Nancy

I am going to be driving from Boston to Florida and I am a AAA member. Sometimes in the past when I have followed their prepared triptick it seems as though I drive through long stretches of constrution. Just wondering if it is the best source of instruction or if I should consider mapping it out myself on line.

lisa

I've used AAA tripticks years ago and they were great! I'm not sure if you mapped anything on line would be any better - chances are, construction zones aren't online either. I haven't had much luck online with websites with maps. They usually give the longest route. (If any of you know of a good site, let me know!)

I'd go with AAA. They are usually very good and very handy.

Update

Sorry, things at AAA have changed. A lot depends on which office you go to, but generally, you get someone who looks at the Interstates and highlights them, as if you couldn't do the same thing. Here's a way to tell if they are actually going to be useful: Ask them about construction around DC. If they know that there is a major bottleneck in No. Virginia, they are "up" on things. If not, do it yourself.

noaaa

At one time, AAA used to do two things and do them well: provide roadside assistance and help with trip planning.

Now that they've gotten into a lot of secondary garbage such as selling insurance and meal tickets, they've let the quality of their core services slide. It's become a toss-up whehter I re-applyh for membership each year.

Lori

The last few times I've asked for triptiks from AAA I've been asked specifically when I'm going so they can highlight projected construction at the time I'm traveling.

Dave

What real help is it if they highlight construction stretches and you still sit in traffic delays for hours? It seems that it would be more helpful to map out an alternative to avoid the delays.

Update

Dave, obviously, if they know where the construction is, they are supposed to show you how to get around it. I got a lot of useful advice at my local AAA office on one occasion but the next time, it was the most slap-dash effort I'd ever seen.

Nancy: A trip-tick is useful for one thing: those small, close-up maps are easy to consult while you are driving. So it might not be a bad idea to get them for that BUT why not ask here for specifics from Fodorites who have been somewhere along the route and know the problems?

For example, here's a way to get around DC altogether: take I-97 south of Baltimore to Rte. 3. Stay on 3 while it merges with 301 and continue through Md. to cross the Potomac and continue through to join I-95 south of Fredericksburg. I URGE you to try this alternative (or even take I-78 in NJ tp get over to I-81 and stay on I-81 to I-77 south through Winston-Salem NC...) to avoid not only the construction south of DC but also the inevitable bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-95 between DC and Fredericksburg. It's a nightmare through there.

Nancy

Update: Thanks for the suggestion. Sounds like you are familiar with that stretch of highway. I think I will take your advise. In the past when there is construction I just have had no idea how to avoid it and if it was worth it.

Bill I

I have used AAA tripticks twice this past summer. I was little bit disappointed in both of them. When I was younger & my dad used them, they seemed to be much better. They were not able to give detailed point to point directions, only city to city. & if you live in a small city, they may not even show that as 1 of the points on their ticks. When I received each triptick, they were incorrect, so each time, I had to call a 2nd time & request another triptick. For 1, they only got me half way to my destination & didn't finish it out. & the other was to include a side trip to Mount Vernon & they had me going somehwere in West Virginia. There was no mention about construction on either triptick, but I guess I didn't specifically ask about it either. But I do like their information provided about places to see & things to do along the way. I go online & use Rand McNally or Mapquest for detail directions that are usually reliable.

Caveat traveler

Mapquest can be woefully inaccurate -- I've never met anyone who used it who didn't run up against some horrible displacement of a major road or address.
They have my home at the end of a street that doesn't exist, 2 blocks west of where I actually am. They put my mother's street in the next town over.

I only use MapQuest in conjunction with another, paper map.

Patrick

The last two times I have done them were disasters. One involved a triptik than including going from somewhere in Montana to Yellowstone -- sort of a back way. We got to a certain point and had to backtrack and go around nearly 200 miles because there was a major tunnel being built and a road closure. We found out that the road had been closed for over a year, yet AAA routed us that way.
While we were in LA we went to the office there to do a route to Joshua Tree, then on to Tuscon. The person opened up a map and said, "where is Joshua Tree, I never heard of it." I pointed it out and she proceded to say things like, "well, it looks like this might be the best route." I can do that; I was looking for better advice. I agree with other posters. These days AAA is more into being a regular travel agent and luggage store.

Rachel

I usually get a triptik from AAA and a map from MapBlast and then concoct our own route using both. I've found MapBlast is much better than Mapquest, or any other mapping site i've found. Mapquest will give you options like shortest route (milage-wise) or quickest route (time-wise).

Nancy

Well- After reading all of the comments I don't think I should rely on the triptik. What do you think about the tip "update" gave to avoid south of DC? Do you agree I should take alternate route or does anyone have any other practical tips? I am going from Boston -Orlando. Thanks so much

cheryl

The triptick we got to drive from NJ to Quebec City was great..no mistakes,made everything so easy.

Janell

I love tripticks. We used them last year with a trip to New England. I wouldn't do it any other way.

DC'er

"Update" is right-on about avoiding this area any other time than before 10 am Sunday morning or for 20 minutes between 10 am and 10:20 am on a weekday -- and maybe not even then.

Go around. Go around.

jersey

We had used them for two trips. One to New England and another to Myrtle beach. They weren't very good. If you know anyone that belongs to AARP, ask them to get a trip map designed for you. You will never use AAA again. They are clear, consise and very helpful.

Susan

One other suggestion: IDOT, Illinois Department of Transportation, has a web site with a page specifically for up-to-date construction news. Check whether the state(s) you're traveling through have something similar available.

GOL

Triptiks are still good and fun, in my opinion. They make for a good ride for the 'navigator' - usually in the passenger seat.

However, I STRONGLY urge you to buy Delorme's (AAA) Map N Go Software. I bet your local warehouse (Sam's; Costco; whatever) has a two pack software set for ~$40.

We have taken many, many road trips. I love to think nobody can plan a better trip than I can; Before trip software, I usually stuck to Interstates / limited access roads. Now with Delorme's software, I have found their "fastest" route to be indeed fastest. And it is not always the same roads I would have taken. In fact, they are often new and fun.

In addition to the basics of how to get from point A to B, you can print out detailed directions, maps, nearby attractions, and areas to 'avoid' in case you don't want to drive in a certain area (e.g., NYC metro area).

Delorme has been 95% reliable for me. A couple of times it did have the exact road-name or roadway direction, but it was very easy to figure out and return on course.

Even better, is the ability to plug in your average speed and mph on certain types of routes, so your total driving time and gas costs can be very, very exact. This is a great "what if" tool for route comparison. For example, what if you head west from Boston before heading south down I81 or I 83; Or taking I-95 all the way?

Also, www.i95coalition.org/ is a web site for I-95 from Maine to Virginia. It lists planned construction and other noteworthy things.