Road Map Recommendation

torbrex

Other than the first night, I never book hotels in advance, I like the flexibility of just walking in someplace (usually with a coupon )
I know that the sun sets in the west and the road signs usually have the state on them so I have always been able to find my way back to the airport on time (so far)

You could try the easy to read mid size atlas, it claims to have maps 35% bigger than standard.

jackieblack

torbrex wrote: »

Other than the first night, I never book hotels in advance, I like the flexibility of just walking in someplace (usually with a coupon )
I know that the sun sets in the west and the road signs usually have the state on them so I have always been able to find my way back to the airport on time (so far)

You could try the easy to read mid size atlas, it claims to have maps 35% bigger than standard.

AAA discount and fully cancellable rates booked well in advance have always saved us $$$.
If it was just DH and I, and we were able to travel off-peak, I'd be tempted to wing it, but with DD and restricted to peak times I find it less stressful to know exactly where we'll end up each night, in places that have been thoroughly researched

Life would be boring if we were all the same though, wouldn't it

I'll check out the easy to read mid size atlas. Thanks for the suggestion

blindman

jackieblack wrote: »

I'll check out the easy to read mid size atlas. Thanks for the suggestion

Look in your local library to see if they have decent maps they lend out.
Ours has an A2 size 2010 USA map.

I also bought a USA Garmin Sat nav from Ebay-(pre owned from another traveller)

It has a lifetime USA map guarantee and a Micro Sd which now has UK maps on it so I use it for here as well.

I used to be against Sat navs but am (almost) a convert.

It did try to send us in a field in Moab whilst looking for a car rental agency and it also -whilst in San Fran looking for "Fuel" -thought that this meant groceries and 7-Elevens :cool:
So you still need your wits about you.

However it was good at locating Points of Interest and navigating around big cities back streets.

I usually pick pu the free maps from the Tourist offices as a basic back up for longer A to B routes.

Gloomendoom

My general impression of the road atlasses available in the US is that they are all pretty poor by UK standards. I think it is the sheer size of the place that is the problem.

blindman wrote: »

I used to be against Sat navs but am (almost) a convert.

The US was where I became a satnav convert. Our trusty Garmin has taken us all over Europe, the US and Australia.

cubegame

Having looked at every single map and road atlas I could find for the USA I concluded they were all pretty useless.

Then I made the useful discovery that the best maps were always available for free from the individual states highway departments. You can get them for Canada too (http://www.ontariotravel.net/TCISSegmentsWeb/gn/travelGuides/roadmap.xhtml?_nfpb=true&_nfls=false&language=en)

Depending on when you go you still might have time to sort these out as they will generally post them to you. Otherwise State welcome centres will have them.

jackieblack

cubegame wrote: »

Having looked at every single map and road atlas I could find for the USA I concluded they were all pretty useless.

Then I made the useful discovery that the best maps were always available for free from the individual states highway departments. You can get them for Canada too (http://www.ontariotravel.net/TCISSegmentsWeb/gn/travelGuides/roadmap.xhtml?_nfpb=true&_nfls=false&language=en)

Depending on when you go you still might have time to sort these out as they will generally post them to you. Otherwise State welcome centres will have them.

I'm obviously looking in the wrong places as I haven't been able to find any free maps from the highway departments of the states we're visiting

torbrex

jackieblack wrote: »

I'm obviously looking in the wrong places as I haven't been able to find any free maps from the highway departments of the states we're visiting

I pick up these free maps as well, you can get them at any tourist information place but I usually get them when crossing the state line, there is always a rest area if you are on a freeway or state highway and the maps are available there along side the books of coupons.

cubegame

jackieblack wrote: »

I'm obviously looking in the wrong places as I haven't been able to find any free maps from the highway departments of the states we're visiting

The tourist offices are normally another good place to look. Which states in particular were you looking for?

Mr_Wang

This thread is so 1996

Get a tom tom or use your phone !!!!!!.

Bob_the_Saver

Mr_Wang wrote: »

This thread is so 1996

Get a tom tom

Jeez if using maps is 1996 using drums must be 1896



You'll be suggesting navigation by smoke signals next

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/plo0039l.jpg