ACA Digital Maps?
01-31-26 | 06:41 AM
#1
Thread Starter
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From: NE Ohio
Bikes: 1992 Serotta Colorado II,Co-Motion Speedster, Giant Escape Hybrid, 1977 Schwinn Super Le Tour
ACA Digital Maps?
Looking at another tour and have a question regarding the digital maps. Do they provide all the same information that the paper maps have? Such as town information, lodging, camping, etc.?
Thanks!
Thanks!
01-31-26 | 12:29 PM
#2
bicycle tourist
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Austin, Texas, USA
Bikes: Trek 520, Lightfoot Ranger, Trek 4500
Adventure cycling gives a digital sample that I've captured a screenshot below. So yes the maps come annotated with additional symbols for things to like campgrounds, bike shops, etc
I generally found that to see them well in RWGPS, I brought them up on my laptop and most cases this also meant a place with internet. So while useful to have the symbols as prompts - there was overlap with just using Google Maps to search for things - with slight benefit to see the currated list.
For example coming down the Colombia River in eastern WA/OR there are slightly larger gaps between services and so I found it helpful to see what the Lewis and Clark Route listed. However following Route 66 into Chicago it was a more densely populated area and Google Maps/Expedia and others gave me a much richer pallette to pick from that the symbols weren't as important.
To
I generally found that to see them well in RWGPS, I brought them up on my laptop and most cases this also meant a place with internet. So while useful to have the symbols as prompts - there was overlap with just using Google Maps to search for things - with slight benefit to see the currated list.
For example coming down the Colombia River in eastern WA/OR there are slightly larger gaps between services and so I found it helpful to see what the Lewis and Clark Route listed. However following Route 66 into Chicago it was a more densely populated area and Google Maps/Expedia and others gave me a much richer pallette to pick from that the symbols weren't as important.
To
01-31-26 | 01:30 PM
#3
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2025
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From: St. Louis
Bikes: 2009 Karate Monkey with 3 sets of wheels and 3 forks and a ton of luggage options
...and usually more up to date than the paper maps. (I still carry paper as a back-up - but not sure why.)
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02-01-26 | 04:52 AM
#4
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No matter which type of maps you choose, it’s a good idea to do a little research about the paces you intend to camp. Example: Last year I rode Rock Creek Rd. in MT. There are several USFS campgrounds along a 30 mile stretch. They normally have potable water, but the USFS was replacing some of the water systems last summer. The webpages for those facilities listed no potable water.
