How to Plan a Road Route

In this day and age, when we want to take a trip, preparation can be as little as typing an address into a GPS unit or entering the destination into a mapping website. For the true adventurer, though, going "old school" can have a glory all its own. Prepare to map a trip that includes both the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon the Everglades. All you need is a bit of planning to ensure that you get the most out of your road trip, avoiding the highways and taking in the byways.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

U.S. atlas State maps
U.S. atlas
State maps

Step 1

Decide where you would like to visit. This could be as vague as a county or region or as specific as a memorial, attraction or landmark.

Step 2

Locate the map for the state you will visit and the state in which you live in a U.S. Atlas.

Step 3

Examine the most direct route between where you are and where you want to be, remembering that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. You don't have to take the "straight line," but this could include some interesting back roads.

Step 4

Look at the individual state maps and consider pit stops along the way. Traveling on an interstate might be the fastest route, but you might miss the home of Oklahoma's largest hot dog or New Hampshire's best clam chowder.

Step 5

Write down the routes you will take and the stops you will make. Doing so helps you to remember the exact steps you will take to reach your destination.

Step 6

Begin your trip. Remember that you might find hidden treasures along your path that could change your original plans, so it is a good idea to keep your maps with you as you travel.

Tips & Warnings

If you belong to a travel group, such as the American Automobile Association, you can obtain maps and travel information there.

Be mindful of your surroundings at all times.

Article Written By Dawn Roberts

Dawn Roberts has been writing professionally since 1996. Her stories have appeared online and in print. She has also been heard on various radio stations. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Pennsylvania State University and was awarded the Hearst Award.

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