Atlas Maps

I prefer a Michelin road atlas for North America because the maps are tiled (with some overlap) and at the same scale, rather than state by state with scale adjusted to fit the state on one or two pages. I have a better sense of "how far is it" when the scale does not keep changing as I travel. The Michelin atlas I buy is spiral bound to lay flat when open and printed on moisture resistant paper.

DeLorme used to do the same with their state atlases, using the same scale for the whole series. I'm not sure DeLorme atlases are still available, they've been bought out by a GPS competitor.

Folks with weight limit or clearance issues like to use the Motor Carrier's Road Atlas from Rand-McNally to find the roads designated for big rigs and learn about low clearances on those. For a van conversion, clearances and weights are seldom a problem.

If staying within a state, I like to use the individual maps published by the state (usually highway department or tourist commission).

While I find mapping applications or navigation GPS useful to find things locally, I collect maps and prefer to use them for planning and remembering. I usually run a GPS in just a "show me where I am" mode rather than "tell me how to get there."

Edit: looked at my Michelin Atlas of North America, discovered that it is tiled at tow different scales. A larger scale is used east of the Mississippi where population and road densities are greater, a smaller scale in the west. City maps and metro area maps, where included, are a much larger scale.

I bought the Rand McNally 2017 Atlas and Guide. That should keep him occupied while I am driving down the road glued to the GPS.. He he !

I use GPS at times (sometimes heavily), and don't mean to insult anyone and their preferences, but maps really put your whole route, surroundings, and the world in complete perspective, while GPS puts major blinders on (my wife and I outright say GPS makes us, well, you know). May road maps live forever! I love them so much, I have vintage U.S. and European road maps prominently in my antique business inventory. I have always gone with the inexpensive promotional big box store versions of atlases(KMart, Walmart, etc.). I like the idea of spiral, a major positive feature. I have gone so far as cutting a few pages out and putting them in plastic sleeves for a specific trip, when that helps keep packing light.

Even with a GPS, it's a good idea to follow along with a map. Sometimes the GPS has led us on some wild goose chase shortcuts. My wife uses the Rand McNally atlas.

We like the FMCA Atlas, it has some handy info such as it shows ll the Good Sam camping spots, phone numbers of RV parks, etc. And it has a spiral binder which makes it lay flat when opening to certain pages. Personally I still like the AAA maps since they are a little larger scale and easier to read. GPS gives you info on the road you're driving but nothing about the surrounding countryside such as rivers, mountains, etc; it's just oriented to the roadway and your destination.

Rand Mcnally road atlas at any truck stop.

Harley Owners Group publishes a 1/2 size version- HOG members get a new one every year- I give my old ones away, got a HOG member as a neighbor?

Mike

What is a map???????????

Pickup a new addition of one at Walmart