Route Planner Websites

[imd123]

Does anyone know which is the best route planner site please or does it depend on the journey?
I've checked 4 sites and also the Tom Tom on a journey we do regular and got times of 2:39,2:40,2:59,3:07,3:10 and in fact the jouney always takes approx 3:30 hours although all mileages were close.
We are going on a journey in the morning and times are 4:05,4:07,4:17,4:34,4:40 and mileages range from 230-253. All routes have been quoted as faster route.
Out of interest the Tom Tom comes somewhere in the middle on mileage and time.
Thanks to anyone who replies
Sorry, originally entered under travel but just thought motoring the obvious one to go for!

[boxtops]

we use the RAC route planner

[boxtops]

Here's the duplicate post http://www.theanswerb.../Question1049475.html

[kat1]

RAC

[Toureman]

Google maps is the good free one to use, gives you everything you want!

[TWR]

Imd, having driven HGVs for 38+yrs never take 3 hrs as true time of reaching your destination, you can estimate but never can you say I will be there at that time, Punctures, Hold ups, Accidents, breakdowns, wrong turnings can add to your journey time, always allow time for these things to happen, give yourself at least an hour grace for the aforementioned hold ups.

[imd123]

Thanks for your replies.
We've always used RAC probably as it was the first we looked at. However they were the furthest out on our regular journey quoting 2:39 against an actual of an hour more. Strangely they also quote on shortest time for our journey tomorrow so we shall see!
I'll look up the Google maps as wasn't aware of that one.

[ubasses]

Tom Tom will be best if you have live traffice as it will redirect you as delays occur and give you updated times and altetnatives if you want to take yhem

[imd123]

Thanks TWR
Yeah aware of that but it's a regular journey we take and always runs around 3:30. We always find the Tom Tom pretty accurate and assume they make an allowance for hold ups etc. Actually amazed how accurate they usually are. My real query was the vast difference between what the route sites quote.

[TWR]

Imd, I have only used Sat Nav once, I knew the place I was going but tried this new devise, it had taken me well out of my way & added a few more miles to the Journey, It gives you the shortest route I understand! but have you noticed & read about the Trucks ending up down narrow lanes, low bridges, lanes that used to be though roads & now ceased? where does your Journey Start From/ & where does it end?

[ubasses]

With Tom Tom you can select either shortest or fastest route. Like most things in life common sense has to come in to play. In the 2 years we hyave had ours it has not let us down YET, and even when sending us a a weird route, research has shown us that there was very good reason. I was very anti before going on long journey with friends who had one

[imd123]

Hi TWR
Yes i've heard plenty of stories like that. Actually I don't like to use the sat nav as i'm not convinced either and often you just know it's not telling you right. We're going from Grimsby to close to Wookey Hole, Somerset.
Assume you've heard the story of the foreign truck going to Gibralter Point in Lincs instead of Gibralter?

[Mosaic]

Sorry to be old fashioned, but there is no substitute for regional Os maps, especially as they are now online. Mix with streetview or visual prompts and you're away!

[TWR]

M18>Over the (A1(M)> (M1 South >M42>M5

[imd123]

Thanks TWR
I would be getting the map out later anyway as like to know which way to go anyway. Just thought i'd check some of the route sites out to see what they said.

[Prudie]

At work we use Autoroute, surprised no-one's mentioned it.

[chas2008]

at least with the Tom Tom you get an acurate ETA as you are driving