by Dee Cain

Created on: July 13, 2008

Without Rand McNally's driving instructions I would be totally lost. Every trip I have ever taken has been mapped out using first the Rand McNally Atlas and later the randmcnally.com driving instructions online. It has never steered me wrong.

Rand McNally is where I actually learned to read a map and now with the driving directions as an added feature, I am confident that I will arrive where I desire to be with little or no problem.

When I am planning a trip I simply go to the Rand McNally website and click on map and directions. I type in my starting destination which is usually my hometown then type in my final destination. Not only does the instructions appear but the number of miles and an estimate of how long it will take me to drive that distance. Further more there is a map that shows the route from beginning to end of my journey.

Each step of the way is mapped out in easy to follow steps even down to the smallest roads or streets. There is the name of the street, road, route number or Interstate highway and the distance I will travel during each step of the way.

There is also directions for which way I will turn at every given point. An example is if I must turn right off an exit there is a (R), for left turns (L). This makes it much more convenient than having to know whether I need to turn north or south and so on.

In between each step is a link to a map featuring that step in my journey. If I am unfamiliar with this step then I can get an idea as to what expect. Maybe I need to use a ramp veering left off a highway, it is helpful to be warned ahead of time to make sure I'm in the correct lane.

One of the neatest features is printing the directions. I print them and put them in my altas. Now I have double coverage that I can check to make sure I'm on the correct road or highway. I also have the advantage of knowing approximately how long before it will be before the next step or when I will reach my destination.

There are other features I have used on the Rand McNally site to further enhance my road trips such as places to stay, restaurants and attractions. I simply click on the plan my trip tab and each desired stop is incorporated into my map. The directions are clear and concise plus I don't have to print out extra maps to follow.

I can also do a reverse map for getting home without using the same map as I used to reach my destination. This may seems like a no brainer but it will show me the directions without the added steps. After a long trip finding the easiest way home is beneficial to me as I do most of the driving.

In the last five years I have taken at least 7 trips to other states. Each time I have followed directions I have printed off the Rand McNally website and have had no trouble finding my destination. I would suggest to anyone planing a trip to use Rand McNally directions as they have proven to be more accurate than other maps and directions I have tried.

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