I was one of those folks that was not enamoured with ACA route maps, that is until this summer. We were on the first leg of our planned route, a circumnavigation of Lake Huron-- up the Michigan side down the Canadian side.

Due to forecasted colder and wetter weather in the Upper Peninsula and Ontario we changed plans at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula and decided to head west and south to make a loop around Michigan. That made almost all the maps we had pretty useless. In Mackinaw City we met a group of riders that were heading north on the ACA, Northern Lakes Route. The group leader offered us his ACA map of the portion they just finished. It covered the general route we were thinking about taking south. While generally following portions of the route south, we found the ACA map combined with a state highway map and GPS ( actually my wife's smart phone was faster to use) to be very useful. Even though I have been a long-time member of ACA, this is the first time I'd actually used an ACA map.

Depending on the route, ACA maps might be very useful, especially if you are new to touring or not familiar with the U.S. My wife and I tend to take the less traveled routes. On the route we took on our cross country ride (Oregon to Boston) a few years ago we only saw 6 other touring cyclists in the 74 days we were on the road. On routes like the Pacific Coast there is no way to miss other cyclists. The route just does not offer that much variation. However, it is fun visiting with fellow cyclists, and is a part of doing that particular route. That is what touring is about--doing it the way that best suits your temperament. There is no wrong way to tour!