Forum Discussion

bukhrn's avatar
bukhrn
Explorer III
Jan 20, 2015

Google Maps

Has anyone else noticed that Google Maps has absolutely lost it's mind ?
I was looking for the mileage from Madison junction, in Yellowstone, to Bakers Hole CG, just north of W. Yellowstone, now I know it's approximately 14 mi from the JCT. out the West entrance to West Yellowstone & roughly 9 mi. up to Bakers Hole, I was looking for the exact mileage.
Google has always been pretty good, but in this case, it tried to send me all the way down to Jackson in the Grand Teton area, then up Rt 22/33 to Rt 20 up to Bakers Hole, a total of 242 miles & 5 hours ?? :h :S What the heck is up with that.
Roads and Routes
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Jan 21, 2015
    Germania wrote:
    ...The Garmin would not show the route on the Park roads it kept showing routes outside park.


    Was the GPS set to exclude toll roads? Park entrance fees might count as 'tolls'. Digital databases don't make all of the distinctions that we humans expect.
  • Germania's avatar
    Germania
    Explorer
    Jan 21, 2015
    Wasn't really using it for navigation at that point, I use it as much for distance and approx. arrival times as anything.
  • 2gypsies1's avatar
    2gypsies1
    Explorer III
    Jan 21, 2015
    Ditch the GPS and use the easy to read park brochure for getting through the park. :)
  • Germania's avatar
    Germania
    Explorer
    Jan 21, 2015
    Had the same problem with my Garmin a couple of years ago, we were in Cody heading to W.Yellowstone thru the Park. The Garmin would not show the route on the Park roads it kept showing routes outside park.
  • john_bet's avatar
    john_bet
    Explorer II
    Jan 20, 2015
    Just another reason I have not used them in all the years since '67 that I have traveled around this great country. I have not been lost or failed to be where I needed to be on time.
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Jan 20, 2015
    Yes this a winter closure issue. Notice also the warning: 'This route includes roads that are closed in winter.'

    It won't let me put a destination point anywhere on the West Entrance - Norris - Mammoth road (except the junctions). So that's flagged as closed. Looks like someone entered incomplete, and possibly unnecessary, road closure information for the park.

    Ideally it should let you specify when you are traveling, but for now it's taking the 'safe' choice and assuming you want to travel now. Programs like this have gotten a lot a flack for recommending impossible or unsafe routes.
  • sch911's avatar
    sch911
    Explorer
    Jan 20, 2015
    The road may be closed for weather or construction. This can cause these unusual routings.
  • Pangaea_Ron's avatar
    Pangaea_Ron
    Explorer
    Jan 20, 2015
    I've had them route me around mountain passes and roads that are closed in the winter.

    We live in the land of Microsoft, and S&T insists on routing me East from Anacortes, North to Bellingham, before it turns me around, and heads me South to Seattle. It adds about 60 miles. Adding waypoints solves it.

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