I had previously used Microsoft Streets and Trips.
I need to get something newer (this decade!).
Do I need to buy new software? I get get the newer version for $40, but is there something better or even free?
I have a GPS and a smart phone. I sometimes like to see it all mapped out before I leave the house. I'll often print the map too.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I did run a search here for this topic, but came up empty. Feel free to link me.

I use Google maps and simply add in the addresses to get directions. This maps out all locations and then I can plan a route.

I use two separate tools for mapping routes. I only do a route maybe once every two months anymore, so this may not be as streamlined as you'd like, but, here's my way.

I use a pushpin map app, and input addresses for potential stops. You can select the color of the pins, mine are color-coded based on timing restrictions.

Once I'm done with that, I sit back, look it over, and weed out ones which aren't convenient or worth the added inconvenience. Delete those, continue tweaking until it is how I want it.

There is software for logistics services, like delivery, truckers, shipping, etc... I use TMW's Appian. They also have a pushpin feature but I can't figure out how to color-code restrictions with it.

I use maps.google.com. What I especially find helpful is the street view to both verify that the building pictured is reasonable as the client as well as to know what to be looking for.

I can do routes in google maps as well as pull and drag alternate routes, etc.

I get a new version of Streets and Trips every few years.

I started using Streets and Trips this year and really like it because it will optimize the route for you, then you can tweak it based on time factors (can't start before 9, can't shop from 12-1, must arrive at 11) and I can enter how much time I think it will take to do the shop and it will tell me when I will be where. My only complaint with it is that it doesn't seem to have the best estimate of how long it takes to get places, so I need to add a few minutes "standing" time to each stop to allow for variances in my speed versus their estimate.

I used to use Mapquest but I couldn't tell it how long I would stand still before moving again so I was having to do a lot of the planning manually.

dspeakes has outlined exactly why I like Streets and Trips.

I too use S&T. Google maps doesn't work for me because it only allows a certain number of locations. Most of the time I'm quite a bit over that.

So true! For long routes S&T is the only real option.

I will say that I have replaced my GPS with google maps on a window mounted 7" tablet with cell data. It's significantly better for several reasons. The screen is way bigger than my old GPS, it is way less picky about addresses and formatting, and many times you can just type in the business name instead of the address. On top of all of that it doesn't do stupid crap like my old GPS like reroute me way out of the way because it thinks there's no such thing as a left turn, plus google maps has real time traffic data and it will reroute and reestimate arrive times on the fly. I know a lot of people use it on their phone, that's not a very good option to me, but the tablet is awesome.

I have yet to find anything else I like as much as Streets & Trips. Too bad MicroSoft has stopped making it. No more updates, can't buy a newer version. Very disappointing.

And since I am using the 2007 version, I really would have liked to get a new version for updated maps. Can still hunt down the 2013 version, though.

I stick with Google and Mapquest because they have apps for my phone. If Streets and Trips would ever do that, I would consider it.

i use google maps. the location is forever remembered and
you don't need to type in a whole address.

For those commenting about the location limitations you
need to switch to "classic" view and then you can enter as
many stops as you want. It's under the ? mark button.

Also google will play the turn by turn over your cars
bluetooth if it has it and before the end of this year
depending on make, the visual map will show up on
your vehicles touchscreen if it has one.

I use google maps. I can plan my route on my computer and then upload it to my phone. All of the addresses I search are saved that way too if I need to adjust later.

Google maps is just not user friendly for multiple stops to me. Never has been. I tried it once and still can't figure out how to clear the little stars on my map from where I saved them. Plus I can't figure out how to have a map just for each different route. Not user friendly at all.

Click on the dot, then a menu will pop up on the top left. Click on the yellow star there and it will turn blue.

There are at least 2 or more maps that are generally good, I personal use Google Maps. It is fairly correct, at least most of the time. But alway drive with you eyes open, as I have ended up on a dead end.

My son live in Kanas City, and his GPS trys very hard to keep him off gravel roads. He gave up on the GPS when he gets close to home, as we live on a gravel road!

Thanks everyone. I'll try some of the other options and will get S & T 2013 if they don't work out for me.

One company I shop pays mileage. They don't even ask for odometer readings, just miles. I use Google maps to plot my routes, get specific location directions, take a look at street view to confirm location, and to report my mileage. That said, I have been able to report several bad addresses to my company, as well as send in a correction or two to Google concerning business placement on the maps. I rarely use GPS navigation. It can REALLY get you in trouble up here in the mountains!

Tracey

I guess I'm not sure what you are asking about the map for each different route but you can print your route with the individual maps for each stop either all in one long route or individually from one spot to the next if you want to print that many. I don't save any addresses other than my home address. If you are printing a multi-stop map, once you get everything on the map in the order you want, go to the print icon in the upper right of the map and select "print including maps". It will give you a print out of the turn by turn directions but also an individual map for each destination. I never actually print the maps, I just plan the route and then send it to my phone and pull it up there and use my phone's GPS, that uses Google maps, to give me directions.

When I plan routes, I just put in all the addresses, see where they are on the map and then you can drag the addresses to the right order in the box where you enter the addresses. I think Google maps is very user friendly and easy.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Google maps is just not user friendly for multiple
> stops to me. Never has been. I tried it once and
> still can't figure out how to clear the little
> stars on my map from where I saved them. Plus I
> can't figure out how to have a map just for each
> different route. Not user friendly at all.

You're not trying to do the same thing with I am I don't think. In two weeks I have a route of 100 or so gas audits. I have yet to find a way to put 100 addresses into google maps easily, pop in hotel locations, break it into 4 or 5 days, then save each day as it's own route that I can then pull up each morning to get that day's route.

With S&T I can export the locations to excel, import them into S&T with a couple of clicks, add hotel locations, map out routes for each day and save them.

What is so bad about S&T 2013? Some posters seem to think that it is not worth updating from 2007 or 2010? I don't get it?

What's wrong with S&T 2007?

I don't pay to update something unless I need to ... why throw away money.

It's just there are enough new roads and construction in Florida that it just might be worth updating, which is why I am considering it.

I think that my S & T is 2005 and it works fine. I live in So Cal where things have changed tremendously. I am leaning towards getting 2013.

The Mid-Atlantic States have had a huge amount of road building in the past few years. I find that I am often traveling in "outer space" on the GPS display if I do not update it regularly. Obviously, those roads will not be on S&T 2007, either.

You can download a 14 day trial of Streets & Trips 2013 directly from Microsoft here:

[www.microsoft.com]

Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2014 12:08AM by scanman1.

I'm guessing that the forum owner would not be pleased with the posting of links to pirated software. Or even the advertisement that such links exist.

Remember Google has a great Maps apps that is included in high end Android Smartphones (GALAXY) or get an Android Tablet. It can do a real fair job with it's built-in GPS. Plus you can get the net on your phone and switch to Mapquest for another experience. Some use speaking Navigation lady with turn-by-turn. Or Telenav app is another but that may be a paid app or have charges from your ISP.

If you create a Gmail account (or have existing, easy to sync all over) then also create a Google Account then it syncs phone contacts, emails, most everything to laptop, tablet, PC etc. even if you lose your phone you'll have some backup on your Google acct on PC network, before you have to WIPE your phone if stolen.

Your maps can have data stored with stars, get bus, car, train and walking maps, with touchscreen one can swipe and move route lines. I love many of Google platforms, Google Earth, SketchUp, 3D Warehouse drawings...helped me with my ESRI GIS/GPS studies and drafting career. Too bad they ot sucked into the polital gig with spynet FSA stuff.

Some Galaxy phones have screens almost 5 inches. I like this size or maybe the 4.5 for my hand. It's large enough for mapping, without using a tablet, and it's a phone. Although, I'm really getting the hang of my tablet with that portable keyboard.

I used MS street & trips 2013 for planning out a little 5 shop route in my town that I know very well.

It was absolutly worthless, and even chaging the settings to avoid tolls and other tweaks could not get it to even give anything worth using. It has no way to balance the traffic load and amount of traffic lights vs side street shortcuts and likes to run you past malls and high congestion areas. The route is not even shortest distance.

If you use it, do compare googlemaps against it before you waste gas and time.

I use it all the time to plan my routes. I don't expect it to account for traffic; I expect it to find where my shops are and lay them out.

If you want to be routed around traffic, use a GPS that has a feature to access local traffic reports. My Garmin does that. I know it's working because some trips I take frequently where there are two ways to go it sometimes routes me one way, and other times routes me the other way. It seems to be related to rush hour.

I use Streets and Trips to lay out the route and figure my travel time between shops, but when I'm actually driving I load each address in my Garmin and let it take me based on what it is being told about traffic and construction.