Looking for Routes Along I-40

[HP_3]

Hello,

I am trying to search in the 'Road Trip Reports' forum for references to interstates like I-40 or I-44 and not having any luck. Do\es this mean I have to use the Google search? Or is there another option?

Thanks!

M.E.

[Mark Sedenquist]

The Google Search box on this page reports all pages on the RTA site with those keywords. There are about 3400 such references on this site for I-40.

But what are you looking for in particular? We have a great deal of the site indexed in other ways.

Mark

[HP_3]

Okay, thanks Mark. I am starting to look at possible routes - and will just use the Google search.

Thanks again,

[Mark Sedenquist]

If you are looking for routes --Are you aware of the RTA Library of Custom Maps?

Basically what you can do is go to the Map Center page and click on the area in the USA where you are looking for routes and see what maps we have created. All RTA Library Maps were designed so that members can download them and customize them.

Point of clarification -- if you use Google Search that is not "housed" on this site -- your search results will not be limited to this site. The forums have a search function -- but it's not as good as the Google Search tool.

Mark

[landmariner]

HP3, the RTA has a real trove of information but it is sometimes hard to find! Or, one finds a huge trove--a person may not even know what they are looking at.

One option, is to look at what Wikipedia has to offer, e.g., I-40 is at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_40
Wikipedia covers tons of interstates, US highways and a large number of other roads.

Again, it might also depend upon what you are looking for.

I never knew of the RTA Maps Library. Eventually I found it on the left side of this web page, down a bit:
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/maps/mapcenter.php
There are 359 "route maps" which is quite a trove. But I would be hard pressed to find something from that listing if I were looking for I-40, or even my Point A to Point B along the the I-40 route. I kept looking for a visual representation of the 359 routes but could not readily find it. You can click on each of the route entries and a map pops up but that is quite a slog even when selecting a region on the "route map" at:
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/foru...-united-states

This might help you get started: https://www.myscenicdrives.com/
Another resource is the online AAA TripTik Travel Planner (click to use/not use the icons that first show up and also the one under the Places menu):
https://triptik.aaa.com/home/index.html

RTA is a rich resource area. The gooroos are a wealth of information and the site is very rich as well.

[Southwest Dave]

There is the option of starting a thread and asking for help with the particulars of your trip while giving as much info as possible such as interests, time available and start finish points.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I never knew of the RTA Maps Library. Eventually I found it on the left side of this web page, down a bit:
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/maps/mapcenter.php
There are 359 "route maps" which is quite a trove. But I would be hard pressed to find something from that listing if I were looking for I-40, or even my Point A to Point B along the the I-40 route.

On that same page are the instructions for using the NEW RTA Maps Library:

To view, edit and save RTA Custom Library maps: The RTA Library maps are part of a collection of routes and attractions found in North America and developed by RoadTrip America Contributing Writers. Every route and attraction in this Maps Library has been personally selected and curated as being of extra special interest to road trippers. By no means do they reflect every possible lodging, dining or road trip attraction available, just the ones chosen by the RTA writers based on their personal taste and expertise.

To Find an RTA Library Map that you can use and/or customize for planning your trip:
1. Look at the left-hand side of this page. You will see a box labeled “RTA Maps Library.” Scroll through the list until you find one that interests you. Hint: The first word in the map name is a geographic designation that makes it easier to browse the list. An example is the word “West,” as in “West AZ-NM SST 1 Van Horn to Las Cruces.”

2. Use the Keyword search box. A search term must be at least three letters long. You can use state names or towns or whatever you wish. If an RTA Library Map exists that includes that keyword, it will appear in the "RTA Maps" list in the box directly below the RTA Maps Library. (Note: When the map pane first loads, only the attractions appear on the map. But if you click on the map link in the “RTA Maps” list, the map (blue line and attractions) will load in the map pane.

3. Use the vicinity search. Identify a search radius in miles and then click the map pane and you will find any RTA Library Maps within that radius. Look for "Search for RTA Library Maps within".

To modify a RTA Library Map and Save it as one of your Personal Maps:
Click on the number link. At this point, you can add your personal Custom Places and then save whatever is on your screen as a map. Just click the “Save Map” button. The map’s name will now appear in the “My Maps” box in the left-hand column.
To create a new map based on the original RTA Library Map + your new Custom Places using the “Waypoint” system described above:

The resulting blue line route might not follow the exact route of the RTA Library Maps because there is a limitation on the number of waypoints available (23 waypoints plus the beginning and ending locations) but you can use the RTA flags and your new Custom Places markers as those waypoints and choose your new starting and ending locations. The resulting map will be very similar to the original RTA Library Map. (For more information about using the "Waypoint" system, see post #1 in this thread.)