RPG 2d Game Map Editor?

Well, I'm in the process of learning opengl. I was thinking of bringing back one of my previous battle engines and add on a 2d environmental movement gameplay area. Well, heres the thing; I think it's kind'a tedious to create map for map each place. Is there any way I can organize it a little better? I was thinking a map editor, I am creating a full game. Although that could be pretty inafitiant(/sp). What's your opininion? Do you know of any good tutorials for creating map editors or 2d rpg games?

Assuming you wrote your game code object oriented like eveyr one should. You should be able to rip out the mapping system of your game, and create a new application with it. But instead of adding game features, add editing features. Changing textures, and walkable paths etc.

Then add a save function that outputs all the map info into a file format.