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route making apps

3685 Views 29 Replies 24 Participants Last post by  Rainman48, 
wethead
Are there any good and free route making apps?
Are you using it?
HOw does it work?
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alegerlotz
I use Calimoto and Rever for the most part. I primarily use Calimoto for shorter day rides where I just want some cool twisty roads.

If I'm planning for a multi day trip, I'll first spec it out using Rever (paid subscription that includes Butler Maps rated roads) and then if necessary generate a GPX file using Basecamp. Theoretically Rever can create the GPX file, but I've seen situations where the result is funky in my BMW Nav V, so I go the extra step of creating the route in Basecamp with lost of waypoints and shaping points to make sure that it takes me the exact route I wish to go.
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Dann323
One nice feature available for Basecamp is a little app called: Basecamp to Google Earth (BC2GE)
It replaces the old function that could show a waypoint in Basecamp in Google Earth which was available in older version and has been removed.
I use it all the time.
Get $BC2GE from the Microsoft Store
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pedalmike
I really like Ride with GPS | Bike Route Planner and Cycling Navigation App
Started using it to create bicycling routes, then found it works very well to create motorcycling routes as well. Much easier to use than Garmin Basecamp.
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B
I also use RideWithGPS. Like PedalMike, I started using it for bicycle routes -- where it excels! I used it with some success to plan my route to Springfileld, including a side trip to Lynchburg/Jack Daniels Distillery. It's a little harder to pick the exact road you want in some instances, and if you put the point on the wrong side of a 4-lane, it will tell you to "Make a U-turn" to go through your point. You do have to check your route carefully to make sure you don't have any of these points in your routing. Also, you need to export your route as a "track", rather than a "route", to make sure your routing makes sense.

On the plus side, MOA members can ask for password to get access to some of the advance features of RideWithGps. Not sure how I got the link to ask for it, but it's somewhere on the MOA website for members.

Try it. You might like it!
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K
Another vote for MyRouteApp. I tried Basecamp several times, and spent a lot of time watching the many tutorials on line. I still found myself concentrating on the mechanics of the software instead of my intended route. I tried several other apps, but in the end bought the lifetime Gold version of MRA, and never looked back. It's worked very well with my Garmin XT.
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fleuger99
ktm-don said:
Another vote for MyRouteApp. I tried Basecamp several times, and spent a lot of time watching the many tutorials on line. I still found myself concentrating on the mechanics of the software instead of my intended route. I tried several other apps, but in the end bought the lifetime Gold version of MRA, and never looked back. It's worked very well with my Garmin XT.
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I second MyRouteApp. I've been using it for two years now and have used it to plan several bike trips and it works flawlessly. I'd highly recommend it.
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Rainman48
I'm sure there are a number of great route planners. I've been a Garmin Mapsource user before they replaced it with Basecamp. Basecamp is 100% free, including its lifetime map updates which are updated on a regular basis. It does a great job of generating routes if you take the time to understand how to use it, AND how to match route setting parameters to a GPS you intend to use it with. Most people don't take the time to do that. It is an odd and clunky presentation of route generation that has to be learned, but once you get the hang of it, it's golden.

Whoever said "be careful, Basecamp may go away" might be thinking that has to do with BMW Motorrad changing to Tom Tom for it's newer TFT screen bikes. Well, that's a very small part of Garmin's overall business, and there are all sorts of different land-based vehicles that make use of Basecamp to provide map routing and sharing software. Given the main output of this type of software are GPX files (the route language of GPS devices) waypoints and points of interest (POI's) make all the difference in shaping your route - and that's up to you - the planner. Pitfalls and mistakes are almost always the user's problem, not the route planning software.
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Ugly Betty
I mostly use Google Maps to create the route, then use mapstogpx.com to convert it. Upload it to my Connected app and I have a turn-by-turn route to follow. It's great for shorter trips. Longer stuff I use Garmin Basecamp.
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Tieflaar
Rainman48 said:
Basecamp is 100% free, including its lifetime map updates which are updated on a regular basis.
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Basecamp is indeed free.
However, maps and updates are tied to a Garmin device.
But of course you can load OpenStreetMap maps in Basecamp.
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Rainman48
Tieflaar said:
Basecamp is indeed free.
However, maps and updates are tied to a Garmin device.
But of course you can load OpenStreetMap maps in Basecamp.
Click to expand...
You are correct. I should have said: "Maps are tied to specific purchased Garmin devices, and some maps or map types come with free lifetime updates, while others require paid updates."
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