Reliability of Google maps route planner

[doc_bean]

I've been trying to figure out a route for a summer vacantion and stumbled on to google maps. However, the distances (and times !) it mentions when I enter two places rarely matches with what I've gotten from other sources.

For instance, a drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon would be around 431 miles – ca. 9h 27min according to google maps while phoenix.about.com gives an estimated time of around 4 - 4.5h. Now I'm sure the Phoenix website has every reason to underestime the time it takes, but giving halve the time it would really take seems a bit extreme.

So, who can I trust ? And in case it isn't google maps, are there any other reliable route planners for the US available ?

[Ser Clegane]

We used "map24" as route planner for our trip to Canada.

For Phoenix to Grand Canyon it gives 368km and 4:23h

We found map24 to be very reliable - estimated travel times did not seem too bullish (i.e. it usually took us less time) which is probably a good thing as I rather plan generously with regard to travel time.

[Whacker]

I'd also submit another alternative; just use the maps and plot the route yourself. I never use the directions that Google, Mapquest, etc give out and always make my own, which so far has not let me down. Some of the better tools can tell if you certain areas are under construction as well, for example the Dan Ryan in Chicago and 65 N of Louisville (which will be finished when the sun burns out). Of course some people do not like or want to take the time to plan routes themselves, but I've always found that I can frequently beat the applications if I put a little time into it. Plus I kinda like doing it anyway... YMMV.

[Xiahou]

I've been trying to figure out a route for a summer vacantion and stumbled on to google maps. However, the distances (and times !) it mentions when I enter two places rarely matches with what I've gotten from other sources.

For instance, a drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon would be around 431 miles – ca. 9h 27min according to google maps while phoenix.about.com gives an estimated time of around 4 - 4.5h. Now I'm sure the Phoenix website has every reason to underestime the time it takes, but giving halve the time it would really take seems a bit extreme.

So, who can I trust ? And in case it isn't google maps, are there any other reliable route planners for the US available ?

Well, to make the trip in 4hrs, you'd have to be driving faster than 100MPH.... so I don't think I'd trust that.

Are you sure one source isn't giving you a one-way time and the other a round trip total?

[Papewaio]

Maybe it is a miles to km conversion issue... where it is more like 431 km ( 270 miles) between these two places.

After all a quick google got these distances:
233 & 247 miles.

[The Fuzz]

Speaking as someone who, two weeks ago, made the drive from Pheonix to the Grand Canyon, it takes a damn long time. Those mountains are tricky buggers to drive up and around. It didn't help that we had blizzards too. You can make it but fill up the tank when you can because there's not much for long distances.

Enjoy the trip. I love Arizona - usually travel there once a year.

If you're just using the AZ/GC as an example...egg on my face, oh well..


GO TO ARIZONA!!

[doc_bean]

Thanks for all the replies ! I've been meaning to respond sooner, but apperantly my time left to surf the internets has not increased lately ...

@Whacker I'm planning on sketching out my own route, but I needed a quick idea of the distances and time needed to travel them, not being that familiar with US geography.

@The Fuzz We're actually going from the Grand Canyon to Phoenix, as the final stage in my all to ambitious 'try to see as much of the US as I can in 3 weeks' plan