Don't always believe Google Maps....

ChanW

When looking for a hardware store in Tucumcari NM, I told Google to 'Navigate To' the address on Route 66.

I ended up down a one-lane dirt road next to an irrigation canal...

According to Google, that's the hardware store, right there on the left - it kinda looks like a tree.

I was lucky to find a fork in the road I could turn around in.

I'm sure Google was recording the whole episode from their satellite, and snickering...

Glad it wasn't raining, there would've been some nasty mud!

For the remainder of the trip, I had a healthy distrust of that sweet British-accented google maps lady.

jkjenn

April Fool's! Sorry. That stinks and similar has happened to me.

ChanW

No, actually, I was giggling more and more, the further I got down the road.

Probably would have been cussing a bit if I'd had to turn the Tab around by hand tho!

Vacation allows room for a sense of humor. :-)

Nomad

GPS Maps - Got stung two days ago... Followed the road signs until there hadn't been any for 20 or so miles so fired up the iPad map programs and they all showed I had missed a turn 30 miles back and if I continued it take me 150 miles out of my way - Didn't have gas for that so turned around and headed back to where the turn should have been. Turns out you could turn there but they opend up a new stretch of highway (cut-through) and the signs took you that way. So, filled on gas and headed up the route I just backtracked on.
Didn't feel like an idiot as another guy pulled into the gas station and he'd just done the same thing.

ChanW

Heh. Don't know that the "old-fashioned" paper map would have helped any in either case!

leenscottfl

Had GPS take me to what turned into a one lane trail on a W. Va. Mountain. Park ranger said in bad weather they give people 45 min. Before rescuing them. My Jeep didn't need rescuing.

Nomad

Chan - You'r right, a paper map would have shown the same thing and I'd still have doubled back.

SweetlyHome

Count us in as well.  Had a lovely drive through the mountains attempting to enter Shenandoah National Park.  Turned out to be an employee's only entrance.  About 50 miles extra.

Rad

Google maps to plan trips at home, a good Garnin gps backed up by paper maps keeps me out of a lot of trouble on the road.  

The only problem that combo has brought me was getting through a major city that had just completed a major highway project with new highway routing and my gps maps were not up to date.

google maps is fun to play with and look at roads in street view prior to using them.  

Nomad

The trouble with most GPSs is their maps don't get updated automatically - You can update them but it's a manual job if an update is even available. Google/Apple maps are constantly being updated and you get the latest every time you open the map app.
The worst to rely on are the in-dash GPSs, they usually are outdated the day you buy the vehicle and you usually have to have the dealer update them for an outrageous fee.

ChanW

PXL, you make a good point, and I should let Google know of their error.

They depend on public input, and I've found that they're actually very responsive to corrections to their maps (the only thing they seem to be responsive to!)

But it sure was interesting, getting taken down the wrong road! :-)

jkjenn

I don't always do this, but it can be helpful to switch to a satellite view and zoom in your route and destination.

Kats

We used our Garmin recently...sent us to  a road that had been washed out and closed a year ago. Luckily it was here in the county where we live so we could get home pretty easily. We just laughed it off. My favorite was when a friend of mine was using her iPhone to navigate in northern Maine...she said that suddenly Siri said "I don't know where you are."

jcfaber1

My wife and I always use the DeLorme maps as we have found them most accurate.  Gail never says "recalculating" either.  We had a similar experience in California going to Mono Hot springs.  My brother in law was using his garmin and it wanted  us to turn on some dirt path a goat would have stumbled.  So now I drive and Gail just tells me where to go!
John

jkjenn

There is actually a spot near Atwood lake where Google maps and Bing maps both try to take you over private property and there is a big sign telling you your GPS has led you astray.

Verna

I never hit that road, Jenn. That's a good one!

jkjenn

I did some side road exploring out of the park and used my GPS to get me back and it brought me to this spot. I should have marked it so I could send a correction, but I didn't have time.

Verna

When you leave Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Texas, don't believe the Garmin when she (B. Betty) tells you the red dirt road will take you up to I-40. The dirt road dead ends at the easement for I-40, and I knew it! Betty couldn't fool me on that one.

mickietucs

jcfaber1 said:

My wife and I always use the DeLorme maps as we have found them most accurate.  Gail never says "recalculating" either.  We had a similar experience in California going to Mono Hot springs.  My brother in law was using his garmin and it wanted  us to turn on some dirt path a goat would have stumbled.  So now I drive and Gail just tells me where to go!
John

John - is it an app you use from DeLorme maps? I'm looking at their site and can't quite figure out which one you're referring to. They have a "Street Atlas USA Plus" or "Earthmate GPS" - ??? Either of those or is there something else - perhaps an app that is downloaded from iTunes? Thanks! Michele

jcfaber1

No they are the printed maps where a state like Wisconsin will be over 100 pages in length.  They have way more info than just roads.  Has contours and other features on the maps. 

jkjenn

I travel with the DeLorme Gazettes out west, but not in PA or Ohio, lol.

Verna

You can find them on Amazon...of course....

jkjenn

Verna said:

You can find them on Amazon...of course....

You know me well, Verna!

Kats

jcfaber1 said:

My wife and I always use the DeLorme maps as we have found them most accurate.  Gail never says "recalculating" either.  We had a similar experience in California going to Mono Hot springs.  My brother in law was using his garmin and it wanted  us to turn on some dirt path a goat would have stumbled.  So now I drive and Gail just tells me where to go!
John

I love my DeLorme's books. I usually map things out using the DeLorme's first, and then have the GPS for backup.

Nomad

I have a buddy who owns land right next to a county park - All the GPSs and map apps tell you to turn right. If you do you'll have a medium sharp right and then 35' down another fairly sharp left. Then you'll be starring at a locked gate. I cold back the T@B out but I'm betting there would be a lot of swearing going on if you were pulling anything bigger.
Been trying to get that one corrected for years.

R&DAndrews

Garmin has led us astray towing a 22 foot travel trailer.  One minute we were on a normal road and the next minute we were on a single lane gravel road with deep ruts from water runoff, going straight down hill.  We kept following the road hoping it would get better or we would find the campground.  We stopped when there was a stream going across the road.  We finally got to use the off road capabilities of the XTerra and a small clearing to turn around.  Very scary and one of the reasons we want a T@B as it will be easier to turn around.  Found out later my brother-in-law had accidentally sent the Garmin for most rural route.  What an adventure.  

Subaru66

Try the new NOKIA HERE MAPS APP.  Read the reviews on it and decided to give it a try on my iPhone 6+ and I like it better than Google or Apple maps.  Got tired of Google and Apple sending me off to Neverland.  See what you think...give it a look!

Kats

jcfaber1 said:

My wife and I always use the DeLorme maps as we have found them most accurate.  Gail never says "recalculating" either.  We had a similar experience in California going to Mono Hot springs.  My brother in law was using his garmin and it wanted  us to turn on some dirt path a goat would have stumbled.  So now I drive and Gail just tells me where to go!
John

I love my DeLorme's books. I usually map things out using the DeLorme's first, and then have the GPS for backup.