Finding the best driving route is essential for a smooth, stress-free journey. There are many online tools that can help you do this, and in this article we will discuss the best of them. We will talk about how these planners can help you save time, money, and aggravation on your next road trip.
We all know the feeling of sitting in traffic, wasting time and money on gas, and getting frustrated with the whole process. But what if there was a way to avoid all that? With a little planning and some help from technology, you can make your next road trip a breeze.
There are many different route planners available online, but not all of them are created equal. Some are more user-friendly than others, and some have more features. But which one is the best?
Here is a list of the best driving route planners, based on our findings:
1. MapQuest – Route Planning Made Simple
MapQuest is another popular driving directions service. It has a user-friendly interface and offers features such as traffic updates and estimated drive times. MapQuest is a great option for those who like to plan out their trips in advance. You can easily print directions and save your maps to your account with the My Maps feature so no need to plug in directions every time.
- Biggest Pro: Simplicity and ease of use
- Biggest Con: Missing advanced mapping features like street view
2. RoadWarrior – The Best for Delivery Drivers & Couriers
The best route planning app for delivery drivers and for those who make multiple stops. The route is customizable and allows you to avoid tolls and takes into account things that are out of your control like traffic, school zones, business availability, and more. It has a free version you can test out and more advanced paid features for couriers to increase routing efficiency like uploading routes from spreadsheets, which can save a lot of time for multi-stop deliveries.
- Biggest Pro: Routes optimized for multi-stop efficiency
- Biggest Con: Not designed for different transportation devices like walking, biking, and train travel
3. Waze – The Best for the City Driver
Waze is a free, user-friendly app that is beloved by many drivers. It has a clean interface and provides real-time traffic updates, which can be very helpful in avoiding congestion. It also offers alternative routes if your original plan is not working out.
- Biggest Pro: Gamification of maps
- Biggest Con: Too many icons covering map and small street routes hard to navigate if you are not a local
4. Google Maps – Most Comprehensive for the Technophile
Google Maps is a widely used, reliable tool for route planning. It offers turn-by-turn navigation and traffic updates, and can even reroute you if there is a problem with your original route. The options are endless with this routing tool, with 9 map options like terrain, satellite, traffic, street view and more and routes for many different transportation methods like bike, train, plane, walking, car and bus. Your route can be extremely customized to exactly what you are looking for if you are tech-savvy.
- Biggest Pro: Advanced route customization
- Biggest Con: Too many options and difficult to navigate for those new to tech
5. TomTom – The GPS Device Leader
TomTom is a more comprehensive route planning tool, offering features such as real-time traffic updates, GPS navigation, and live parking information. It is a bit more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but it may be worth it for the added peace of mind.
- Biggest Pro: Cross-device, can use on GPS units and phones
- Biggest Con: Expensive service and device costs
6. AAA TripTik – Best Option for the Brand Loyal
AAA TripTik is a comprehensive online trip planner offered by the American Automobile Association. It can help you plan your route, find gas prices, and even make reservations for hotels and attractions along the way.
No matter which driving route planner you choose, taking some time to plan your trip before you hit the road can save you a lot of time and hassle. So do your research, map out your route, and enjoy a smooth journey.
- Biggest Pro: Well-known and trusted brand name
- Biggest Con: Outdated map and features
