trip planning?

kcallahan · 03-03-2006, 11:28 AM

Hi everyone;

Does anybody know of free software or website where you can plan a trip. It needs to be able to plan several legs, not just "From to TO" and back.
I can print out a map and highlight the roads I want to take, but then I have to figure out the mileage and times myself. Sometimes this takes several hours. It would be nice for the software to do this for you.
This is needed for short and long trips.

dm_gsxr · 03-03-2006, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcallahan

Hi everyone;

Does anybody know of free software or website where you can plan a trip. It needs to be able to plan several legs, not just "From to TO" and back.
I can print out a map and highlight the roads I want to take, but then I have to figure out the mileage and times myself. Sometimes this takes several hours. It would be nice for the software to do this for you.
This is needed for short and long trips.

Why not Streets & Trips. It's like 20 bucks at wally world (just curious).

Carl

Spirit · 03-03-2006, 07:45 PM

Try Mobil Travel Guide.

http://www.mobiltravelguide.com/mtg/...sp?menu=signup

I've used it and it works fairly well. Allows multiple points.

kcallahan · 03-06-2006, 11:35 AM

Slap me silly and call me stupid. I could not figure out Mobil Travel Guide. There has got to be something specifically for motorcycles. If not somebody needs to design one. Would be nice to have information like miles, average mph, twisties, ect..
Maybe I'm dreaming. Thanks for the help though.

jiandersen76 · 03-06-2006, 07:44 PM

I believe the last time I used the www.randmcnally.com site they allowed multiple way points. They have a 'plan a road trip' section.

For twisties and scenic rides try www.motorcycleroads.com.

kcallahan · 03-07-2006, 09:33 AM

Thank you for the info. Rand Mcnally wasn't too bad. I liked that you could add legs to the journey. The problem was the route was all major roads and I couldn't change that. I like traveling back roads.
I really liked motorcycleroads.com, I will definitly be checking some of those routes out.

TejasRider · 03-07-2006, 10:35 AM

I really think you should look into MS Streets and Trips. Lets you plot your own route and can even be updated with more recent road conditions. Obviously not 100% but considering the price, seems like a good buy.

VIVID1 · 03-07-2006, 04:17 PM

MS Streets and Trips is what I use, it's not perfect, but it does the job and you can save your trip files and share them with others who have the software.

kcallahan · 03-07-2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TejasFJR

I really think you should look into MS Streets and Trips. Lets you plot your own route and can even be updated with more recent road conditions. Obviously not 100% but considering the price, seems like a good buy.

I took a look at the demo. I was impressed with the variables you could change. So far that is the best of the lot. Looks like that is the way too go.

on one note, too bad that some of the best features to it, you need GPS or a laptop.

RickC1957 · 03-09-2006, 07:29 AM

"A tank of gas and a compass, should suffice" ;)

I have 3 different software programs, all work to a degree, none are perfect. Like Vivid said MS Streets and Trips works pretty well, but lately I have been using Mapsource, mainly I can download the route to my Garmin 2610.

Moon · 03-16-2006, 09:21 AM

Instead of "overplanning", take the opportunity to relax and just go in a general direction. Go on a cruise of secondary roads. Stop /turn off when you see signs with a subject of local interest, eat the "local fare" ie main street cafe type places.

A good GPSw/ software helps w/ detail maps of areas.
http://www.garmin.com/

Mad maps: http://www.madmaps.com/

Look into books like :
Eccentric America: The Bradt Guide to All That's Weird and Wacky in the USA
New Roadside America : The Modern Traveler's Guide to the Wild and Wonderful World of America's Tourist
America Bizarro : A Guide to Freaky Festivals, Groovy Gatherings, Kooky Contests, and Other Strange Happenings Across the USA
Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways

Even a moto mag like this has lots of good info:
http://www.rrmotorcycling.com/mags/frames.html

Check out some other rider reports at places like:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/