Over the years I’ve been in a few debates as to whether automotive GPS or a road atlas is better to figure out where you’re going.
I do champion automotive GPS technology because they are always better than those cheesy foldout maps you find at rest stops and convenience stores.
However I’ve never denied the fact that a proper road atlas will always give you more useful information, and furthermore give you a much better idea of the road layout for wherever you’re traveling.
When it comes to proper road atlases, look no further than Rand McNally. While it’s true the Motor Carriers’ series is the best-of-breed (and most expensive) of the lot, most people would go for the Deluxe Midsize road atlas (totally worth it because it’s spiral bound – no folding of maps required).
What do you get with a road atlas that you don’t with GPS?
Several things, actually.
Border crossing information
If crossing into Canada or Mexico, GPS doesn’t tell you a thing other than how to get to the border. The atlas will give you tips and pertinent information on what may be required of you when you reach a country border.
Simplified list of phone numbers/web sites for hotels and rental car chains
GPS only lists phone numbers for locations if you specifically look them up one by one. The atlas gives you a list right up front.
Mileage charts
GPS has no mileage charts to speak of other than as-you-program-it. The only time you’re made aware of how far you’re going to travel is when plotting individual routes. The atlas has over 5,000 of them that you can flip to in the book at any time.
The Rand McNally road atlas has been around for 86 years
GPS was introduced in 1975, but was not made available for consumer use until 2000. Consumer products (like Magellan, Garmin, TomTom) were not widely available until about the mid-2000s.
What this all means is that automotive GPS technology, while great, is still a very young tech and isn’t even close to having 10 years worth of true automotive in-the-field use. It is a technology that’s still going through its growing pains, so to speak.
The Rand McNally atlas has been around since the 1920s, so it’s a fair assumption to think McNally has the map thing down pretty good. 
Should you use both?
Yes, I do recommend using both.
I personally believe automotive GPS should be in every car. Saves time, decreases stress significantly and gets you where you want to go.
I also believe everybody should have a proper road atlas. Whether you’re a road warrior or not, the information contained within those pages is valuable.
Where do you get one of these proper atlases?
You can order one from the McNally web site as linked above, at Amazon, or at any major bookstore such as Border’s or Barnes & Noble.
For the GPS haters out there..
I’ve encountered a few of you on occasion, and you all say the same thing:
"I tried GPS a few years ago – IT SUCKED. All I need is my atlas and I’m happy."
Most of you are truckers.
I have some tidbits of info you would be interested in.
Garmin now has a trucker-specific offering, the nuvi 465T. It has a preloaded NTTS breakdown directory and specialized routing options for big riggers. So you can’t say GPS is a "cars-only" thing anymore.
Automotive GPS now compared to even as little as two years ago is notably better in the way it routes. It is perfect? Obviously not. But it’s far superior compared to older offerings. My nuvi 255W is light years better than the old StreetPilot c340 I had years ago in every way.
And it goes without saying that if you’re in the US, go Garmin. (If UK, go TomTom.) Why? Because Garmin routes the best in US/Canada/Mexico. Does it have as many features compared to competitors? No. But it routes best and that’s what counts the most.
Remember, I never told you to throw out your atlas nor would I ever. But I am telling you that If you tried GPS before and the experience was bad, go Garmin this time around. The price point is much lower, the technology has improved significantly and you’ll truly get some good use out of it. It won’t be "that thing I paid $x for that sits on my dash and does nothing".
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