How to Plan a Car Route

How to Plan a Car Route thumbnail
Plan your route before you hit the road.

Pull out the maps and get ready for a road trip. You can still plan a solid highway route with local state, county and country maps, but now with Internet road trip planners, you can also see where there might be construction or other delays so you don't encounter any unwanted surprises on your travels. Make a detailed plan, and your trip will be a smashing success.

Things You'll Need

  • Maps
  • Point of origin
  • Destination
  • Printer
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Consult a road map to determine the distance and primary highways to your destination.

    • 2

      Use an Internet mapping site, like Google Maps or MapQuest if you need point-by-point instructions. For a more dedicated travel plan, enter your point of departure and your destination into the route finder at TripIt.com, Rand McNally or AAA Travel, which will alert you to roadworks and delays on major routes.

    • 3

      Plot specific stops on your trip based on your interests, gas consumption or meal times. AAA's travel planner even shows you the current gas prices you'll pass so you know just when to stop for the cheapest highway gas.

    • 4

      E-mail or link your route planner to a friend or travel companion.

    • 5

      Print out all maps and directions before you go. Pack a map that covers the whole distance of your trip, too -- in case you ever find yourself far away from your plotted course.

Related Searches:

References

  • Photo Credit Jordan Siemens/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Comments

You May Also Like

  • How to Guide for Road Trip Vacation Planning

    Many may find road trip vacation planning to be a daunting task. When in all actuality planning for your road trip should...

  • How to Plan a Route

    When you're traveling a far distance or planning a trip that requires many different stops, it's best to plot out a route...

  • AAA Trip Planner Attractions

    Most people are familiar with online interactive travel planners. Yahoo!, Google, Mapquest and a host of other sites have features for planning...

  • Finding Cheap Online Car Rentals

    Book your rental car in advance and save! Learn tips for finding cheap online car rentals in this free travel advice video...

  • How Do I Know If Interstates Have Construction or Delays?

    Commuting or traveling across the country can be a fun adventure, but it can also provide some serious hassles. Summer is a...

  • How to Plan a Travel Route

    Traveling can be a lot of fun. The chance to take in new sights, visit friends and family and catch up on...

  • How to Survive a Long Car Trip

    Road trips can be a blast given the right combination of planning, flexibility and ingredients. When taking a long car trip, one...

  • RAC Route Planning

    The RAC is a motoring organization which provides breakdown services in the United Kingdom with over seven million members. Its website provides...

  • Route Planning Programs

    The days of getting lost trying to follow a confusing and large map are over. Route planning programs allow you to pre-program...

  • How to Plan an Auto Route

    When traveling by automobile, the road trip experience can be the best or worst part of the journey. Road trips can be...

  • How to Plan a Route in Europe

    It is important to plan a specific route for a trip to Europe. There are so many interesting things to see and...

  • Group Travel Planner Job Description

    Group travel planners help larger groups (usually at least 10 people) arrange transportation, tours, accommodations and other travel services around the world....

Related Ads

Featured