RAC Route Planner

The RAC have a very comprehensive Route Planner, and this is something they're proud of. They make a point of stating "More than your average route plan".

One thing we really like is the ability to select up to 5 "via" destinations - this surpases the other online route planners.

You also have the choice of selecting the fastest or shortest route. There's also the option to maximise or minimise your use of motorways and the ability to avoid toll roads and ferry images.

You can also choose to have either a static map or one with interactive features.

There is one feature we don't like and that's because they outsource their route technology to Map 24, they have to use something thats called an iframe. This adds content from elsewhere into their site. As this is the case you have to scroll within the site with a scroller within the page. It's just a personal thing, however, and most should not find it annoying.

A fantastic element of the map is the ability to select whether you would like short or long direction descriptions. Even more fantastic is the option to have detailed maps in the main direction list of each junction.

Furthermore, you can email the map to yourself or a friend.

Overall, we feel this is by far and away the best free online router planner.

Route Planner Rating: 9/10

Also try the RAC Route Planner

Google Maps

Google don't make out that they're a route planner, you can request simple routes however i.e. ones that don't request to get to go via anywhre.

The quality of the directions are fine. They're very concise and should be sufficient for most journeys.

One thing we like is tha fact that you can do directions to locations in Europe. Just don't worry if Internet Explorer, or whatever you're using locks up a bit - it's just working on your route.

One area that Google Maps falls down on is the ability to show features on the journey such as petrol stations hotels etc. You'd have to do a seperate search for these. This is definitely something that software route planners are better at.

Route Planner Rating: 6.5/10

Public Transport Journey Planners

Not everyone drives. So here's a list of journey planners.

BBC Journey Planner - This is a very comprehensive site that takes into account bus, tube and Tram forms of transport.

Transport for London - This is a great one for getting about the capital.

Expedia Route Planner

Expedia offers a classic 'bolt-on' feature. It's woefully inadequate to say the least and is just a feature that looks like it was created in the US and has simply been copy and pasted into their UK site with a couple of slight modifications.

It's obviously more important for Expedia to sell holidays, flights and car hire etc than it is to provide directions. But our view is that if you're going to put something on an international brand's website, it should reach the high standards that every other part of the site reaches. There should be no areas of disappointment.

The options they give you are limited to having the quickest or shortest route, or having the distances in miles or kilometres.

When you get a map of the route all it shows is the point of departure and your final destination unlike the AA route planner which shows a decent map.

Furthermore the actual directions itself are basic, but usable!

Overall, we'd give this one a miss.

Router Planners Rating: 4/10

AA Route Planner Review

The AA Route Planner we find is the best. It may have a touch too much advertising for our licking - but as its a free online service and not one you have to pay for and install then we feel feel this is a distraction worth accepting.

The AA Route Planner allows you to create route plans for England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Europe.

There are also added options of avoiding motorways and toll roads / congestion charging zones.

The results of a search are very good. They ask you to clarify the different locations.

The summary page is very good. From the one search you have a number of options such as viewing the directions, setting up SMS traffic Alerts, viewing a map of the route, getting a map of your start and end location and the ability to send the route to a friend.

The directions they give are very clear. They even highlight traffic blackspots. In our route: Warrington to Milton Keynes via Daventry, it correctly highlighted the A50 / M6 junction as a congestion area.

They also show were the Travelodges are, but we believe this more to do with an advertising relationship than simply a usefulness one.

One recommendation we have is that they should try and make the locations on the route plan clickable i.e. in this route if they could make "grappenhall" a link to it's location on a map. This would be useful if you're trying to plan a stop there and would like to see where to stay near to the junction / town.

But overall, we're very impressed with the AA Route Planner.

Route Planner Rating: 8/10