Planning a Road Trip? You'll Need Great Driving Maps
Before you take to the highways for your next vacation or
business trip, look for a good map or two to take along.
Although you may know the way there quite well, an up-to-date
map may be able to show you shortcuts or help you avoid road
construction and other delays. Don't take chances on a
stressed-out memory or a change of location for a business or
address that you haven't visited in some time. And you certainly
don't want to end up in a strange city without a hint of where
to stay or what to do while you're there. Take advantage of some
of these low-cost maps and services.
The easiest and fastest type of road map most people can get
is over the Internet by visiting one of the popular map sites
for road trips. In a matter of seconds, you can type in your
starting address as well as your intended destination, and
receive a downloadable map charting your course as well as a
list of driving instructions. Just print and go! You might want
to visit a couple of these sites and compare them for the
simplest or fastest way to get where you want to go, although
chances are that both routes will be similar. The more you do
this, the better feel you will get for which site has the best
updates on construction areas and highway modifications.
Another way to get a useful map is to pick up one up a
convenience store, department store, or gas station. Check for
brand names of map suppliers, keeping in mind the higher quality
sources like Rand McNally, etc. Also look for more recent maps,
preferably for the current year, although some stores may not
stock the latest edition. Then try to get map coverage for the
most specific part of your trip rather than for a three-state
area that will just make your travel route harder to find. Use a
highlighter or marker to trace your route, taking care not to
obliterate the exits or town names you need to look for when
driving.
One of the best ways to get a quality roadmap is by joining
your local automobile association. In addition to providing free
maps that plot your trip from one location to another, the staff
will highlight the driving areas for you so that you just pick
up the maps and you're ready to go. The association typically
offers lodging and attraction guides for major cities, rating
hotels and motels with a five-star system and detailed
information on which accommodations are available through
various lodging chains. You can find out where to get Internet
service, a swimming pool, and other amenities, including parking
options, with these helpful guides.
Don't start your trip empty-handed. Fill up with the latest
travel information that will make your journey more pleasant and
productive and get you where you want to go with the greatest
possible ease.