Adventures in Route Finding

[AustinBoston]

How do you find routes to where you are going?

Most of us have a number of tools at our disposal.  But how we use those tools and how much we trust them, I believe, varies widely.  I think it should.

PJay and I are going to put in some serious miles this Thanksgiving.  We will be driving from Minneapolis, MN to Jacksonville, NC, and back, a round-trip distance approaching 3,000 miles.  We have made trips of this length before, but not this route.  We have deeply regretted some of the routes we have chosen.  We have truly enjoyed others.

So we threw our departure point and our destination point at several of these routefinders, and compared what they came up with.  The routefinders were:

• ME - I looked at a big map and figured what made sense.
• MapQuest
  
• Google Maps
  
• AAA Maps & Directions (AAA membership and login required)
  
• National Geographic Trip Planner (A program we picked up cheap some years ago.  It is limited because roads chaged since 1999 are not in it, and there is no database update available).
• A long-haul truck driver relative.

Given that route, all but two sent us into the greater Chicago area.  The two that didn't?  Me and the truck driver.  Why? Because we've both driven around Chicago, and we've driven way around Chicago.  It's worth the extra 100 miles to drive way around Chicago.  You'll get there sooner.  But in this case, every one of the route planners went though Indianapolis.  Know how much was "saved" by driving through Chicago?  25 miles.  Definitely not worth it.

From Indianapolis, the opinions varied.  However, all of the routes ened up on I-40 eastbound, and from near Greensboro, NC to the destination they were all basically the same.

One went east on I-70 through Ohio to I-77 then south on I-77 to I-74 East to I-40 Eastbound (near Greensboro).  This struck me as being just about the worst route possible.  It spent a lot of time in the mointains of West Virginia, and the roads are often shown as little squiggles - which means "very winding road with narrow lanes and little or no shoulder that climb and descend often" when you end up on them.

Another took us on I-74 to Cincinatti, OH, then I-75 south to Lexington, Kentucky, then east on I-64 to where it splits with I-77 south, taking I-77 south to I-74 east to I-40 east near Greensboro.

Another took us south on I-65 to Louisville, KY, then I-64 east to Lexington, KY (haven't we aready been here?), then south on I-75 (yes, but that's not the way we left!), to I-40 east in Knoxville, TN.

The others were various combinations of the above.  Also, I should note that every one routed us through some downtown areas and around others, and they almost never agreed on how to do so.

Does anyone make a route finder that has a lick of sense?  Does anyone with a lick of sense make a decent route finder?

In the end, we went entirely with the truck driver's route.  He knows us and knows we know how to drive and how to tow (we'll be hauling a large U-Haul trailer).  He knows the roads, the routes, the drivers, the traffic, and the major construction zones (something that, among the others, only AAA knew about).

So how are we going?  From the Twin Cities area, we will take I-94 east to where it joins I-90, then I-90/94 to where it joins I-39 (the only place I know of where three 2-digit interstate highways, I-94, I-90, and I-39, run together). Then we will stay on I-39 all the way to Bloomington, IL, where we pick up I-74 east to Indianapolis.  There we will follow I-74/I-465 south around the city to Cincinnati.  There we'll take I-275 around the south side of the city to I-75.  We will then take I-75 south through Lexington, KY to Knoxville, TN where we will pick up I-40 eastbound.

We would have made a stop at the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge exit to go to the Lodge outlet store, but we already know they will be closed when we go through. Maybe on the return trip?  Fate has brought us through there three times before, and every time, we have just had to stop either on the way or on the way back.

Anyway, we will take I-40 east to NC-24 and then take that into Jacksonville.

Austin

[campertime]

Austin - you left out one of the best. http://www.map24.com

This one gives you more control. It allows you to pick your speeds, your prefferred roads, type of route (fastest or shortest), and find things along the way like gas stations hotels, etc.

You can also insert waypoints, so if you're driving from Pennsylvania to Illinois and want to stop at cedar point in Ohio, you just add the address for cedar point in between your PA and IL destinations. It's a very useful tool.

 

[SkipP]

A-B, I've used Microsoft's Street and Trips for quite a while now. It's pretty tailorable (is that a word?) to what you want and easy to block out entire sections of a route (i.e. Windy City). It will also allow you to access the latest construction info via the internet to help with decisions. Of course, it gets referenced against Yahoo Maps and MapQuest before we hit the road!

I-40, Greensboro east through Raleigh, can be a little slow during peak times but it's about the best route through there in spite of that.
 
We live about 60 miles south of Jacksonville, NC. Anything we can help with, give a shout!

[dthurk]

AustinBoston, I think you've got a good handle on the whole process.  Research, then figure out your own route from maps, then start asking people you know if they've made the trip.  Many tips can be gleaned from others.  I trust myself and others who have already done it over any of the mapping services.  I have done AAA triptiks and Good Sam Club printouts, but changed them either before we left or en route.  

Your truck driver friend is a great resource.  He should know his stuff on routes.  I've got a BIL who was a long haul trucker in a previous career.  He has yet to steer us wrong, so to speak.  

Worst driving mis-hap of my own...We were driving to Liberty Harbor "Camping Parking Lot" in NJ this past June.  The exit we had to take was closed (I guess they do that unannounced in the NYC area).  The next thing I knew, I was staring at the entrance to the Holland Tunnel.  I didn't think they'd want 2 propane tanks in there and I certainly didn't want to find myself towing a PUP around downtown Manhattan.  I saw a side street just before the entrance and dove through 2 lanes of traffic to get to it.  Cell phone call to the RV park and they guided us turn by turn on the phone.

[TheViking]

I use the "The Force"
 
 
 
I'm hoping to have GPS soon.

[chasd60]

This is from my software
I have it set for RV Planning which means no overpasses less than 12'6" or extra sharp turns and also for propane restrictions. The times are based on a 30 minute break every 4 hours. I use the software on my laptop with a GPS receiver. It has voice recognition and vocalizes the directions with the amount of leadtime you choose. It will also automatically recalculate your route if you stray more than 200 feet from the one mapped. If you get into heavy traffic, you can click on "Detour" and it will create an alternate route, not sure how this works because I have never used it.
 
Driving directions Odometer Time
 
 
Minneapolis, MN
 
Go south on Washington Avenue South (MN-65)
Drive less than 0.1 miles 0.1 0:00
Stay on MN-65 South (4th Avenue South) as it turns right
Drive 0.2 miles 0.2 0:01
 
Turn left on 4th Street South
Drive 0.3 miles 0.5 0:01
Stay on 4th Street South as it turns left
Drive 0.6 miles 1.2 0:03
Proceed ahead as name changes to MN-122 East
Drive 1.2 miles (~2 min) 2.3 0:05
 
Turn right on Huron Street Southeast
Drive 0.3 miles 2.6 0:06
 
Take ramp to I 94 East (US 12)
Drive 0.5 miles on Ramp 3.1 0:07
Drive 6.0 miles (~7 min) 9.2 0:13
 
Take ramp to I 94 East (US 12)
Drive 0.6 miles on Ramp 9.8 0:14
Drive 2.6 miles (~3 min) 12.3 0:17
Stay on I 94 East (US 12) as US-10 splits off
Drive 14.0 miles (~13 min) (to MN/WI State Line) 26.3 0:30
Drive 3.9 miles (~4 min) 30.2 0:34
Stay on I 94 East as US-12 splits off
Drive 223.6 miles (~3 hr 25 min) 253.8 4:00
 
Time Break: On-duty 4:00 hours
Break Wait Time: 0:30 hours
 
 
Straight on I 94 East
Drive 10.8 miles (~10 min) 264.5 4:40
 
Straight on I 90 East
Drive 49.9 miles (~46 min) (to WI/IL State Line) 314.4 5:26
Drive 0.3 miles (Start toll) 314.8 5:26
Drive 17.2 miles (~16 min) 331.9 5:42
Stay on I 90 East (Northwest Tollway) as I 39 splits off
Drive 50.1 miles (~46 min) (End toll) 382.0 6:28
 
Take ramp to I 290 East (State Hwy 53)
Drive 0.7 miles on Ramp 382.7 6:30
Drive 13.2 miles (~12 min) 395.9 6:42
Stay on I 290 East as US-20 splits off
Drive 1.8 miles (~2 min) 397.7 6:44
 
Take Exit 15A to I 294 South (Tri-State Tollway)
Drive 0.4 miles on Exit 15A (Start toll) 398.1 6:44
Drive 31.6 miles (~29 min) (End toll) 429.7 7:14
 
Straight on I 80 East
Drive 3.0 miles (~3 min) (to IL/IN State Line) 432.7 7:16
Drive 10.8 miles (~10 min) 443.5 7:26
 
Take Exit 11 to I 65 South
Drive 0.7 miles on Exit 11 444.2 7:28
Drive 67.5 miles (~1 hr) 511.6 8:30
 
Time Break: On-duty 4:00 hours
Break Wait Time: 0:30 hours
 
 
Straight on I 65 South
Drive 62.4 miles (~58 min) 574.0 9:58
 
Take Exit 129 to I 865 East
Drive 0.8 miles on Exit 129 (~2 min) 574.8 9:59
Drive 3.3 miles (~3 min) 578.1 10:02
 
Straight on I 465 East
Drive 23.9 miles (~22 min) 602.0 10:24
 
Take Exit 49B to I 74 East (US 421)
Drive 1.0 miles on Exit 49B (~2 min) 602.9 10:26
Drive 77.5 miles (~1 hr 10 min) (to IN/OH State Line) 680.4 11:38
Drive 5.4 miles (~5 min) 685.9 11:43
 
Take Exit 5 to I 275 West
Drive 0.7 miles on Exit 5 686.6 11:44
Drive 6.7 miles (~6 min) (to OH/IN State Line) 693.3 11:50
Drive 3.3 miles (~3 min) (to IN/KY State Line) 696.5 11:53
Drive 13.3 miles (~12 min) 709.8 12:06
 
Take Exit 84 to I 71 South (I 75)
Drive 0.6 miles on Exit 84 710.5 12:07
Drive 11.7 miles (~11 min) 722.2 12:18
Stay on I 75 South as I 71 splits off
Drive 45.9 miles (~42 min) 768.0 13:00
 
Time Break: On-duty 4:00 hours
Break Wait Time: 0:30 hours
 
 
Straight on I 75 South
Drive 9.2 miles (~8 min) 777.2 13:38
 
Take ramp to I 64 East (I 75)
Drive 0.9 miles on Ramp (~2 min) 778.2 13:40
Drive 5.8 miles (~5 min) 784.0 13:46
 
Take Exit 111 to I 64 East
Drive 0.5 miles on Exit 111 784.5 13:47
Drive 109.5 miles (~1 hr 40 min) (to KY/WV State Line) 894.0 15:28
Drive 6.5 miles (~6 min) 900.5 15:34
Stay on I 64 East as US-52 splits off
Drive 51.2 miles (~47 min) 951.7 16:21
Stay on I 64 East as US-119 splits off
Drive 0.7 miles 952.5 16:22
Stay on I 64 East as it bears right
Drive 5.1 miles (~5 min) (Start toll) 957.5 16:26
Drive 56.5 miles (~52 min) 1014.0 17:19
 
Straight on I 77 South (West Virginia Turnpike)
Drive 12.4 miles (~11 min) 1026.4 17:30
 
Time Break: On-duty 4:00 hours
Break Wait Time: 0:30 hours
 
 
Bear right on I 77 South (West Virginia Turnpike)
Drive 18.1 miles (~17 min) (End toll) 1044.4 18:17
Drive 8.9 miles (~8 min) (to WV/VA State Line) 1053.3 18:25
Drive 0.7 miles 1054.0 18:25
Stay on I 77 South as US-52 splits off
Drive 25.6 miles (~24 min) 1079.5 18:49
 
Take ramp to I 77 South
Drive 0.5 miles on Ramp 1080.0 18:50
Drive 8.1 miles (~7 min) 1088.1 18:58
 
Take Exit 81 to I 77 South
Drive 0.4 miles on Exit 81 1088.5 18:58
Drive 32.1 miles (~30 min) (to VA/NC State Line) 1120.6 19:28
Drive 4.6 miles (~4 min) 1125.2 19:32
 
Take left Exit 101 to I 74 East
Drive 0.5 miles on Exit 101 1125.7 19:33
Drive 11.6 miles (~11 min) 1137.3 19:44
 
Take ramp to US-52 South
Drive 0.2 miles on Ramp 1137.5 19:44
Drive 31.1 miles (~29 min) 1168.6 20:13
 
Take ramp to I 40 Business East
Drive 0.1 miles on Ramp 1168.8 20:13
Drive 9.9 miles (~9 min) 1178.7 20:22
Stay on I 40 Business East as US-421 splits off
Drive 15.7 miles (~14 min) 1194.4 20:37
 
Straight on I 40 East (US 220)
Drive 2.0 miles (~2 min) 1196.3 20:39
Stay on I 40 East as US-29 splits off
Drive 36.8 miles (~34 min) 1233.2 21:14
 
Take Exit 163 to I 40 East
Drive 0.3 miles on Exit 163 1233.5 21:14
Drive 42.4 miles (~39 min) 1275.9 21:53
Stay on I 40 East as it bears right
Drive 7.3 miles (~7 min) 1283.1 22:00
 
Time Break: On-duty 4:00 hours
Break Wait Time: 0:30 hours
 
 
Straight on I 40 East
Drive 64.4 miles (~59 min) 1347.6 23:29
 
Take Exit 373 and turn left on NC-903 West
Drive 0.2 miles on Exit 373 1347.8 23:30
Drive 0.2 miles 1347.9 23:30
Proceed ahead as name changes to NC-24 East
Drive 5.8 miles (~8 min) 1353.7 23:38
Stay on NC-24 East as it turns right
Drive 29.5 miles (~53 min) 1383.2 24:31
Proceed ahead as name changes to US-258 South
Drive 6.8 miles (~9 min) 1390.0 24:40
Stay on US-258 North (Marine Boulevard) as it bears left
Drive 0.6 miles 1390.7 24:41
 
Jacksonville, NC 1390.7 24:41
 
 

[Kelly]

I use the "The Force"

 Somehow that does not surprise me![/color]
 

I'm hoping to have GPS soon.

Be careful of the GIGO (garbage in garbage out) factor.  I was traveling with some friends once ~ following them in my van.  We pulled out of a campground and they turned.  Right away I knew they'd turned the wrong way.  Couple minutes later they're one the FRS telling me we were going the wrong way!  Yep.

I also use the Rand McNally site some times.

AB ~ that is the route I take to get around Chicago, too.  Once through is enough to cure anyone of driving through that place on purpose!

Chas ~ you're route goes too close to Chicago!  Most midwesterners avoid it like the plague!

[chasd60]

Chas ~ you're route goes too close to Chicago! Most midwesterners avoid it like the plague!

The software I use allows you to put a "waypoint" in and force the route to one you might prefer more.
 
I bought it for the RV routing, it only took one trip at 65MPH and seeing an overpass with a limit of 9'6" and I knew my AC was about 10'6":yikes: . Luckily for me it was a rounded overpass and the middle was much higher. Was off at the next opportunity.

[AustinBoston]

Straight on I 90 East
Drive 49.9 miles (~46 min) (to WI/IL State Line) 314.4 5:26
Drive 0.3 miles (Start toll) 314.8 5:26
Drive 17.2 miles (~16 min) 331.9 5:42
Stay on I 90 East (Northwest Tollway) as I 39 splits off
Drive 50.1 miles (~46 min) (End toll) 382.0 6:28

Times in this section are optimistic.

Take ramp to I 290 East (State Hwy 53)
Drive 0.7 miles on Ramp 382.7 6:30
Drive 13.2 miles (~12 min) 395.9 6:42
Stay on I 290 East as US-20 splits off
Drive 1.8 miles (~2 min) 397.7 6:44

Times here are overly optimistic.

Take Exit 15A to I 294 South (Tri-State Tollway)
Drive 0.4 miles on Exit 15A (Start toll) 398.1 6:44
Drive 31.6 miles (~29 min) (End toll) 429.7 7:14

Times here are truly unrealistic.

Straight on I 80 East
Drive 3.0 miles (~3 min) (to IL/IN State Line) 432.7 7:16
Drive 10.8 miles (~10 min) 443.5 7:26

I have driven this three times (a few years went by between the first and second, and the third time it was by mistake).  Thirteen minutes?  Try 60-90 minutes.

That's my point.  None of these programs have a clue what the roads are really like, even though many actually pay people to drive them!

I can easily avoid Chicago, because I have personal experience.  But I'd never been to Indianapolis before this past August.  How am I supposed to know whether or not to avoid that?  Or Columbus, OH?

I grew up near and drove in a very congested city (Boston), and now I have a choice of two crazy metro places (St. Paul or Minneapolis) and so I know there are places where sending someone with no local experience is pure evil.  

It's fine to say "go to this Blavanville" if I know Blavandville is a better way to go.  What I need is for someone to say "Don't go there; the drivers are crazy," or "Traffic on this interstate never exceeds 4 MPH despite posted speed."  If you've never seen those, you have never been in a major metro area.

Austin

[chasd60]

Times in this section are optimistic.
 
 
 
Times here are overly optimistic.
 
 
 
Times here are truly unrealistic.
 
 
 
I have driven this three times (a few years went by between the first and second, and the third time it was by mistake). Thirteen minutes? Try 60-90 minutes.
 
That's my point. None of these programs have a clue what the roads are really like, even though many actually pay people to drive them!
 
I can easily avoid Chicago, because I have personal experience. But I'd never been to Indianapolis before this past August. How am I supposed to know whether or not to avoid that? Or Columbus, OH?
 
I grew up near and drove in a very congested city (Boston), and now I have a choice of two crazy metro places (St. Paul or Minneapolis) and so I know there are places where sending someone with no local experience is pure evil.
 
It's fine to say "go to this Blavanville" if I know Blavandville is a better way to go. What I need is for someone to say "Don't go there; the drivers are crazy," or "Traffic on this interstate never exceeds 4 MPH despite posted speed." If you've never seen those, you have never been in a major metro area.
 
Austin

I have driven straight through Chicago twice to get a camper in Pleasant Prairie Wisonsin. I never had any problems at all. I even drove right through on the way back, towing  my hybrid. I found no problems at all when staying on the interstates.

[dthurk]

I have driven straight through Chicago twice to get a camper in Pleasant Prairie Wisonsin. I never had any problems at all. I even drove right through on the way back, towing  my hybrid. I found no problems at all when staying on the interstates.

Was it at 3 AM?  Drove through DC once on I495 and I95 at 70 mph all the way (not towing).  It was 4:30 AM.  Only time to do it.  Only time you can do it.

[Kelly]

I grew up near and drove in a very congested city (Boston), and now I have a choice of two crazy metro places (St. Paul or Minneapolis) and so I know there are places where sending someone with no local experience is pure evil.  

Hey!!  I don't find St Paul crazy at all ... just don't make me cross the river!  

[chasd60]

Was it at 3 AM? Drove through DC once on I495 and I95 at 70 mph all the way (not towing). It was 4:30 AM. Only time to do it. Only time you can do it.

It was around 11AM on a Saturday when I towed the hybrid through.

[aw738]

Posted by chasd60 - Yesterday at 05:11 PM

This is from my software
I have it set for RV Planning which means no overpasses less than 12'6" or extra sharp turns and also for propane restrictions. The times are based on a 30 minute break every 4 hours. I use the software on my laptop with a GPS receiver. It has voice recognition and vocalizes the directions with the amount of leadtime you choose. It will also automatically recalculate your route if you stray more than 200 feet from the one mapped. If you get into heavy traffic, you can click on "Detour" and it will create an alternate route, not sure how this works because I have never used it.

What program is this from. I have a DeLorme program that has a usb gps antenna that sound similar to what you have. It works great.

[chasd60]

Posted by chasd60 - Yesterday at 05:11 PM
 
 
 
 
What program is this from. I have a DeLorme program that has a usb gps antenna that sound similar to what you have. It works great.

I used Delorme for years until I bought my hybrid and came upon an overpass that had a height limit of 9'6" and I know my AC is 10'6", luckily it was one of those rounded overpasses and I quickly got in the middle of the two lanes (was going 65MPH when I saw the sign). I got off at the next exit. I am using Copilot Live/Laptop 8 by ALK Technologies.
 
I drive by the Delorme main building in Freeport, ME. every day. I have stopped in and asked about overpass clearances and LP restrictions but they have no plans for those improvements.
 
This software is about $125 more than the Delorme product but if it saves me from ripping my AC off the roof of my hybrid, or worse, it is well worth it.