Road trip question

[Jeff423]

I will be soon heading off to the east coast from MO for a vacation. I have made this trip often and have multiple routes I can take. My question is: is there a website that gives the road conditions? Or maybe a national road conditions map? I have done many searches and always come to individual states websites that don't seem to provide usable information.
I ask this because I often encounter construction delays in IN, OH and PA.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[IAM Rand]

I guess the question is, what do you mean by road condition. Are you looking for pot holes to avoid or if they are backed up with traffic.

You can use Google maps to show you traffic and if they are working on the road. I also use WAZE to tell me if there are hazards on the road or if there are LEOs out and about.

 

[Rudi]

I think you will need to look at each state's traffic web site as you go.

 

[Golddollar]

I think you will need to look at each state's traffic web site as you go.

For PA check pa511.com

 

[wood714]

For PA check pa511.com

Been using FL511.com for a while now. Saved me from getting stuck on 95 a few times.

 

[Jeff423]

Thanks, I'll check out those 511 sites.

 

[johngalt]

Google maps sometimes does

 

[MTC(SS)Ret]

I like to use google maps and turn on the traffic overlay. I've found it to be pretty accurate and it seems to be updated every few minutes.
WAZE is another one but I've never tried it.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

I know you will only be in Mo for a short distance but for future reference MODOT has a good app for hwy conditions.
It even has a button for traffic cams.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Google Maps has all that updated info. Consider PA one giant orange cone!

 

[SMSgt]

Orange barrels, orange barrels, everywhere I see...

 

[raljr1]

Waze app and Google maps will both show construction and traffic james. Waze supposedly does a better job with routing around jams and avaoiding radar, according to number ! son.

 

[Ranger17]

When we used to drive back and forth between SC and WI, our standalone gps unit with it's traffic updates helped a lot for warning us of pending incidents and detours. So I'd assume the map sites should do about the same.
Locally we use the 511 site for WI, it can help get an idea in what to expect but is not always up to date or fully accurate.

 

[venomballistics]

There's an app for that...
Waze

 

[Jeff423]

I just got Waze. It doesn't seem to work on my computer but it kind of works on my ipad. At first it told me I couldn't drive to my location - then I picked a larger city and it was fine with that. Then it told me that one route through PA (76) had $11.00 in tolls and the other (80) had $56.00 in tolls - is that right?

 

[Beemerguy53]

I just got Waze. It doesn't seem to work on my computer but it kind of works on my ipad. At first it told me I couldn't drive to my location - then I picked a larger city and it was fine with that. Then it told me that one route through PA (76) had $11.00 in tolls and the other (80) had $56.00 in tolls - is that right?

I was very slow to accept Waze, and very skeptical about it; what do I need a GPS program like this for when I have GPS in my car? Once I started familiarizing myself with it, and realized how reliable and versatile it is, I found myself using it all the time, even for relatively short trips.

Like any other GPS system, you can set Waze to calculate distances and speeds in English or metric measurements; you can set the language it uses; you can direct it not to use toll roads, or bridges, or tunnels, or highways; you can have it speak all directions to you; only warnings; or nothing at all.

But unlike many other GPS systems, Waze constantly tracks traffic conditions in real time, and will update or change your route as necessary. Miles before you are aware of an accident, or vehicle fire, or police incident, that's delaying traffic, Waze will calculate how to get you around it. (Sometimes, it will direct you to an exit or route that doesn't seem to make sense, until you realize it's detouring you around something.)

Waze will warn you of speed traps, roadkill, debris in the road, and stopped vehicles ahead well in advance of you encountering them.

It calculates tolls along your route, and will take into account your EZ Pass transponder if you have one. (And yes, it's accurate.)

Waze works everywhere; I use it in Europe, and it works there just as well as it does here. (I set it to metric measurements there, of course.)

I have not found a downside yet to Waze over several years of using it. Download the app to your cell phone, get a good phone holder for your windshield or dash (Andobil's holders, sold on Amazon, are perfect IMO) and enjoy...

Good luck on your drive...have a nice trip!

 

[MetalMan]

We make the 700mi (one-way) trip from Central OH to CT several times a year - Interstates 71-76-80-84 - and find that Google Maps does a good job of early notification of traffic slowdowns and offers alternative routes (when available). Unfortunately, sometimes these delays are unavoidable and alternative routings become less and less available as one approaches NY and CT.

 

[Kiwi cop]

I use Google Maps when planning trips because you can add in destinations, stops etc if not going in a straight line. My issue with Google is that it will always use the shorts route, not necessarily the one you want to take (ie. Route 66 off the Interstates).

Manually changing the route can be a pain.

During the actual driving though I use Apple Maps in my phone. It gives me choices of which route to take, and if I go "off map" for any reason recalculates after a few seconds a new route, not turns me around to go back to where I don't want to be.

Sometimes Apple Maps will take me to the wrong place, usually the back of an address instead of the front. Sometimes you hav e to be precise with an address instead of entering a destination like a hotel.

The only times I used the GPS function in my own car (Mazda CX-3) it would try to reroute me around lower speed zones as a "faster" route. The fact that this caused more slowing/speeding up to take turns and used more gas/actually too more time, was lost not the programers.

I have n to bothered with Waze, even though it was recommended to me.

 

[Jeff423]

I just spent two days on the road traveling from MO to CT. I used Waze and my Garmin at the same time.
In terms of navigation there was no difference. Both were accurate and alerted me to turns, traffic and detours at the same time. The Waze app provided more information about police and cars on the sholder. The Garmin worked in areas where there was no cell service.
If I didn't already have the Garmin I would use Waze and be happy. Since I have the Garmin I don't think I'll continue to use Waze since I don't have much use for the extra information it provides and the Garmin's screen is much larger than my phone. I guess if I had a newer car with a built in screen the Waze app would show up there in a larger size.

 

[Racer X]

I like to use google maps and turn on the traffic overlay. I've found it to be pretty accurate and it seems to be updated every few minutes.
WAZE is another one but I've never tried it.

I live by Waze. I plug in my destination, and it checks out possible routes for delays, and spits out the best one, and I can see the other options if I want a specific route. It recalculates and re-routes if weather/traffic or accidents crop up.

Plus people can post LEO sighting updates for speed traps etc.