Maps were not made just to show the way, but also to appreciate distances, and the technologies we have developed so far allow us to calculate distances in miles, air miles, nautical miles and kilometers. Travel distances are essential particularly for trip or vacation planning, thus you know how to appreciate the fuel costs as well as the the need for hotel reservations in case the journey extends on two or more days. The Internet is the most comprehensive resource for travel distances and calculators although the traditional map systems provided by AAA and Rand McNally continue to stay in business. Google and MapQuest are other major players in the online map competition.
Google applications are really great for calculating travel distances, and it seems like they’ve kept their promise to dominate the web with the free services they offer to all searchers. For access to the Google Maps page you need to have a regular free Google account; after the entrance of the points of origin and destination, the distance measurement tools show all the distance specifics with utmost accuracy. Thus, besides the travel distances you can also click other links in the menu that give access to info on gas prices, great sights to visit and weather forecast.
For the calculation of travel distances, Google is so far the most user-friendly program, but MapQuest should not be ignored either. This online service is also widely used thanks to the fast way of accessing the information: you just write the place of origin, arrival point and press enter. You will be provided not only with a map and the travel distances, but directions are available too. For the moment, MapQuest is preparing the release of yet another complex program that would bring equal chances of popularity with the Google giant; this will most certainly imply an adaptation of the tools to be more user friendly.
The meaning of short and long travel distances has been altered with the existence of alternative transportation means. The travel distances between LA and NY appear shorter by plane but longer by train or car. In fact, the mobile element in the equation is not distance as such, but the way we feel it in relation with time. People often tend to say: how long does it take to get to location X instead of how far is location X? Costs, on the other hand are other ways of considering travel distances: gas, food, lodging, they all have to be covered out of the personal pocket. Hence, good trip planning means calculating travel distances too.
