Touring - Route finding....

So I did a search on route finding and didn't really come up with anything useful. I don't get a lot of vacation time and am planning on doing a short 4 day tour later this summer.
I am just wondering how to find the best roads to ride on. Obviously I can look at a map and find the least congested roads but there is no way of knowing what the shoulders look like.
Is the only way to know, to just go out and drive the route to see or is the unknown just something I have to deal with?
I have been searching crazyguy and googleing touring in my area but not coming up with anything that helps. I live in Eugen, OR by the way.
Thanks for the help.

I recently found that Google Maps have expanded their street view to many roads. It's possible you might see some of the route on there.

State Departments of Transportation often have a map showing the AADT (Annual Average Daily Traffic, or some such) for all the state and federal highways. Checking the state's DOT website is a good place to start.

For example, this one (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TDATA/tsm/docs/Web_Flow_Map_GIS_2007.pdf) shows the 2007 data for Oregon.

Ray

bikely.com has a lot of touring routes, but you need to wade through a lot of stuff to find them.

Well, you will likely have cycled the highways all around Eugene by now, right ... so you know what your first day, at least, will look like.

If you have not done that, then I suggest going. The weekend is coming up ... get out your map and select a likely looking road in the direction you want to go, and go ride it on Saturday or Sunday. If you discover you don't like it within the first few km, turn around and select a different road.

I've only ever cycled within city limits of Eugene ... in the vicinity of the river and rose garden. I wanted to get out on the highways, but didn't have enough time.

bikely is good. and bike-friendly states (delaware among the most noteworthy i've seen thus far, especially sussex county) print up maps you can get for free at their department of transportation administrative office.

some dot's such as CDOT have bike routes labeled on state maps.

http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1390&q=292876&PM=1

Hi,
Pick up an " Oregon Biycling Guide" from ODOT. It has good information about routes etc.
Another good source of bike routes is " Bicycling the Backroads of Northwest Oregon". There are also more specific maps like the "Albany and Mid Willamette Valley Bicycle Map" or "Lane County Bike Map". There are even maps for Klamath County! Check at Hutch's or Collins bike shops. What is your destination or what are your interests? I've cycled a lot in Oregon, and may have some suggestions on routes or places that I especially liked (or not!) I live just up the road from you in Sweet Home.

forget the road find something you like to do or see. Then plan on the road.