Best road atlas

A question. Wouldn't a 2015 Michelin Guide work as well as the 2010?

Any votes on this version?

Michelin 2015 Road Atlas

I have to disagree about the Michelin Atlas. Normally Michelin folding maps of areas are superb in every detail and if you want to traverse the Sahara Desert or a European or African Country they are the ONLY map to get for sure. BUT their US atlas suffers from some problems.

Its chopped up with states not all on one page, the states are not in alphabetical order and the mileage tables are very slim (now I am writing this from memory of several years ago so it may have changed)

I find it hard to use

The Rand McNalley Motor Carriers Atlas has several advantages for people with large vehicles: One: all roads that are ok for Tractor trailers are colored yellow overlay. And it has the most extensive mileage tables of any atlas out there. Yes the print is small but we probably all have reading glasses anyway.

The large print atlases leave out too many details by necessity.

They are not a huge cost so If I were you buy both and see which ends up being your "go to" atlas...

My big complaint about the RMN is their treatment of Mexico. My guess is that more tourists go to Mexico than Canada Yet the whole country of Mexico is relegated to one page whereas Canada is given a Page per province at a pretty good scale. They need to change this obvious bias.

Thanks. I opted for the Rand McNally Motor Carriers. But... we were opening gifts and DH got me the Good Sam RV Road Atlas. Yikes now we have two!

I use a spiral-bound American Map (formerly Arrow) atlas. Much prefer it over the Rand McNally.

2gypsies wrote:
OP: If you're planning a special western trip and staying in one state fairly long, it would be worthwhile getting the Benchmark atlas for that state. As full-timers, we had one for each state. We have a Garman also, along with DeLorme's mapping program on the computer but we use the Benchmark as our very first planning tool for detail.

X2.

That's similar to how we explore the Western states. Our Garmin has a large memory and I keep it's operating system and North America map currrent, plus have added over 800,000 POI files for enhancements.

As an example, we have a POI that shows every body of water in the U.S. - even lakes that are dry part of the year - and the Garmin can usually lead us right to them as we verify and follow along with a Benchmark state altas.

X2 on the Benchmark series of western states atlases. They have excellent detail for all public lands, secondary roads and gravel roads if you like to sitesee.

We only travel interstates when absolutely necessary - which isn't much. We love the secondary roads for travel with our 40' motorhome. We've never encountered the need for the 'trucker's atlas' when driving in the west and have never had issues on the secondary roads we travel.

OP: If you're planning a special western trip and staying in one state fairly long, it would be worthwhile getting the Benchmark atlas for that state. As full-timers, we had one for each state. We have a Garman also, along with DeLorme's mapping program on the computer but we use the Benchmark as our very first planning tool for detail.

Perhaps if only driving east of the Mississippi, the trucker's atlas might be helpful.

Personally I love Benchmarks for each State. Unfortunately they are only available for the western states I believe.

C-Bears - Just sent you a Private Message.

GoPackGo wrote:
Reader1 - If your fiver is tall, like mine, then you want to know about clearance issues.

One of the BEST things about the Motor Carriers Atlas is that it lists all low clearances on a state by state basis in a separate section. I have the Rand NcNally Motor Carrier's Atlas.

Tim

As much as it pains me to agree with anything a obvious Packer's Fan says (LOL).....a trucker's atlas is what he would want.

I paid about $48.00 for my last one and I update every 2 years. My fiver is 13'5" tall so all the different height requirements are important to me plus I like knowing where "designated" truck routes actually are located.

Reader1 - If your fiver is tall, like mine, then you want to know about clearance issues.

One of the BEST things about the Motor Carriers Atlas is that it lists all low clearances on a state by state basis in a separate section. I have the Rand NcNally Motor Carrier's Atlas.

Tim