
           <label className="flex items-center gap-2 ml-6 cursor-pointer">
             <input
diff --git a/src/components/MapView.tsx b/src/components/MapView.tsx
index e46a9f2..6a4f694 100644
--- a/src/components/MapView.tsx
+++ b/src/components/MapView.tsx
@@ -18,12 +18,7 @@ import { NodePosition } from "@/types/map";
 import { useNeighbors, type Neighbor } from "@/hooks/useNeighbors";
 import { type AllNeighborsConnection } from "@/hooks/useAllNeighbors";
 import { useQueryParams } from "@/hooks/useQueryParams";
-
-const DEFAULT = {
-  lat: 46.56, // Center between Seattle and Portland
-  lng: -122.51,
-  zoom: 7, // Zoom level to show both cities
-};
+import { useMapPosition } from "@/hooks/useMapPosition";
 
 interface MapQuery {
   lat?: number;
@@ -32,6 +27,7 @@ interface MapQuery {
 }
 
 
+
 type ClusteredMarkersProps = { 
   nodes: NodePosition[];
   selectedNodeId: string | null;
@@ -304,11 +300,13 @@ const ClusteredMarkers = React.memo(function ClusteredMarkers({
 function NeighborLines({ 
   selectedNodeId, 
   neighbors, 
-  nodes 
+  nodes,
+  strokeWidth = 2
 }: { 
   selectedNodeId: string | null; 
   neighbors: Neighbor[]; 
   nodes: NodePosition[];
+  strokeWidth?: number;
 }) {
   if (!selectedNodeId || neighbors.length === 0) return null;
 
@@ -352,7 +350,7 @@ function NeighborLines({
             positions={positions}
             pathOptions={{
               color: lineColor,
-              weight: isBidirectional ? 3 : 2,
+              weight: isBidirectional ? strokeWidth + 1 : strokeWidth,
               opacity: 0.7,
               dashArray: isNeighborVisible ? undefined : '5, 5'
             }}
@@ -368,12 +366,14 @@ function AllNeighborLines({
   connections, 
   nodes,
   useColors = true,
-  minPacketCount = 1
+  minPacketCount = 1,
+  strokeWidth = 2
 }: { 
   connections: AllNeighborsConnection[]; 
   nodes: NodePosition[];
   useColors?: boolean;
   minPacketCount?: number;
+  strokeWidth?: number;
 }) {
   if (connections.length === 0) return null;
 
@@ -454,8 +454,8 @@ function AllNeighborLines({
         
         const lineColor = getConnectionColor(connection.connection_type, connection.packet_count);
         
-        // Consistent line weight for all connections
-        const lineWeight = connection.connection_type === 'direct' ? 2 : 1;
+        // Use strokeWidth setting for line weight
+        const lineWeight = connection.connection_type === 'direct' ? strokeWidth : Math.max(1, strokeWidth - 1);
         
         return (
           <Polyline
@@ -498,17 +498,21 @@ export default function MapView({ target = '_self' }: MapViewProps = {}) {
     nodeTypes: ["meshcore"],
     showMeshcoreCoverageOverlay: false,
     minPacketCount: 1,
+    strokeWidth: 2,
   });
   
-  // Use query params to persist map position
-  const { query: mapQuery, updateQuery: updateMapQuery } = useQueryParams<MapQuery>({
-    lat: DEFAULT.lat,
-    lng: DEFAULT.lng,
-    zoom: DEFAULT.zoom,
-  });
+  // Use localStorage to persist map position
+  const [mapPosition, setMapPosition] = useMapPosition();
   
-  const mapCenter: [number, number] = [mapQuery.lat ?? DEFAULT.lat, mapQuery.lng ?? DEFAULT.lng];
-  const mapZoom = mapQuery.zoom ?? DEFAULT.zoom;
+  // Use query params for map position (for sharing URLs)
+  const { query: mapQuery, updateQuery: updateMapQuery } = useQueryParams<MapQuery>({});
+  
+  // Determine map center and zoom: query params take priority over localStorage
+  const mapCenter: [number, number] = [
+    mapQuery.lat ?? mapPosition.lat,
+    mapQuery.lng ?? mapPosition.lng
+  ];
+  const mapZoom = mapQuery.zoom ?? mapPosition.zoom;
   
   // Neighbor-related state
   const [selectedNodeId, setSelectedNodeId] = useState<string | null>(null);
@@ -655,7 +659,14 @@ export default function MapView({ target = '_self' }: MapViewProps = {}) {
         const center = map.getCenter();
         const zoom = map.getZoom();
         
-        // Update URL with new map position
+        // Update localStorage with new map position
+        setMapPosition({
+          lat: Math.round(center.lat * 100000) / 100000, // Round to 5 decimal places
+          lng: Math.round(center.lng * 100000) / 100000,
+          zoom: zoom
+        });
+        
+        // Update URL with new map position for sharing
         updateMapQuery({
           lat: Math.round(center.lat * 100000) / 100000, // Round to 5 decimal places
           lng: Math.round(center.lng * 100000) / 100000,
@@ -690,7 +701,14 @@ export default function MapView({ target = '_self' }: MapViewProps = {}) {
         const center = map.getCenter();
         const zoom = map.getZoom();
         
-        // Update URL with new map position
+        // Update localStorage with new map position
+        setMapPosition({
+          lat: Math.round(center.lat * 100000) / 100000, // Round to 5 decimal places
+          lng: Math.round(center.lng * 100000) / 100000,
+          zoom: zoom
+        });
+        
+        // Update URL with new map position for sharing
         updateMapQuery({
           lat: Math.round(center.lat * 100000) / 100000, // Round to 5 decimal places
           lng: Math.round(center.lng * 100000) / 100000,
@@ -811,6 +829,7 @@ export default function MapView({ target = '_self' }: MapViewProps = {}) {
           selectedNodeId={selectedNodeId}
           neighbors={neighbors}
           nodes={nodePositions}
+          strokeWidth={mapLayerSettings.strokeWidth}
         />
         {showAllNeighbors && (
           <AllNeighborLines 
@@ -818,6 +837,7 @@ export default function MapView({ target = '_self' }: MapViewProps = {}) {
             nodes={nodePositions}
             useColors={mapLayerSettings.useColors}
             minPacketCount={mapLayerSettings.minPacketCount}
+            strokeWidth={mapLayerSettings.strokeWidth}
           />
         )}
       </MapContainer>
diff --git a/src/hooks/useLocalStorage.ts b/src/hooks/useLocalStorage.ts
index b00c644..9cd5c7b 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useLocalStorage.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useLocalStorage.ts
@@ -8,24 +8,29 @@ import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
  * @returns A tuple of [value, setValue] similar to useState
  */
 export function useLocalStorage<T>(key: string, defaultValue: T): [T, (value: T | ((prev: T) => T)) => void] {
-  const [value, setValue] = useState<T>(defaultValue);
-  const firstRender = useRef(true);
-
-  // Load from localStorage on mount
-  useEffect(() => {
+  // Load from localStorage synchronously on first render
+  const getInitialValue = (): T => {
+    if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
+      return defaultValue;
+    }
+    
     try {
       const stored = localStorage.getItem(key);
       if (stored !== null) {
         const parsed = JSON.parse(stored);
-        setValue(typeof defaultValue === 'object' && defaultValue !== null 
+        return typeof defaultValue === 'object' && defaultValue !== null 
           ? { ...defaultValue, ...parsed } 
-          : parsed
-        );
+          : parsed;
       }
     } catch (error) {
       console.warn(`Failed to load from localStorage key "${key}":`, error);
     }
-  }, [key, defaultValue]);
+    
+    return defaultValue;
+  };
+
+  const [value, setValue] = useState<T>(getInitialValue);
+  const firstRender = useRef(true);
 
   // Save to localStorage when value changes (except on first render)
   useEffect(() => {
diff --git a/src/hooks/useMapLayerSettings.ts b/src/hooks/useMapLayerSettings.ts
index 76bc2a8..6ecc52c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useMapLayerSettings.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useMapLayerSettings.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export interface MapLayerSettings {
   nodeTypes: NodeType[];
   showMeshcoreCoverageOverlay: boolean;
   minPacketCount: number;
+  strokeWidth: number;
 }
 
 const DEFAULT_MAP_LAYER_SETTINGS: MapLayerSettings = {
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ const DEFAULT_MAP_LAYER_SETTINGS: MapLayerSettings = {
   nodeTypes: ["meshcore"],
   showMeshcoreCoverageOverlay: false,
   minPacketCount: 1,
+  strokeWidth: 2,
 };
 
 export function useMapLayerSettings() {
diff --git a/src/hooks/useMapPosition.ts b/src/hooks/useMapPosition.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53bbaee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/hooks/useMapPosition.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useLocalStorage } from './useLocalStorage';
+
+export interface MapPosition {
+  lat: number;
+  lng: number;
+  zoom: number;
+}
+
+const DEFAULT_MAP_POSITION: MapPosition = {
+  lat: 39.8283, // Center of the United States
+  lng: -98.5795, // Center of the United States
+  zoom: 4, // Zoom level to show the entire US
+};
+
+export function useMapPosition() {
+  return useLocalStorage<MapPosition>("mapPosition", DEFAULT_MAP_POSITION);
+}