We're taking a trip to the Oregon coast this summer, so we thought we'd pick up a map at WalMart to get some ideas of places to visit, alternate routes etc. But, apparently, WalMart no longer stocks paper maps ('just use your phone', said the helpful lady working there). Maybe I'm just a dinosaur (actually, I am, nothing 'maybe' about it), but I grew up with real maps, and have a hard time using an app to, for example, find all the beaches in northern Oregon, or find alternate routes form point A to point B.

I guess I'll buy a map on Amazon, before they stop selling them too.

While I don't like to rely on GPS, I do prefer to use Google Earth to map out a route or scout interesting areas in places I'm visiting. I used to enjoy just studying my road atlas back in the days before electronic guidance.

I do. For reasons beyond dead batteries and no service. Especially for off road trips, so I can mark on the map what the ground signs say, the Forest Service maps are bad about not matching. Also to add my own rating or notes.

Good trail, bad trail or for roads, don’t take this one with a trailer etc.

I love paper maps. I always highlight the route before going on a long trip. AAA has great maps free for members. If you want any shoot me a note and I'll mail you what you need for your trip.

I have been traveling for work for 17 years now and I love digital maps. I used to stop at the first gas station outside of the rental car place and buy a local map but now i don't need to worry about that.

If I only traveled once a year or so for vacation I would probably take the time to print out maps or buy one for the local area. I do like having paper maps. But spending 30+ weeks on the road makes paper maps a PITA that I don't need.

I, too, prefer paper maps. I like to be able to see the big picture in detail, and plan my own route.

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:
I have been traveling for work for 17 years now and I love digital maps. I used to stop at the first gas station outside of the rental car place and buy a local map but now i don't need to worry about that.

If I only traveled once a year or so for vacation I would probably take the time to print out maps or buy one for the local area. I do like having paper maps. But spending 30+ weeks on the road makes paper maps a PITA that I don't need.

yup

I love paper maps, at least for hiking and backcountry ventures. I collect the National Geographic topographical trail maps and rely on them almost exclusively when I'm out hiking or four wheeling or even driving through national parks.

Traveling is a different matter. I keep a road atlas in the jeep but rarely use it anymore.

For all you coots who still use a paper map, tell me, what were the dinosaurs like, you spend any time with Adam and Eve? Did you like Jesus?

I'm multimapgual. I like paper maps, Google maps and the like. I use them all to plan a trip. AAA is a great resource for paper maps.

I have a trip planned for the East coast to Florida, but I don't think I will be able to make it this year, I had some big bills come up on me.

Maybe next year. I do plan on a "long weekend trip" and the AAA maps and Google maps made it easy.


Arman

I just bought two tonight to go with my GPS for an upcoming Scout trip with my son's troop.

For urban use-translate big metropolitan city- Citymapper is the way to go. Short distances are really easy. Great for NY or London.
For rural use- really off the grid- GPS AND compass. North Woods Maine everything looks the same. GPS from point A to point B.
I’ve gotten to rely on car navigation in conjunction with Waze. Old school conversion to new school.

A lot of the young'uns don't know how to read a paper map so it's hard to find in my area. I still have paper maps in my car. There used to be a red book map of local areas and it showed alot of detail. Mine's somewhere in my trunk.

Problem I have with digital maps is scale. This is primarily when planning.

If I zoom in to see the little secondary roads that are so much fun on the bike, it's easy to lose track of the overall picture. Zooming back and forth is a pain in the ass on a computer, it's frustrating as hell on a phone.

Unfold a paper map and I can see all the alternate possibilities at a glance.

Digitals are handy when actually on the road tho. Haul out the phone, wait a couple of minutes and a little dot pops up on the map. "Dammit, I KNEW I should have turned left at Albuquerque!"

GPS & electronics I use for how to get there. I love paper maps for scale, relationalships and alternate routes.

EasyFire

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
I, too, prefer paper maps. I like to be able to see the big picture in detail, and plan my own route.

This. I need to replace my old beat up atlas, but I can't find a good one with enough detail to keep me happy. I don't mind Google maps as a supplement, particularly to research points of interest in the area, but I don't have data on my phone (and many places I go don't have service, anyway), so it's not a replacement for a good paper map.

I flat out hate the GPS navigation units. I don't want some piece of electrical equipment telling me where to go. They give you no broad overview of what you're doing....your expected to just blindly follow a blue line and some annoying electronic voice.

I'm only 33, and worked in IT for 12 years, so I'm not some technophobic ludite, either. We take a lot of long road trips...2 years ago we drove coast to coast. We like to camp a lot, and try to avoid congestion, so we stay off the beaten path whenever possible. Being able to see the whole area and plan your own route, see exit numbers, river and landmark names, and an overall sense of scale is just easier on a paper map.

I buy a new Rand Mcnally road atlas every two years. The trucker one with the laminated pages and the spiral bind. It never loses signal and always powers up.

I actually know how to use a compass also.

“Real men don’t ask for directions. Real men have maps and know how to use them.”

Years ago I found a brand of map books (spiral bound) with each page covered in plastic. Those were great for trips to parts unknown.

I have used a bound or foldout map in at least 18-19 years though.

Not only do I like the "water maps" (charts for your sea going types), but I like having a map in hand when plotting out a route or finding my way.

it's nice to have a large overview and also the details in one fell swoop...