Driving using mapquest a good idea?

Question

I was wondering if it was a good idea to drive about 300 miles to my friends house using mapquest but not having much driving experience. (havent drove out of the city).

Forgot to mention im 18 with a brother whos 18 too and we might bring a friend.

Answer 1

Do not use Map Quest unless you compare it to a real road map. I have plotted trips on Map Quest and in my experience Map Quest will send you to the nearest large highway even if it means driving 100 miles further.


Buy a road map at a service station or get a road atlas. Look at the highways and commit the highway numbers you will use to memory or jot them down with the direction of travel: east, west, north, south. Map Quest can give you highway exit numbers.

300 miles is a snap. You can drive that far easy in 5 to 6 hours tops. You will love it. Leave the city during a none rush hour time. Stop for coffee or a meal to stay alert. Check your car to make sure it has good hoses, coolant, belts and oil and check tires, air pressure and spare. I just drove to Hollywood CA from North Texas and back with only a road atlas. 3200 miles with side trips.

Answer 2

Are you a young driver? There's nothing wrong with having one of your parents along for the trip. Most states now require new drivers to have about 50 hours or so of practical driving experience and longer trips like that really should be part of it.

Otherwise, if you are just someone who has never driven with mapquest, lots of people do it. I actually have a GPS navigation system in my car (bought separately) The advantage of having a GPS is that it can re-calculate the route even if you make a wrong turn.

With a mapquest printout make sure you have your cell phone available and charged so you can call for help or new directions. Also, make sure you recite the directions for the next two or three steps so you're not contstantly looking down at the printout. Any sort of distracted driving can lead to property damage, injury or death.

Answer 3

Mapquest sucks don't use it . Their directions are really bad and involve way too many steps to be doing while driving in traffic at 75 mph
Nobody told their computers that faster and shorter are not synonyms . Their times from one point to another are unrealistic and they get progressively more unrealistic as the distance increases
Mapquest:
LAX-JFK-2832.24 miles and 42.0 hours
Completely impossible to do. I've done it in a chemically aided 56 hours and that was hard to do.
Do your road trip the old fashioned way.Get a Rand McNally road atlas and figure it out.
If you have a couple of big cities to negotiate, try to arrive at them when it's not rush hour so your navigation is easier.
Real world over the road speed is around 50 mph.
300 miles is something that you can easily do .
Have fun and be careful out there

Answer 4

I buy me a Rand McNally Road Atlas of the USA at Wal-Wort at the end of the year when they mark them down for next year. Of course mine a 1998 now, and I did mention the other day I need to watch Wal-Wort for a 2007 when the 2008 are about ready.
I did use Map-quest for a quick mileage idea a few times. Once it was way off as it did not consider a new Freeway that opened up. I was suspicious when the trip I thought would take 16 hours only took 12.
Once a girl ask on here how far it was from X to Y. So, I used Map-quest to see. First I entered her X to Y and then I entered it Y to X. Turned out it was shorter for her to drive backwards. LOL!

Answer 5

I wouldn't use Mapquest. It is the least reliable of the four major online driving direction websites. I would recommend aaa. com or maps.google.com. Also have a real map, for the unexpected like detours. You can buy a good atlas at Wal-Mart under $10. Also if you cross state lines on an interstate, stop at the Welcome Center and get a free map.

I'd also recommend you split the driving into smaller segments and change drivers with your friend.

Answer 6

I think that is an excellent idea Jarritoco. It sounds to me that you want to see your friends, but are unsure about getting there. Mapquest is a very good source. I use it all the time and it has never let me down. So go see your friends, and have a wonderful time.

Answer 7

I've used MapQuest alot of times. As long as you have the address you are going to, it shouldn't be a problem. However, if you run into a detour on your route, MapQuest does not help. I learned this from experience.

Answer 8

All the dumbasses on this page who says mapquest sucks, might as well go driving and get lost. Mapquest is the best tool to find where your going. It leads you where you need to go quickly, the fastest route. It avoids you from tolls, and road construction. If you use it correctly. I think you need to see your friends, you have to travel a long distance sometime in your life. How old are you? If your above the age of 17 you should give this a shot.

Answer 9

carry a map. I just used it for a simple drive which said over an hour but it ended up being a long way around. Also, nothing will tell you about roadworks and having to take detours either.

But it is a good guide..mapquest just have a map with you for back up

Answer 10

These computer map services are great, and inexpensive ... but do you remember the story last winter about some people who died ... they used a map service to go to a place they were unfamiliar with, got off the beaten track, had car trouble, darn near froze to death, the husband tried to hike to civilization and died.

I suggest you also get a regular road map or atlas, and do not go off the beaten track.

I use this type service to find some address I have not been to before, and also test them on driving routes I am familiar with. I find that they do not recognize where there is no left turn, one way street.