Travel Distances
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Maps were not made just to show the way, but also to appreciate distances, and the technologies we now have available allow us to calculate distances in miles, nautical and air miles or kilometers. The calculation of travel distances both on the highway and in cities remain essential for trip or vacation planning, thus one can 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 calculators for travel distances dominate the web, particularly since together with this free service you are offered a whole range of options. A Google account is all you need to get access to Google Maps; once you enter the points of origin and destination, the distance measurement tools show all the distance specifics with utmost accuracy. Moreover, other than the travel distances you can also access other links in the menu that include gas prices, weather forecast and nice sights to visit.
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: type the place of origin, arrival point and press go. 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 launch of yet another complex program that would bring equal chances of popularity with the Google giant; this will most certainly trigger the introduction of other tools and functions to aid the web searcher even further.
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. We now tend to say: how long does it take to get to location X and not how far is location X? For car travelers, distances are then appreciated in terms of costs too: gas, food, lodging, they all have to be covered out of the personal pocket. Hence, good trip planning means calculating travel distances too.
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