Google Maps Challenge! -- USA

This USA Capital Challenge grew out of an e-mail I forwarded to Joshua P. (laydownthelaw)
The original e-mail was from an elementary school teacher who wanted us to create a mapping route that would connect all of the USA capitals that she could use in a geography lesson. I knew that JP had worked on something like this. He has created such a route....

Since Google Maps only allows 25 stops per route, he has two routes.
Augusta, Maine to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee to Phoenix, Arizona

His total "road trip" would be 13,037 road miles. This route connects only the 48 continental state capitals, because it is a little hard to drive to Juneau or Honolulu.

So the Challenge is -- create your own route that is less than 13,037 miles.... We think some one might be able to break 12,000 -- Are you up to the Challenge?

Mark

Thanks Mark, this is just the kind of thing which will get me staring at a computer for 6 hours tonight looking to find a better route!

Michael,

I am afraid, it would take me more than six hours....

But I bet you can do it!

Mark

I got it down to 11987 on my first trip.

East Coast and South 4335 Miles
Midwest 2045 Miles
North and West 3806 Miles
Mountain States 1801 Miles

And it was only about an hour, with a little bit of work getting me "off track".

For those who don't want to click the links, the list would be Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass, Rhode Is, Conn, NY, NJ, Penn, Delaware, Maryland, DC, Virginia, North Carolina, SC, Georia, Florida, Alabama, Miss, Louisiana, Texas, OK, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, SD, ND, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, NM, Arizona.

Michael,

That certainly didn't take long!

I wonder if anyone can beat 11,987?

Veeeeeeeeeeery interesting!

Mark

I used the same order but put everything into 2 google maps, using all city to cities (instead of some manual stops). Its easier to see, and I actually shaved the miles down to 11828.
Eastern Half

Western Half

Oooh, you are good.

Could you make a single map? (I know you can't put in all 48 way points) But it would be interesting route map.

Mark

Google seems to max out at 25 stops. Once you've reached that number, it won't let you add stop points or otherwise tweek the map.

That said, I'm sure there must be some way you could do it, I just don't know of any easy way.

BTW, I shaved another 44 miles off by going by switching Dover and Harrisburg after Trenton and before Baltimore. That brings my best route to 11784 miles.

Have you tried Yahoo Maps?

Also, it never hurts to check this site for info about road closings and other relevant paraphrenalia.

I'm using Google Maps to plan a trip up Highway 41 for a book I'm writing, but Yahoo maps has info about churches, restaurants, and other importants.

Great work on the maps, Michael. Like Mark, I'm especially wowed about how quickly you did this. It would take me a few days, I think.