Online Map Routing

[Big Red]

What is the best online map guide that lets you plan your route and gives you the distance between towns and road changes? I am trying to find primary and secondary overnight sleeping areas and gas stops.

[SidecarMike]

What is the best online map guide that lets you plan your route and gives you the distance between towns and road changes? I am trying to find primary and secondary overnight sleeping areas and gas stops.
All except Mapquest. Seems like every time I've used them I end up 20 miles out of my way.

[Ironheadziggy76]

I've had pretty good results with Google Maps for general directions. They even give you photos of the intersections in some cases.

[Dusty Boots]

I've had pretty good results with Google Maps for general directions. They even give you photos of the intersections in some cases.

P^ P^ Google Maps.
I use their "Terrain" tab a lot as well, for planning my rides, as it shows contour lines. The closer those contour lines are together, the steeper the terrain and usually more scenic, to boot!
I suppose if you rode at the speed limit, their times would be pretty accurate. I find their mileage figures pretty accurate.

[Big Red]

Thanks

[aysrav]

+1 for Google Maps. Suggested Routes is my favorite feature. Sometimes it's more about the ride than what's shortest or quickest and I like being able to look over the route options.

[Big Red]

+1 for Google Maps. Suggested Routes is my favorite feature. Sometimes it's more about the ride than what's shortest or quickest and I like being able to look over the route options.

Couldn't agree more:)

[Zippo]

I've had pretty good results with Google Maps for general directions. They even give you photos of the intersections in some cases.

I also like Google Maps and enjoy the "Street View" feature, when it's available...

[schmii]

http://www.google.com/help/maps/directions/

copied from elsewhere.

Sending a map to GPS:

http://gps.about.com/od/gpsmapscharts/ht/google_garmin.htm
http://gps.about.com/od/testcategory1/ht/Google_Send.htm

Make a map:

enter a list of destinations such as "langley, bc to: pemberton, bc to: hope, bc (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=langley,+bc+to:+pemberton,+bc+to:+hope,+bc&sll=49.713459,-121.643993&sspn=1.736847,3.603516&ie=UTF8&ll=49.880478,-122.332764&spn=1.730881,3.603516&z=8)". You can specify destinations by including something like: "starbucks langley, bc to:gas pemberton, bc to:subway hope, bc (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=8660+200+Street,+Langley,+BC+V2Y+0B3,+Canada +(Starbucks+Coffee+Co)&daddr=1441+Vine+Road,+Pemberton,+BC+V0N+2L1,+Canad a+(Pioneer+Junction+Shell)+to:761+Water+Avenue,+Ho pe,+BC+V0X+1L0,+Canada+(Subway+Sandwiches+%26+Sala ds)&geocode=FYIe7gIdEj2w-CFFo8Lv2RC3Nil3dtMUd9GFVDFPuqdxh_jFRw%3BFTnB_wId4k Ou-CFJcdYpgmvvmil5UslhpTWHVDGDpAJb0iNmQg%3BCVkEI1noZi j_FVp38QId_ubC-CGZO7mhosXUZikhJ9lcyPWDVDEdXZMw1GNHMw&hl=en&mra=pe&mrcr=1&sll=49.713825,-121.646118&sspn=1.736847,3.603516&ie=UTF8&z=8)". An alternative for destinations is right click wherever you want to start and select "directions from here" right click wherever you want to go and select "directions to here" if you want to continue your route select another location and select "add a destination". To modify the chosen route click anywhere on the route and drag the line to another road.

Example Trip Planning

If you are planning gas, food, and restaurant stops along your trip begin with various destinations:

example interior run (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=langley,+bc+to:+lytton,+bc+to:+fintry,+bc+to:+ve rnon,+bc+to:+osoyoos,+bc+to:+langley,+bc&sll=49.678293,-120.838623&sspn=1.738117,3.603516&ie=UTF8&ll=49.646291,-120.882568&spn=1.739261,3.603516&z=8)

and calculate your fuel range, desired daily distance, time between meals etc. As an example lets assume 250km fuel range, 600km daily distance, meals every 4 hours.

For fuel going down the list of distances fuel is needed after lytton, near fintry, at osoyoos, and 2/3 the distance from osoyoos. On the left column with the list of destinations click add destination and enter "gas, city, province" then select the destination from the list and upon recalculation move the destination from the bottom to the appropriate order.

example (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=langley,+bc&daddr=176+Old+Highway,+Lytton,+BC+V0K+1Z0,+Canada+ (Lytton+Esso+Gas+Station)+to:lytton,+bc+to:2097+Ol d+Okanagan+Highway,+Westbank,+BC+V4T+1T8,+Canada+( Prairie+Service+Husky)+to:fintry,+bc+to:vernon,+bc +to:4140+Highway+3,+Rock+Creek,+BC+V0H+1Y0,+Canada +(Rock+Creek+Centre+Convenience+Store+%26+Gas+Bar) +to:osoyoos,+bc+to:333+Old+Hope+Princeton+Way,+Hop e,+BC+V0X+1L4,+Canada+(Old+Hope+Husky)+to:langley, +bc&geocode=FZPL7AIdXLCx-CkL6x2bhdGFVDGxvNmAO48E6w%3BFWNs_gId9dbA-CFrqwYqVO_CTCmTZL633QSBVDEg8bXMvnvw_A%3BFah6_gIdDN LA-Ck1xY1U3QSBVDFAWuO9jE90Bw%3BFWWb-AIdAADf-CFxXykcVNIEPCnvfExlqwqCVDGLALEYih93xA%3BFV72_AIdJ3 ng-CmF02bocuR9UzHSFtsQFzUBJg%3BFdn2_gId-gbk-Cnj_NlG59h9UzGH6dGttuHUjw%3BFZqL7AIdtzjo-CG22gsheFpAZillySYB4LGCVDF37E2QIFSG2g%3BFTgv7AIdwy Hh-CmFHQ6Os8WCVDGV7pYbs8hUbw%3BFRNn8QIdnwXD-CEQ0Q4Etyw8BCnB5ubgtvWDVDEsq3ePr1A1_g%3BFZPL7AIdXL Cx-CkL6x2bhdGFVDGxvNmAO48E6w&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=49.391312,-121.308289&sspn=0.874183,1.801758&ie=UTF8&ll=49.60003,-120.316772&spn=1.740913,3.603516&z=8)

Now that you have your required fuel stops decide your required places to sleep. Search for either camping, bed breakfast, or hotel/motel/hostel at whatever destination/distance/time you want to stop lets say... bed breakfast vernon bc.

example (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=langley,+bc&daddr=176+Old+Highway,+Lytton,+BC+V0K+1Z0,+Canada+ (Lytton+Esso+Gas+Station)+to:lytton,+bc+to:2097+Ol d+Okanagan+Highway,+Westbank,+BC+V4T+1T8,+Canada+( Prairie+Service+Husky)+to:fintry,+bc+to:vernon,+bc +to:618+Mount+Thor+Drive,+Coldstream,+BC+V1B+3A3,+ Canada+(High+View+Bed+%26+Breakfast)+to:4140+Highw ay+3,+Rock+Creek,+BC+V0H+1Y0,+Canada+(Rock+Creek+C entre+Convenience+Store+%26+Gas+Bar)+to:osoyoos,+b c+to:333+Old+Hope+Princeton+Way,+Hope,+BC+V0X+1L4, +Canada+(Old+Hope+Husky)+to:langley,+bc&geocode=FZPL7AIdXLCx-CkL6x2bhdGFVDGxvNmAO48E6w%3BFWNs_gId9dbA-CFrqwYqVO_CTCmTZL633QSBVDEg8bXMvnvw_A%3BFah6_gIdDN LA-Ck1xY1U3QSBVDFAWuO9jE90Bw%3BFWWb-AIdAADf-CFxXykcVNIEPCnvfExlqwqCVDGLALEYih93xA%3BFV72_AIdJ3 ng-CmF02bocuR9UzHSFtsQFzUBJg%3BFdn2_gId-gbk-Cnj_NlG59h9UzGH6dGttuHUjw%3BFTR-_gIdJFbk-CGCwk3cpTJntSn1EvLDR9l9UzGJWpGBO9e_Kg%3BFZqL7AIdtz jo-CG22gsheFpAZillySYB4LGCVDF37E2QIFSG2g%3BFTgv7AIdwy Hh-CmFHQ6Os8WCVDGV7pYbs8hUbw%3BFRNn8QIdnwXD-CEQ0Q4Etyw8BCnB5ubgtvWDVDEsq3ePr1A1_g%3BFZPL7AIdXL Cx-CkL6x2bhdGFVDGxvNmAO48E6w&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=50.257522,-119.275818&sspn=0.107335,0.22522&ie=UTF8&ll=49.649848,-120.448608&spn=1.739134,3.603516&z=8).

Now decide places to stop and eat. You may want to favor speed, time of day, distance, convenience or destination. Key terms could be pub, bar, restaurant, food, grill etc.

example (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=langley,+bc&daddr=264+Street,+Aldergrove,+BC+V4W+3E1,+Canada+( White+Spot+Restaurants)+to:176+Old+Highway,+Lytton ,+BC+V0K+1Z0,+Canada+(Lytton+Esso+Gas+Station)+to: lytton,+bc+to:Garcia+Street,+Merritt,+BC+V1K+1B8,+ Canada+(Grand+Pub+%26+Grill)+to:2097+Old+Okanagan+ Highway,+Westbank,+BC+V4T+1T8,+Canada+(Prairie+Ser vice+Husky)+to:fintry,+bc+to:vernon,+bc+to:2922+30 th+Avenue,+Vernon,+BC+V1T+2C6,+Canada+(Monashee%27 s+Bar+%26+Grill)+to:618+Mount+Thor+Drive,+Coldstre am,+BC+V1B+3A3,+Canada+(High+View+Bed+%26+Breakfas t)+to:4140+Highway+3,+Rock+Creek,+BC+V0H+1Y0,+Cana da+(Rock+Creek+Centre+Convenience+Store+%26+Gas+Ba r)+to:osoyoos,+bc+to:7+Eagle+Court,+Osoyoos,+BC+V0 H+1V2,+Canada+(A+%26+W+Osoyoos)+to:333+Old+Hope+Pr inceton+Way,+Hope,+BC+V0X+1L4,+Canada+(Old+Hope+Hu sky)+to:langley,+bc&geocode=FZPL7AIdXLCx-CkL6x2bhdGFVDGxvNmAO48E6w%3BFQqR7AIdRumy-CEIoNgEj2U4qild3DG06MuFVDEFZ-EfUyKjZw%3BFWNs_gId9dbA-CFrqwYqVO_CTCmTZL633QSBVDEg8bXMvnvw_A%3BFah6_gIdDN LA-Ck1xY1U3QSBVDFAWuO9jE90Bw%3BFeyf_AIdZfDM-CHIzeYwk6svFA%3BFWWb-AIdAADf-CFxXykcVNIEPCnvfExlqwqCVDGLALEYih93xA%3BFV72_AIdJ3 ng-CmF02bocuR9UzHSFtsQFzUBJg%3BFdn2_gId-gbk-Cnj_NlG59h9UzGH6dGttuHUjw%3BFdf2_gIdqBfk-CHVxnuiwZ19oymDQ7wH6Nh9UzFU7ANsk32pRw%3BFTR-_gIdJFbk-CGCwk3cpTJntSn1EvLDR9l9UzGJWpGBO9e_Kg%3BFZqL7AIdtz jo-CG22gsheFpAZillySYB4LGCVDF37E2QIFSG2g%3BFTgv7AIdwy Hh-CmFHQ6Os8WCVDGV7pYbs8hUbw%3BFfMz7AId8frg-CEJC-pwK1ta6CmR53FjrcWCVDHvFTa7X7Vpyw%3BFRNn8QIdnwXD-CEQ0Q4Etyw8BCnB5ubgtvWDVDEsq3ePr1A1_g%3BFZPL7AIdXL Cx-CkL6x2bhdGFVDGxvNmAO48E6w&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=49.037418,-119.521637&sspn=0.220118,0.450439&ie=UTF8&ll=49.696062,-120.657349&spn=1.737482,3.603516&z=8).

Some Local Trips:

"starbucks langley, bc to: wendel's cafe fort langley, bc to: river rd langley, bc to: lou's grill abbotsford, bc" (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=8660+200+Street,+Langley,+BC+V2Y+0B3,+Canada +(Starbucks+Coffee+Co)&daddr=102B+Ave+to:Allard+Crescent+to:Mavis+Ave+to: wendel%27s+cafe+fort+langley,+bc+to:river+rd+langl ey,+bc+to:Telegraph+Trail+to:264+St+to:River+Rd+to :49.14219,-122.448807+to:Satchell+St+to:2852+Gladys+Avenue,+A bbotsford,+BC+V2S+3Y2,+Canada+(Lou%27s+Grill)&geocode=FYIe7gIdEj2w-CFFo8Lv2RC3Nil3dtMUd9GFVDFPuqdxh_jFRw%3BFSGR7gIdjm Gw-A%3BFVO27gId5aiw-A%3BFU9M7gIdUIex-A%3BFblH7gIdaJyx-CGSohPTHS33Lim1KgbL99KFVDE4BCx_a4wnEA%3BFS017gIdvP 6x-ClNON95ktKFVDG9RZkh181HzQ%3BFbjH7QIdnSGy-A%3BFaUW7gIdKumy-A%3BFZky7gIdBZyz-A%3B%3BFUKK7QIdQxa0-A%3BFSaC7AIdaA22-CHGDjJ4hVU32Sm1z8N0fDWEVDFn854gCdb2ig&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=2&mrsp=9&sz=13&via=1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10&sll=49.156225,-122.437477&sspn=0.054898,0.11261&ie=UTF8&ll=49.138597,-122.468719&spn=0.21967,0.450439&z=11).

Start with coffee or gas in langley, modify for derby reach, backroads along river road north of the highway with a destination of lou's pub in abbotsford.

"lougheed hwy maple ridge, bc to: haney bypass maple ridge, bc to: shake shingle pub maple ridge, bc to: stave lake rd mission, bc to: sasquatch inn aggasiz, bc " (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=lougheed+hwy+maple+ridge,+bc&daddr=River+Rd+to:haney+bypass+maple+ridge,+bc+to: 112+Ave+to:280th+St+to:shake+shingle+pub+maple+rid ge,+bc+to:Dewdney+Trunk+Rd+to:Stave+Lake+St+to:49. 243155,-122.217579+to:46001+Lougheed+Highway,+Harrison+Mil ls,+BC+V0M+1L0,+Canada+(Sasquatch+Inn+Ltd)&geocode=FV4I7wIdll6w-ClJl1zFZdSFVDGEJY08bGQrXQ%3BFU_r7gId36Kw-A%3BFRTf7gIdx1ex-CmnhsvJadOFVDGS4dhV7LJhfA%3BFd7d7gId2Iay-A%3BFRzo7gIdyryz-A%3BFfdh7gIdaOOz-CGPVlC1mC1kECljShmvfTKEVDFzolLFypDG6Q%3BFY8X7wIdBs m0-A%3BFaZx7wIdkaa2-A%3B%3BFSmD7wIdbBO7-CH2YOJqg5McfCnPPUCpBRaEVDG8m_gY9iHXNA&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=3&mrsp=8&sz=13&via=1,3,4,6,8&sll=49.23262,-122.250023&sspn=0.054813,0.11261&ie=UTF8&ll=49.144885,-122.320404&spn=0.439283,0.900879&z=10)

starting somewhere along lougheed in maple ridge take haney and modify some backroads to stop as the shake & shingle pub on 287th. Take backroads to stave lake rd then ride down to the sasquatch pub in aggasiz.

"tim hortons aldergrove, bc to: 0 ave abbotsford, bc to: cultas lake chilliwack, bc to: chilliwack lake chilliwack, bc to: ryder lake chilliwack, bc to: pub chilliwack, bc" (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=26431+Fraser+Highway,+Aldergrove,+BC+V4W+3E2 ,+Canada+(Tim+Hortons)&daddr=16+Ave+to:King+Rd+to:0+ave+abbotsford,+bc+to :Vye+Rd+to:Maher+Rd+to:Marion+Rd+to:Wells+Line+Rd+ to:4150+Columbia+Valley+Highway,+Fraser+Valley+E,+ BC,+Canada+(Cultus+Lake+Waterpark+%26+Waterslides) +to:Kosikar+Rd+to:Chilliwack+Lake+Rd+to:ryder+lake +chilliwack,+bc+to:49.099386,-121.916313+to:Elk+View+Rd+to:Elk+View+Rd+to:5865+V edder+Road,+Chilliwack,+BC+V2R+1C3,+Canada+(Jolly+ Miller+Pub+The)&geocode=FZyW7AIdMe6y-CHoreLK-ICo5SkL2UvV7suFVDGb81uJK2QCtQ%3BFcAo7AIdrmmz-A%3BFboo7AIdPbez-A%3BFXK36wIdjSW0-Cl515q3XciFVDHxmfH_ljplDA%3BFWPw6wIdqEO2-A%3BFSrY6wId2Lu3-A%3BFRnk6wIdAE24-A%3BFUIp7AIdnr-4-A%3BFZHU7AIdfMm6-CGWLxybhVOpVSnde1Bii0aEVDG_shBR5jW-VQ%3BFcr06wIdE6i5-A%3BFSHo7AId1vi7-A%3BFfJR7QIdlgu8-CmbmoX_EkGEVDECstsQFzUBJg%3B%3BFc5W7QIdfmW8-A%3BFa5r7QIdnmS8-A%3BFZ1Y7QIdnw67-CGG0ViLJ5DY-Snh74QmKkeEVDHN2-LkUEhdAA&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=4&mrsp=12&sz=13&via=1,2,4,5,6,7,9,12,13,14&sll=49.104556,-121.90155&sspn=0.054955,0.11261&ie=UTF8&ll=49.037868,-122.199554&spn=0.440231,0.900879&z=10)

Start with coffee or gas in aldergrove, a run down to 0-ave out to chilliwack for a run behind cultas lake, chilliwack lake, or ryder lake finishing with a bite in chilliwack.

I hope this helps someone starting out find a piece of paradise I know it makes my life easier.

[ultralight]

Thanks You schmii. What you wrote-up helped boost my confidence in my planned 1800 Mile Scoot & Shoot trip(solo) in May.

[VStromTom]

That is well done schmii and very helpful info. Thanks.

[Okie34]

I use a program called TYRE (trace your route everywhere). It uses Google maps, but allows you to place your poits, change them and gives you distance in between. It save the final route as a Tomtom ITN file by default but allows several other options as well.

It's free and I really like it as opposed to trying to do this online per se (GoogleMaps is streaming).

http://www.janboersma.nl/gett/

[GoldWingGL]

I too really like Google Maps, as I can also figure and save the routes on my phone in the Google maps application for it…and look at when I need it…

http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/index.html

[Ozarkcowboy]

Here is one I have used in the past,good for finding lodgeing when with the family,avoiding tolls,finding senic routes and road advisories.

http://www.freetrip.com/