# trip planning software

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-planning-software/487609>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 27, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-planning-software/487609 "2009-02-27T04:10:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HolyFreakingMoly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@HolyFreakingMoly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HolyFreakingMoly)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-planning-software/487609/1 "2009-02-27T04:10:07Z")

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Anybody know of free software, or an online program, where I can put in addresses and the software will plan an efficient route and map for me? I’ve tried google and mapquest and they just take me from each address to the next as I enter it. I don’t know what’s closer to what so I can’t enter them and give myself a good route. I’m a sales rep and I need to travel to businesses within a geographical area and want to work smart in terms of drive time, miles and gas!  
Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-planning-software/487609/2 "2009-02-27T05:10:31Z")

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I think you’re describing the [Traveling Salesman problem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveling_salesman_problem), which (I believe) is a non-trivial task. That Wikipedia article links to a page which has this [example solver](http://www.tsp.gatech.edu/maps/index.html) based on Google Maps, but I’m not sure how well it works. And here’s [another similar one](http://www.gebweb.net/optimap/), also using Google Maps.

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**Author:** ![longPath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@longPath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longPath)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-planning-software/487609/3 "2009-02-27T11:53:22Z")

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Have a look at [Rand McNally trip planner](http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/directions/dirGetDirectionsInput.jsp?cmty=0&notcache=1)

They allow multiple stops along a route.

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**Author:** ![HolyFreakingMoly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@HolyFreakingMoly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HolyFreakingMoly)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-planning-software/487609/4 "2009-02-27T14:19:03Z")

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Thank you! I’ll check them out!

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-planning-software/487609/5 "2009-02-27T16:42:12Z")

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> [@longPath](#):
>
> Have a look at [Rand McNally trip planner](http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/directions/dirGetDirectionsInput.jsp?cmty=0&notcache=1)
> 
> They allow multiple stops along a route.

Seems like the ordinary “multiple stops” thing just gives you directions between points as you enter them (like Google and Yahoo already do); the “fastest route” calculation, which is what the OP wants, costs a $19.95 / year membership. They do have a free 10-day trial, though.