How to Route the Shortest Distance in Yahoo Maps
Visual route planning becomes a reality when you use Yahoo Maps' "drag and drop" mapping tool. This interactive trip-planning feature allows you to quickly try out different routes by dragging points on a purple line. This not only saves time when mapping out your plans, but also allows you to discover the shortest distance between your starting point and your destination. Simply create a straight line between those two points and enjoy your drive.
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Instructions
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Visit the Yahoo Maps website. A map appears on the right side of the page. Text boxes labeled "A" and "B" appear on the left. The "A" text box allows you to enter your journey's starting location. The "B" text box holds your ending destination.
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Type your starting location in text box "A." Include the location's address, city and state as shown in the following example:
12345 Main, Denver, Colorado
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Type your ending destination in text box "B" using the same format.
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Press "Enter." Yahoo Maps will draw a purple line on the map that displays its selected route.
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Locate the "Trip Distance" label on the left side of the page. That shows the miles between the starting point and destination as shown on Yahoo's selected route. The time it takes to travel that distance appears next to the mileage value.
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Hold your mouse cursor over any point on the purple line Yahoo Maps created. A small tool-tip box will appear that reads, "Click and Drag." A white dot will appear on the line at that point as well.
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Click the white dot, hold down your left mouse button and drag the dot to a new location on the map. As you drag, the purple line's shape will change.
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Note the white box that appears at the bottom of the map. This box shows the distance you would drive along the original purple line versus the distance you would drive along the new line you created. If the new route's distance is shorter than the original route's distance, you know that the new route will probably get you to your destination sooner.
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Continue dragging points on the line to create new routes as described in the previous steps. Jot down the travel distance for each new route you create. When you're finished, choose the route with the shortest driving distance as your final route.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to adjust the purple line so that you create the straightest line possible. The straightest line usually yields the shortest route. Using this drag-and-drop procedure is also a quick way to explore alternative destination routes. For instance, if you might like to make a side destination part of your trip, grab a point on the purple line and make it part of the trip. You can then see how many miles this detour will add to your journey.
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