Offline routing app
 

Anyone can recommend a good app that routes offline?
I'm cycling to France next weekend and this would be very useful.

Google maps always sends me to some highway that I can't cycle, because the only option for offline routing is for cars. Bike routing is available only online.

Can't you set the options to avoid highways on the offline version?

I use Locus Pro (Android only) to navigate, and the companion app bRouter for offline routing.

Has served me well on several occasions in Europe (including France), America and Asia.

I use Pocket Earth (iPhone only). It isn’t free but the maps are. Can download .gpx files to it and using only the GPS provided by the phone (no data needed), it will tell you where you are.

It won’t route you however. You need to bring up the app whenever you need to know where to turn.

I wrote an article about it, if you want more info.

Try OSMand
 

OSMand is an app that you can use for navigation on- and off-line.
To use it offline you need to download the maps in advance. I think the first 5 or 6 are free, or you can pay a relatively small fee and download all maps for free after that. You can select different map types including specific cycling routes.

You can navigate off-line on the fly and also use it to create gpx files to transfer to a navigation device if you need it.

It also has a POI search function, although that varies from place to place in terms of quality.

To date, I've only used this app as an emergency get me to where I need to be thing. But it has worked every time.

Cycling to France or in France? France has a lot of well sign-posted long distance cycling routes. And lots of rural roads very suitable for cycling. Lots of towns have tourist information (when they're open!) and it's easy to pick up local maps for free that will show you everything you need to know.

Google maps is hit and miss for cycling, but as mentioned above look at the filter options (highways etc.) to make it more usable. Sometimes, I'll search an area for campsites, as an example, mark them as favourites, download the area as an offline map and then I can navigate to them off line. I still prefer OSMand for navigation, though. Google is just easier for searching.

France is great! Enjoy!

Frank

MAPS.ME is a good, free app for maps in France and elsewhere. After you download the app, you'll need to download mapping data for each French "departement" where you expect to be. I was biking in France last month, and I used maps.me to supplement IGN & Michelin maps, both of which have a wealth of information as well as offering the ease of viewing the big picture which mapping apps lack.

I have used maps.me on an android phone and have the same opinion as axo, it worked perfectly well with the gps unit on my phone and to be able to pinpoint exactly where you are if needed.

I did not use it for actual routing, but just as another resource in addition to paper maps, which are still nice to have.

in France generally, not having turn by turn mapping is not an issue from my experience doing bike trips there. Usually its a matter of "following D19 to Rougeville, then taking D32 to Bleusville" sort of thing, so not complicated. Throw in an occasional "turn on phone to see where you are in a town" lets say, and it should be fine if you have reasonable personal map and position awareness.

I agree. The mapping apps are convenient but the resolution of most the electronic maps is abysmal, be it Maps.me, Google, Ride with GPS or whatever. Nothing beats the artistic, readable quality of the Michelin 1/200,000 paper maps. Just connect the white and yellow roads and go...

Misspelled Map, son.

Nope. This options is available only with internet.

Paper maps are printouts of digital maps. Below:

1. a screen capture taken from my phone, of the area you posted. Shading helps appreciate the terrain.
2. a zoom-in on an area just east of Malaucène. Try this with a paper map.
3. routing overlaid, from Malaucène to Sault. Could be done on paper, but after a few trips the map will be undeadable
4. one of the many route analyses provided by the app. Clearly showing elevation and gradients.

For some reason the pics silently fail to load. I've added links

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yvw10ewpapbgdu3/map1.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l4f0gd19clkw2so/map2.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6myaorbmwol5wox/map3.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zp5u1mq4u6theup/map4.jpg

[MENTION=423088]gauvins[/MENTION]...

Yep, the online versions are good for blow ups. My screenshot was taken from an online version of Michelin. At one time you could view the "paper" art (as I have posted) online at several scales. You could scroll my screen shot as close as you wanted and it would revert to the "electronic" graphics when the scale got closer than 1/200,000. Apparently they have eliminated the paper art feature.

Yes, the electronic maps are handy but I like unfolding the large paper map to put several days of riding in perspective supplemented by online maps. Your screen capture actually looks fuzzy, vague and "electronic" to my eye when I put it at 100%. I see zero route numbers on your map whereas the Michelin map clearly shows the D an N numbers even on the smallest of back roads. Bike forums has reduced the size and clarity of my screen shot somewhat. On my computer it is full screen and vivid. I just like the white, yellow, and red roads with green highlighted scenic routes as well as the artistic "scenic overlook" icons on the paper maps. The paper maps also have a "tent" icon by the town names if they have a municipal campground, hash marks to show road grade, green overlay to show wooded area and shadowed relief to show Mont Ventoux. Whatever you're used to that makes the trip easier! :thumb:

Your screenshot...

I found a link I kept to the zoomable Michelin "paper" graphics. If you zoom in once it will revert to the electronic appearance. If you zoom out three times it will also revert to electronic appearance. Lets see if it works from Bike Forums...

https://goo.gl/ZbUvNQ

Yep, It works! You can drag that map around anywhere in the country. Look at the intricate back roads detail! Obviously this link won't work offline so it doesn't address valeriano's question.

Do you want a program that’ll create a route for you ?, or just the ability to create an off-line route that you choose ?.

I use Ride With GPS in the US and as they are Google based, work as well in Europe, but I’m choosing the route. It does allow you select Cycling and to avoid Highways.

I've used Maps.me, Locus, Osmand and a few others. All offer offline GPS navigation capability for bicycle tourists using phones/tablets, no cell signal required as the devices' GPS circuit provide location to device. Pertinent maps must be downloaded to device prior to use. Many of these apps are offered in free version.

I'm cycling TO France. I live in Stuttgart and will be cycling to Strasbourg and Nancy.

Right now, I'm creating the routes on Ride With GPS and exporting them to Strava, so I can follow it using my mobile phone (follow routes on Ride With GPS app is just for payed version).
But this is a lot of work, and I HAVE to follow that route. If I just want to deviate from it to visit something in the way, I'll have to use something to route my way back. Normally I use google maps, but as I said, either you use the internet (draining the battery really fast), or it routes using the car option.

Downloaded HERE WeGo and it's exactly what I needed.

I dont know if in your life you have used an actual paper map, but do consider picking up some local regional maps as you go along, just so you have a non battery using backup, and have some paper and a pen also to jot down simple road names and town names that are easy to forget.
this way you dont always have to use your phone battery, and you have a backup.

you dont mention, but I am assuming that you are staying in indoor accommodation at night, so recharging will not be a problem.

have a good trip, and good luck wiht the weather.

Pretty cool app! I just went to their desk top "try out" page. I think I'll add it to my mobile device. Thanks for passing on the suggestion.

edit: One glitch I've found...The route highlight will often obscure the route number on the map. You need to refer back to the cue sheet. Also (like Michelin) bike routing needs to be entered in fairly short daily distances. If you enter point A to B of a weeks trip it will not find a route.

Agree. That's probably the greatest advantage of paper vs electronic. We have wall maps in the living room so we can get a better understanding of the world we live in (kids go to the map, at dinner time, and point to the location we are discussing).

My bad -- (1) these are phone screenshots; (2) I've further reduced the image size by 50% and saved it at medium quality.

Your link is proof that electronic maps can be as, if not more, vivid than paper maps. Yes, we have to pan or zoom out, but there is no annoying crease :)

Well, I take that back. HereWeGo worked pretty good on the desk top but downloaded to a mobile device it displays just a thin strip of a map sandwiched between three horizontal bars of useless information when a point A to B bike route is entered. Maps.me is the same. Makes a tiny screen even tinier. At least Google allows you to make those bars disappear. I'm back to paper with Google backup!

Orient your device vertically. What's wrong with using pinch-to-zoom? I've used Here WeGo in offline mode (albeit for car travel) in Canada and Europe for ~4 years now and it's been fantastic. Most of the time the directions are clear enough that I don't need to even look at the screen, just listen.

Osmand is good too and the one I use when I'm following RWGPS routes I create.

There's also Komoot but I haven't tried it.

Yes, but I like the way with one touch of the finger on Google all of those bars disappear which maximizes the limited real estate. I don't need the additional offline features that the OP needs so I think I'll stick with paper and Google...