On February 20, 2007 the proprietary TripTik program, previously only available to Automobile Association of America club members, was made available to the public free of charge. Since our first trials in 2005, the program has been greatly improved and draws upon several key informational databases (AAA, NAVTEQ, TCS, ESRI, etc.) to deliver an online mapping and planning program that is currently the best available. Of all of the programs we have tested thus far, TripTik returned the most useful attraction and lodging information for the test route. The program was able to locate and map cities (even when spelled incorrectly), and the mapping program itself is very fast and intuitive. We especially like the ease with which intermediate destination points can be rearranged on the trip plan. This program also automatically formats a trip plan that can be printed and taken on the trip. The "Overview Directions" format is easily the best we have ever worked with. Because AAA has a built-in reservations module, it was easy to drill down and find lodging choices at all of our test destinations, and we found the reservation booking program simple to use. The reason we did not give this program our highest rating is that there are still some remaining technical glitches. One of the potentially outstanding tools is the "Modify Route" device that is supposed to allow a user to use "point and click" to add a new destination to the map and the trip planner. We were able to activate the tool and even get some of routing information to display, but we could not get that information added to the trip plan. Worse, we found it nearly impossible to end the use of that tool. On the plus side, the detail that the program provided about scenic drives and special attractions was outstanding. This is not quite the "Holy Grail" of trip planners, but it is much farther along the continuum than any of the other free web-based trip planning tools. (2/20/07)

NOTE 2/25/07: According to AZBuck and other members of the Great American RoadTrip Forum, AAA's planning tool still needs some improvements. Read their comments here.

Trip Planner's mapping data is provided by TeleAtlas and NavTech, which means the maps are excellent and very easy to use. We found the scrolling feature of the maps (which keeps the map in view while reading reviews and in-depth background about the listed restaurants and attractions in a given area) to be a very good feature.

This trip planner is the most complete package we have examined, but the reason we haven't given it our top rating is that we find the procedure for adding stops and creating a trip itinerary is a little difficult to follow. Hopefully, this will be improved in the future, because this is certainly the best program we've tested, and we're looking forward to seeing more enhancements in the coming months. (2/11/07)

The Rand McNally trip planning tool, (now called TripMaker Planning Tool) is arguably the most improved of the programs we have looked at. The first version drove us nuts when we tried it on our test itinerary in 2005. Without question, the maps generated by Rand McNally's program are the prettiest of all the programs we looked at. For paying members of its "Road Explorers" program, Rand McNally provides a more detailed product than their "free" trip planner offers. It is much easier to add stops on a planned route, but the database for recreational and lodging alternatives remains its biggest weakness. The program is not helpful unless the traveler already knows more about the planned itinerary than the travel planners at Rand McNally. (2/11/07)

Mapquest also uses the RTA-preferred NavTech database, so the maps are great. The initial stages of the program are well done. It is easy to set up a basic route, and the program generates good maps and satisfactory driving directions. The problems arise when you try to add attractions and then edit them. Navigation becomes clunky and frustrating, and ultimately failed for this reviewer. Also the attraction/lodging/dining database was generally insufficient for the test route.

Based in Ashland, Kentucky, this roadtrip planning service is probably the most ambitious application that we have looked at since we began testing and using these online trip planning tools in early 2004. This service incorporates data from MobileGates, a telematics firm that delivers info about restaurants, Wi-Fi access points, lodging and some recreational attractions to the online trip planning program offered by TravMatix. The program takes user-supplied parameters about brand names and amenities for restaurants, fueling stops and recreational opportunities and plots a route with matching locations shown on a map. We tried three different browsers on a test route from Las Vegas, Nevada to Seattle, Washington and the program consistently failed to deliver results that were useful. However, we are still rating this as a + program based on the potential of what may work someday soon. One element we like is that travelers can book lodging reservations from the site and send confirmation details to their cell phones for use on the trip. Of course, they need to be using a cell phone network that is compatible with this program's partners. Another component tracks the lowest fuel prices and their locations for the gasoline brands the user specifies. When this program is able to deliver its content in a more user-friendly way, we will update this report. (2/11/07)

This regional site's database does not include information within the test road trip subject area. The site boasts that the planning program includes 862 towns, 1423 highways and 1411 businesses found in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah. The site does have a nifty image map which can be utilized in addition to the traditional fill-in boxes. Although its supporting information about attractions/dining/lodging is thin, we rated it higher than some better-funded national services because of its user friendliness.

Under long-term development is a tool that allows the user to create preference & interest profiles (e.g: flowers, hiking, golf, theatre, photography) and types of topography and road sizes preferred. The program will return a range of activities/attractions/shopping/dining/lodging choices plotted between a starting and ending destination. The beginning interface will be a "clickable" map of the potential road trip routes. Users will also be able to request all attractions/destinations in a user-specified radius of a starting point. Final routing plan will consist of a map and directions with some background information about the selected points of interest. The program will also support booking of lodging, camping, and event tickets along the route. This program will most likely use the NavTech mapping database and a variety of proprietary databases for attractions and lodging reservations. (This project, started in 2000, has been postponed and a completion date is not known. We will update this page and information about this trip planning tool when there is news to report.) (2/11/07)