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I used to use Microsoft Streets & Trips - it was awesome and worked well.

With that gone, what are people using? I think I must have tried all the online options at this point and they all stink - usually severe limitations on waypoint numbers etc.

What are you 3 Flags staff/planners using now that MS S&T Is gone for these large routes? Basecamp I suspect but that program too is very much no fun to use.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks

Mike

I use and highly recommend an iPhone app called inRoute. It currently costs $30/year for a “pro” subscription (or you can pay $4 monthly). The pro version allows up to 100 waypoints and also includes charting of elevations, temperatures, curviness, (by time or distance), as well as wind speeds and sunrise/sundown times indicated on the charts. The pro version includes weather alerts too. I use inRoute to quickly plan my routes and alternates on an iPad or iPhone (the routes can be synced so that one created on your iPad is also accessible on your iphone), and then send the gpx files to my Navigator IV or hard enter the final route in Basecamp for loading onto the Navigator. Adding or re-arranging waypoints is much easier than using Basecamp. Waypoints can be color coded to easily distinguish lodging, checkpoint, food, gas stops, etc. along a route. Another neat feature is the ability to search for gas stations, motels, etc. at user selected intervals along the route or at a specified distance from a designated waypoint. The app developer has continued to improve the app with free upgrades from time to time, and I believe there is a free trial version available (but with some feature limitations.

I use a combination of google maps and paper maps to start once the written route is available. Last year (my first, riding a harley ultra ltd with gps) I wasn't able to get the provided downloads to work but was able to use the HD trip planning to develop my own daily routing which worked pretty well (1 operator error) by comparing my route to the published 3FC maps. Waiting to get started once route available. Very similar to Brian above but my screen is quite large so little problem seeing. I use a magnetic tank map sleeve for the section routing and carry the big maps in the bike.