Hi,(I posted in this forum rather than Tech discussion being that my issue should be a quick thing to resolve with you very savvy Google Map and Google Earth folks. I will then continue discussing routes as I come up to a question).I have been planning a trip from MA to SD and asking a bunch of questions from experienced travelers that know how to avoid area's like Chicago etc. I have another post about using the Good Sam Trip Planner that I touched upon the google products, so if you would like to reference prior conversations to get perspective, please do so.I have been using Good Sam Trip planner and I find it is lacking some features I think would be great to have. Anyway, I read old posts and some new posters were kind enough to suggest trying google maps and google earth together via importing into Earth.Here is my dilemma: I assume I have the latest version of both googles and I assume I have the latest version of Chrome on my PC laptop. I viewed some really old you tube videos showing how to import a route planned in Map into Earth. The problem is the version in video are older, different and I think Apple version. Unfortunately I don't have those tabs, buttons, choices etc that they show. I find the Map help is almost useless to me (and it just might be me not knowing enough).I would like to create a trip from Mass to South Dekota. I am trying to find the fasted and safest route and avoid heavy traffic as possible like Chicago, just interested in far enough away that makes sense but not add too much time or miles. Not a fan of gridlock, but is it worth putting up with some than going way around. I've got quite a few choices from feedback on my original post about using Good Sam Trip Planner to take shots of my screen. So I want to use this post as the offical for tweaking my route East to West.At this time I need help trying to import the Google Map route into Earth. For whatever reason I can't get Earth to find Map routes. I swear I did something right yesterday, but not today?Anyone have patience ready to tackle this?Thanks in Advance!ThanksNormy

Normy wrote:Hi,(I posted in this forum rather than Tech discussion being that my issue should be a quick thing to resolve with you very savvy Google Map and Google Earth folks. I will then continue discussing routes as I come up to a question).I have been planning a trip from MA to SD and asking a bunch of questions from experienced travelers that know how to avoid area's like Chicago etc. I have another post about using the Good Sam Trip Planner that I touched upon the google products, so if you would like to reference prior conversations to get perspective, please do so.I have been using Good Sam Trip planner and I find it is lacking some features I think would be great to have. Anyway, I read old posts and some new posters were kind enough to suggest trying google maps and google earth together via importing into Earth.Here is my dilemma: I assume I have the latest version of both googles and I assume I have the latest version of Chrome on my PC laptop. I viewed some really old you tube videos showing how to import a route planned in Map into Earth. The problem is the version in video are older, different and I think Apple version. Unfortunately I don't have those tabs, buttons, choices etc that they show. I find the Map help is almost useless to me (and it just might be me not knowing enough).I would like to create a trip from Mass to South Dekota. I am trying to find the fasted and safest route and avoid heavy traffic as possible like Chicago, just interested in far enough away that makes sense but not add too much time or miles. Not a fan of gridlock, but is it worth putting up with some than going way around. I've got quite a few choices from feedback on my original post about using Good Sam Trip Planner to take shots of my screen. So I want to use this post as the offical for tweaking my route East to West.At this time I need help trying to import the Google Map route into Earth. For whatever reason I can't get Earth to find Map routes. I swear I did something right yesterday, but not today?Anyone have patience ready to tackle this?Thanks in Advance!ThanksNormyIf this works, this should be the link to the post I referenced too.

Google Maps usually gives me real good routes. BUT. You gotta check these routes on an actual map to make sure they are feasible routes. Earlier this month I didn't verify the route and Google Maps routed me down Main Street in Mt Vernon, Wash. Sometimes the quickest route isn't the best.The hard map I use is the Motor Carriers Atlas, which the truckers use. Suitable roads are highlighted in orange.

Is there a particular reason you need to use Earth? For route planning I find GMaps enough. Earth just gives more of a 3d look, which may help in visualizing some mountainous routes. But GMaps has both a Sat view, and Terrain mode (current found in a left menu, or the layers icon on Android). And for this route there aren't any mountains to worry about. The Black Hills are the first ones you come to (after leaving the NY Catskills).GMaps gives several alternatives, highlighting the one that is fastest. Equally important it shows the distance. If alternatives rank differently in distance and time that means the estimated speeds are different.Boston to Rapid City is about 1900 miles, and 28 hrs. GM also shows some construction and slow downs.Do you know that you can tweak the routes to explore alternatives? For example if I grab a route near Chicago and drag it down to Indianapolis, miles increases by 40, and time by 1 hr. It is still all freeway, using 71, 70 and 74.An alternative that stays on 80 past Chicago, turning north at Iowa City has about the same time and distance as the originals.Some suggest taking I39 north to Wisconsin (as sort of a outer beltway for Chicago). But that is a bit further than the Iowa route, and hits the construction and rough road others mention for I90 in Wi and Minn.So on a long run like this, alternatives don't change the travel time by much - a hour or so either way, 60 miles plus or minus. How long you stop for meals and lodging will affect the travel time more than the route.As for safety - maps aren't going to tell you anything about that.Another trick with GM, is to specify a departure time. It's probably best for shorter segments. For example if you want to explore travel times through/around Chicago at various times of the day, pick a route from Elkhart IN to Madison WI. It may also show you where to expect most congestion.As for bypassing Chicago:I80 still goes though the industrialized south side and NW Indiana; it has typical rushhour traffic, as well as being a funnel for EW truck traffic. But it often moves, sometimes too fast for comfort.There isn't a good alternative. US30 is the next highway to the south, but it's stop and go urban city street for a long ways. There are more rural state roads further south, and US24. But it's hard to tell which ones a reasonably through roads. But you can pick a route, zoom in, and get as close as a Streetview to see how many cornfields you'll be passing.

azdryheat wrote:Google Maps usually gives me real good routes. BUT. You gotta check these routes on an actual map to make sure they are feasible routes. Earlier this month I didn't verify the route and Google Maps routed me down Main Street in Mt Vernon, Wash. Sometimes the quickest route isn't the best.The hard map I use is the Motor Carriers Atlas, which the truckers use. Suitable roads are highlighted in yellow.I just picked up the AAA Atlas because we are members, but what you are suggesting is a truckers Atlas? I didn't really know they existed lol.The AAA maps to me have very small text or my eyes are really bad. is the Atlas you mention have good size text you mentioned it highlight best routes for truck? Is it a apple and oranges difference?Also, where can I find one? The closet Pilot station possibly?Thanks for the infoNormy

Get a good road atlas, and road maps for every state you expect to go through. Do your basic route looking at the road atlas. Write down the route with pencil and paper, picking the towns and roads from the maps. Check the state DOT website for construction zones on your possible routes. Re-route if necessary. THEN use Google maps and satellite view to look at your route options and check for obvious pitfalls.Maps and Earth are good for checking details but they stink for long-distance trip planning. Sometimes low-tech is best.FYI you can get road maps from the tourism or transportation depts of the states you are interested in.

Route plan with Google Map / Earth, need tech savvy help

Anonymous
Jul 26, 2018
Normy wrote:
azdryheat wrote:

Any truck stop will have the map. Just stick with the orange highlighted roads, which are approved for truckers. It is a large book by Rand McNally but does have smallish print. It also lists low bridges by state along with a lot of other stuff pertaining to truckers.

Ordered, It'll be coming soon, TA service center wanted $79, got online cheaper at the Rand McNally site

Thanks all for the Truckers road atlas suggestions

Thanks
Normy

Received the 2019 Deluxe Motor Carriers' Road Atlas damaged. The laminated page from cover to back are bent and crinkled up on the lower right corner. Left voice message to them and emailed them as well with pictures. The box had damage but the packing was subpar with a small piece of brown paper and cardboard. I want a replacement switch. I'm sure they will rectify this situation, but I'm still disappointed.

It's like no matter what you do in life, there is always something that keeps things from going smooth...……………...I guess this is just another opportunity for "character building"?

Just venting out loud
Busskipper
Explorer
Jul 22, 2018
I use BingMaps - the share Link makes it easy - Boston to Custer - https://binged.it/2mx2EPA

Hard to get any easier,
valhalla360
Navigator
Jul 22, 2018
Normy wrote:
valhalla360 wrote:
I love Google Earth but they stopped most updates and are pushing users toward Google Maps.

One nice feature with Google Maps, is once it sets a route, you can click and drag to force an intermediate stop. So if you have way-point you want to hit or a place you want to avoid, just drag the route to or away.

Is there a reason, you are trying to export it to Google Earth? They have an automated option to send it to your phone version of Google Maps, so you can use it in the car. If you really need to do it, there are some after markety tools you can download to a KLM file but I haven't messed with them as I haven't needed them.

Others here I PM'd with recommended using it with Earth? But if Map's is good, I can skip it.

Have you found away to save a route you planned in Maps and go back to edit it later, just wondering

Thanks
Normy

There are 3rd party applications that can create a KML file. It used to be built into the system but my understanding is they are pushing people towards G. Maps, so they have taken away or orphaned features.

G. Earth does have route finding but not as full featured. You could set up a route in G. Maps and then recreate it in G. Earth by adjusting the start and end points (usually shorter routes are very close to the same). You can then save 2-3 routes to show a day of travel. (sounds worse than it is)

Since G. Maps is the GPS enabled application on your phone, it's not critical to have the G. Earth route exact unless you have some specific reason.
paulj
Explorer II
Jul 22, 2018
Miles per day depends on how I'm spending the night, how long I want to spend on meals, and how late in the day I want to go. Also, is it all high speed freeway, or somewhat slower highways or even local roads. And any stops for walks, sightseeing etc.

For us 450 miles per day is about max, especially if camping (which has more setup and take down time than motels). And a push one day might be balanced out with a more leisurely day nest. For a 3 mth trip to Alaska we averaged about 250 miles a day.

On other hand, some people rotate drivers and travel cross country nonstop.

When much young we drove to New England and back to Indiana. The return had one day from Conn to Youngstown OH, and another to Elkhart Indiana. The next leg was 1 day to Minneapolis, and another to North Dakota - so 4-5 days sounds reasonable for Mass to Black Hills.

It's also possible to overplan. There's value in having lots of information, and a general idea, and then settle on details as you go along. I've never followed my initial plans exactly.
Anonymous
Jul 22, 2018
Normy wrote:
Hi,

(I posted in this forum rather than Tech discussion being that my issue should be a quick thing to resolve with you very savvy Google Map and Google Earth folks. I will then continue discussing routes as I come up to a question).

I have been planning a trip from MA to SD and asking a bunch of questions from experienced travelers that know how to avoid area's like Chicago etc.

I would like to create a trip from Mass to South Dekota. I am trying to find the fasted and safest route and avoid heavy traffic as possible like Chicago, just interested in far enough away that makes sense but not add too much time or miles. Not a fan of gridlock, but is it worth putting up with some than going way around. I've got quite a few choices from feedback on my original post about using Good Sam Trip Planner to take shots of my screen. So I want to use this post as the offical for tweaking my route East to West.

Thanks
Normy

So far I cut and paste all the suggestions I received to date on alternative routes etc. and placed them on a word sheet to check out what these proposals look like in google maps. I will use the departure feature to look at traffic congestion times and area's.

I appreciate everyone's impute and I copied those that have reasons why the alternates may not work well or as people just travelled through the area had warned about construction they knew about.

Now I'm at the phase where I need to figure out once and for all how long I plan on driving between destinations? I mentioned 11-13 hours not counting stops, but that might be pushing it too much. I figure including stops, traffic, construction, my average travel time may end up being 45-55 mph.

So here's the next question: What do you folks think is a reasonable distance/time to travel between destinations? About what do you think are your reasonable travel times tend to be? We are not full timers and we are limited on vacation time, so I think we are stuck traveling longer than I would like.

Any thoughts?

Thanks again for your time and replys, it's very helpful to us.

Thanks

Normy
Anonymous
Jul 22, 2018
azdryheat wrote:

Any truck stop will have the map. Just stick with the orange highlighted roads, which are approved for truckers. It is a large book by Rand McNally but does have smallish print. It also lists low bridges by state along with a lot of other stuff pertaining to truckers.

Ordered, It'll be coming soon, TA service center wanted $79, got online cheaper at the Rand McNally site

Thanks all for the Truckers road atlas suggestions

Thanks
Normy
Anonymous
Jul 21, 2018
john&bet wrote:
If I were to plan this trip my first map would be a good ole Atlas opened to the first few pages that show the US map of roads. I have been doing it this way since '66. Last year we were in northern Indiana headed to Rapid City,S.D. I dropped south to US 24 and headed west to I-74 then to I -80, I-29,I-90. Last week we went to Bryson City,N.C. and did it this way. I did'nt use a GPS to get there nor a planning program, but i understand others are not me. Have a safe trip. Oh, by the way we lived in Rapid City from '78-'87 and go back often to visit or on our way thru to great Falls,Mt.

Yes I agree! I picked up a AAA road Atlas, but I just ordered the Truckers Rand McNally 2019 deluxe. I have to admit when using paper I tend to use the folded maps, easier to read for me. The Deluxe is laminated so this should help a bit. I drove a few times to Disney and South of me, so I used the old Garmin GPS more, with paper backups. Back in the 80,s and early 90's, it was only maps, the folds would wear out. The GPS had made and makes many mistakes over the years. I like the fact there are many here who plot out on a planner then download to a GPS.

I heard that South Dakota is an awesome place to go. I've been wanting to drive out there for many years and something always got in the way. We can't wait to finally get there and explore.

Thanks for the routes, I'll look them up.

Thanks
Normy
Anonymous
Jul 21, 2018
CharlesinGA wrote:
I do not know anything about it, but Bing has routes you can save and display. A poster on one of the RV boards, by the name of Busskipper does it all the time when someone asks about a route. He figures it out, posts a link and there is the map with the route on it.

I don't care for Bing however. More difficult to read and seems to have less info. Bing also seems to have incorrect info and names at times. On Nebraska highway 2 at Halsey is the Bessey Campground of the NFS. You drive across the Middle Loup River to get to it, just a couple of hundred yards off the highway. The signs say Middle Loup, Google Maps says Middle Loup, but Bing says it it the Dismal River, a name of a river on the south side of the national forest. I know that the map companies build in mistakes on purpose to prove copyright infringement when necessary, but I have found several times that Bing has given the wrong name or info. I just don't care for it as much.

I look at Google Maps, get the big picture and then start picking and deleting destinations to get the distance I want (about 500 mi per day traveling to an area such as the Black Hills) Many will say 500 miles is too much, but I found it puts me at a campground at a decent time of the afternoon, including fuel and food stops. I have to stop and get out and move around so a fuel stop at 250 miles or so, and food stops where I have to get out and go in a place such as Chic-Fil-A to eat (my favorite) gives me the excuse to move around and limber up.

Charles

About 500 miles plus stops, I think this trip we will push more to drop one day each way. Certainly don't want to push it, need to stay safe.

Chic-Fil-A, haven't seen one yet, but they are building one near Bradley International Airport in CT, I work near that, so I will try it when they open it.

I'm not much of a Bing fan either, I agree there is something up with their algorithms? Google does a lot of that too.

Thanks
Normy
john_bet
Explorer II
Jul 21, 2018
If I were to plan this trip my first map would be a good ole Atlas opened to the first few pages that show the US map of roads. I have been doing it this way since '66. Last year we were in northern Indiana headed to Rapid City,S.D. I dropped south to US 24 and headed west to I-74 then to I -80, I-29,I-90. Last week we went to Bryson City,N.C. and did it this way. I did'nt use a GPS to get there nor a planning program, but i understand others are not me. Have a safe trip. Oh, by the way we lived in Rapid City from '78-'87 and go back often to visit or on our way thru to great Falls,Mt.
CharlesinGA
Explorer
Jul 21, 2018
I do not know anything about it, but Bing has routes you can save and display. A poster on one of the RV boards, by the name of Busskipper does it all the time when someone asks about a route. He figures it out, posts a link and there is the map with the route on it.

I don't care for Bing however. More difficult to read and seems to have less info. Bing also seems to have incorrect info and names at times. On Nebraska highway 2 at Halsey is the Bessey Campground of the NFS. You drive across the Middle Loup River to get to it, just a couple of hundred yards off the highway. The signs say Middle Loup, Google Maps says Middle Loup, but Bing says it it the Dismal River, a name of a river on the south side of the national forest. I know that the map companies build in mistakes on purpose to prove copyright infringement when necessary, but I have found several times that Bing has given the wrong name or info. I just don't care for it as much.

I look at Google Maps, get the big picture and then start picking and deleting destinations to get the distance I want (about 500 mi per day traveling to an area such as the Black Hills) Many will say 500 miles is too much, but I found it puts me at a campground at a decent time of the afternoon, including fuel and food stops. I have to stop and get out and move around so a fuel stop at 250 miles or so, and food stops where I have to get out and go in a place such as Chic-Fil-A to eat (my favorite) gives me the excuse to move around and limber up.

Charles

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