With the Internet how do you plan you trip?

I start with a truckers Atlas to decide where we want to go. Then move to RV PARKY for laying it out and selecting RV parks. Check all the parks with RV Park Reviews and then transfer the route to the GPS. I also print a basic paper copy in case something happens.

Dave

I use a combination of Good Sam, Flying J/Pilot, and KOA route planning (for detailed CG and fueling stops) all feeding and supplemented with Garmin BaseCamp with the final result loaded to my GPSs via BaseCamp. There is some learning curve to effectively using BaseCamp, but it's IMO a good final planning tool.

Larry

I've been using the Allstays Camp & RV app and very happy with it.

jmcgsd wrote:
What I don't believe Google maps can do is to allow me to input conditions, I.e. Avoid Interstates. That was one of the features I loved in Trips & Streets. It's also easy with a paper planner.

I used Google maps this morning to plot a route from San Diego to Big Bend N.P. Sure it worked, and if I wanted to get there using the quickest route I'm certain the route would do that, but I can't easily see the alternates, and as I said, allow conditions to be set. I was hoping there was an app that supported that.

Guess not.

Once you tell Google Maps to plot the route from start point to end point, you can drag the line to any place you like. Just click and drag at any point on the line. You can make it as direct or as convoluted as you want, then save it to your Google account and it's there to call up from anywhere. It's really as easy as anything I've ever used in that respect. As far as I know, it won't give you bridge or tunnel clearances, but as long as you stay on mostly main highways, even 2 lane roads won't usually have clearances too low for most RV traffic.

I use google maps to plan my route as well as to find campgrounds once I have an idea what area we would like to stop ( based on miles). Because we don't like to travel on x-ways, we zoom into see other road and highways that will let us bypass large cities. We use google earth and street view to see the condition of the roads, if there is a shoulder, or to see landmarks in the area we want to stop as well as a view of the campground. It is very helpful, but like I said, most of the time we do not use the route google chooses.

What I don't believe Google maps can do is to allow me to input conditions, I.e. Avoid Interstates. That was one of the features I loved in Trips & Streets. It's also easy with a paper planner.

I used Google maps this morning to plot a route from San Diego to Big Bend N.P. Sure it worked, and if I wanted to get there using the quickest route I'm certain the route would do that, but I can't easily see the alternates, and as I said, allow conditions to be set. I was hoping there was an app that supported that.

Guess not.

RoyB wrote:
I use google maps here on the internet all the time. SAT VIEW and STREET views tells me all I need to know about places I haven't been too. Looking down on camp grounds you can pick your parking spot out before going to the office...

Roy Ken

Yeah, what he said, this is how we lay out our trips as well. Works GREAT!

Dan

Google maps works great for us.

Pick the start point and end point for your trip.

Pick where you'll stay in each.

Then look at cities on the route you want to visit or stop over in. Drill down into the details of each area like searching for Campgrounds or particular types of restaurants or attractions.

Don't like what you find move further or closer out depending on how far your mileage threshold is and repeat for every stop. You can even use street view to get an idea of an area.

Once you get the city you want move over to a new tab and build your trip from start to finish adding stops if you want or just jot them down on your keep app / note taking app. You can even send the directions directly to your phone once finished or break them out by the day if you want.

jmcgsd wrote:
In the old days, you could break out you Rand McNally or you AAA maps and plan a trip. Obviously, this is still an option.

Years ago I had a Microsoft application, Trips and Streets, that was a pretty good tool.

Now although I have Google maps on my iPad, it is really not much of a planning tool. I guess I'm looking for an app that lets me start with a map of the US, decide where I want to go, then zero in on areas for more detailed route planning.

What are you using?

What I don't understand is why Google Maps doesn't work for you in this manner. I use it right from the initial idea for a plan - first in map view to get a general idea of the basic plan; then in satellite (Earth) view to zoom in on potential stops for for sightseeing and overnight stops. As I zoom closer, campground names show up, and I can click on the name to see if they have a website with more info. I do the same to get more details for points of interest. I also use Earth view to check out campground layouts.

If I can't get enough campground info that way, then I go to All Stays Pro and check out the campground facilities. I can get recent prices paid by users, as well as current reviews.

When the plan is set, I plug it into my Garmin Nuvi 1490 for navigation. I also use Garmin's Base Camp map on the computer for planning more complex routes, and then upload the route into the GPS.

I still have a couple of current road atlases (Rand McNally and Nat Geo) because I'm a map freak and I just like paging through them, but I need a magnifying glass to get most details.

Over the years I've used Delorme and Microsoft S&T, but these days Google Maps gives me 90% of what I need to know for planning a trip route. I can zoom it as big as I want on my 27" desktop monitor, and take it along on my laptop or tablet or phone.

US Campgrounds is a huge help to me along with Google Maps, Earth and of course RVReviews. Depending on your area of travel and research you want, wxtoad has an excellent site and I can't speak highly enough of it.