Road Atlas

The electronic maps just can't be trusted once you get off the major highways and interstates. There are many reports of people blindly accepting their gps routing and finding themselves in dire circumstances. I personally have had several occasions when the GPS software had me turning down goat paths. So we all need to check reality against a paper map.

Truckers Atlas available at most truck stops

. . .BENCHMARK Maps. . .On AMAZON. . .Shows all the info you need including Camping!!!!! I have them for all the Western states; they also have Apps if you need that. . . GOOD STUFF!!!!

klutchdust wrote:
I just ordered a new Garmin, we have AAA maps of the states, smartphones with all of that however I enjoy looking through the good old

Rand Mc Nally book to get an overall view of the state and local area. I see there are different ones out there, some have the GPS co ordinates etc now.

The electronics are fine but I can't travel without my torn up old map. What's out there now. What do you like.

We love using the good old Rand Mc Nally book. We don't leave home without out it..:W

Walmart has a Rand McNally with lists of all the Walmarts if that is of interest to you as it is me. LOL

My maps navigator tried to send me down a Ranch road to get to a state park. The road was clearly marked "Private Road". It kept trying to get me to turn around. I just kept going and was soon at the park????

Delorme atlas and Gazetteer of each state you go to frequently.
Detail is the best

I like the Michelin road atlas and I use Rand McNally as well, but the best maps are still the official state maps available at state visitor centers.

We always have a Motor Carriers' Road Atlas on board. It shows all truck routes by State and I especially like to check for low bridges along my route. It keeps a handy record of all our routes traveled.

And print maps never led anyone down a goat path - or a dirt road?

The paved FS/BLM road between Grants Pass and Gold River (OR) is perhaps the most notorious for stranding travelers (without the aid of GPS).

I've had to turn back a number of times while following roads on FS and Delourme Atlases (and Canadian Backroads). OK, this was in a soft SUV (or rental car), and trying to get as far into the mountains as I could.

A big problem with digital maps, especially the early ones, was they showed all roads in the same way. The data base lacked information on road quality. Print ones had a history of showing road type, and many years of user feedback.

I can get far more information about a route using my home computer than I ever got from map atlases.

I suspect that people who are good at using print maps are just as good with digital ones. They quickly learn the strengths and limitations of any map. People who blindly follow the GPS over railroad tracks and into a ditch would have done the same if their navigationally inept passenger had said 'turn here'. Getting lost and stuck, with or without maps, did not originate with GPS.

I have been known to have the Rand McNally in my lap next to my iPad set to Google Maps, with the GPS on the dash offering her insights.

Let's face it, sometimes you need all the help you can get!