Road trip planning utility? (going to Portland)

[mattbell]

I'm using a custom google map to plan a road trip to Portland, OR in early August.  I have our route planned out, and I've been labeling points of interest along the route.  While this is a decent use of google's custom map feature, it seems clunkier than I'd like it to be.  It would be much cooler to have something that offers some more functionality, like:

- Simple adding of new locations from looking up addresses on yelp and other sites. 
- Automatically identifying good places along the route to buy gas (prices go way up in certain rural areas due to increased cost of delivery), buy groceries, and sleep. 
- Easy checking of places to visit, with routes updating accordingly. 
- Integration of hours of operation on tagged monuments/museums/parks etc, when available. 

The google maps API has been around a long time... I'm sure there's something good out there.

----

Of course, the way to get good advice on *what* to visit is still the old-fashioned way.... by asking friends.  So if you have advice, let us know!

We're planning on taking 5 from San Francisco to Portland, and 101 on the way back.  Shasta and Crater Lake are on the list.  Otherwise, it's fairly open. 

Comments

[radven.livejournal.com]

I've wanted a smart trip-planning app for years, and have never found anything particularly compelling. If you find a good tool, let me know.

[nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com]

Write one! I'll suggest a bunch of features. :-)

[radven.livejournal.com]

I almost did way back in 2000! I had a lot of the design and business case worked out, and was working to become an expert on mobile technology so that I would be better able to convince some investors to fund the project.

Then Palm hired me.

I've been waiting for someone else to do it right ever since. I might just have to try again and do it myself one of these days.