For our cross country tour in in 1977 we used a paper map of the USA to set the general directions, and state highway maps to plot day-to-day routes. It was a standing joke that we would bring the map at every stop to figure out the next segment of even a few miles.

Here in the crazy road pattterns of Metro Boston, I advise the AAA Metropolitan map because the scale is detailed enough to find good cycling roads, and the map covers enough area to even plot a century. I like a paper map because at a glance it's easy to find your position in relation to the trip.