Modern Vespa

this may have already been done to death, but, am wondering if there's something that can do this out there on the interwebs. i know one can googlemap driving directions from point A to point B, but is there a better way of staying off the high speed, more crowded highways in order to take the 'scenic routes'?

I just use google maps and select "avoid highways" works 99% if the time

What Rev said - and I'd start scrounging around to check out motorcycle route websites. (Motorcycleroads.com comes to mind, but there's not a ton of routes there around IL/IN area.) Some people post their rides + notes about it, and while you may not plan out an A to B route that's real direct by checking out the sites, you will find some interesting stuff =)

+1 on google maps using the avoid tolls and highways exceptions

I also just use the above-mentioned Google Maps options. It works very well!

Google Maps' "avoid highways" option works MOST of the time.

I found two notable exceptions, one on a trip into western Pennsylvania where the recommended route turned into an on-ramp for an interstate, and the other near Wichita in Kansas where the recommended route crossed an interstate. The only way to get to the other side of the interstate was to get on via a ramp on the right side, quickly work your way across 4 lanes of high-speed traffic, and exit on the left!

Google maps. Select avoid tolls and highways. As others have mentioned, it works pretty much 99% of the time. The one thing I do is I often use street view to get a sense of the road I'm going to be traveling. You can drop a pin point and get a 360 degree view of the street.

The other thing to keep in mind is that some backroads may have pretty high speeds. I recently road up to Schaumburg from Oak Park on backroads. There are a few sections where the speed limit is 55mph which means people were going 70. A few other spots where you'd need to be cruising at 50-60 to keep up in traffic.

thanks everyone! now, how did i not see the 'avoid tolls & highways' option? brain farts i guess. anyway, cheers & i'll give it a go!

Once you select the route from A to B using the "avoid highway" route, check alternative roads using street view. If you find a better one just pick on the route and drag it to the better road. It will go with you, but you may have to adjust other parts. I have used this method to find some very fine roads, even in my North Florida, South Georgia area.

Take the results with a grain of common sense. I have seen an "avoid highway" route take a ridiculous loop this way and that just to avoid a few miles of Interstate.

I do my own planning with my copy of DeLorme's Atlas and Gazetteer for North Carolina. It contains "detailed topographical maps, back roads, recreation sites, GPS grids". Occasionally an interesting-looking side road turns out to be a muddy track, often with a gate!

[url]www.delorme.com[/url]

Erm, yeah, thanks- I just spent a half hour of work time planning some day trips.

Seriously, it's great.

There's a site called Motorcycle Roads that has a planner and several suggested routes for your state. Here's the URL:
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/

Hope that helps.

yes! this is kinda what i was trying to get...suggested 'back roads' trips that have some character. thanks!

The Harley-Davidson factory website has a "Ride Planner" feature, that appears to be Google Maps with a few goodies loaded into the mix. It is quite easy to establish, change, print, and save routes with this.