How to see route elevation when trip planning?

[Souljourner]

I’m planning a trip that will involve a destination at a higher elevation. I have several choices of navigation and would like to pick the route with the most gradual climb.

Is there any way to see the route elevation when using any of the GPS apps?

Thanks!

[DKRITTER]

This not be the answer you're looking for but Google Earth has elevations.

[phfkef]

RVTripWizard will show the elevation along your route.

[phfkef]

This has very useful info as well;
https://mountaindirectory.com/

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by DKRITTER

This not be the answer you're looking for but Google Earth has elevations.

That’s exactly the answer I was looking for! I did t realize Google Earth has elevations. I will definitely check that out. Many thanks! 🙏

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by phfkef

RVTripWizard will show the elevation along your route.

Can you be more specific about how to find elevations in Trip Wizard? I’m using Trip Wizard for my planning. Although the map shows bumps visually to indicate terrain, so I’m aware that I’m in a mountainous area, but I’m not sure how to find the exact elevation of a particular route or road.

[D20]

https://www.flattestroute.com

[MRUSA14]

My Rand McNally GPS has the option of continuously showing elevation on the screen. Likewise my Apple Watch does the same thing.

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by phfkef

This has very useful info as well;
https://mountaindirectory.com/

Just took a look at the mountain directory demo from the link above. Thanks for sending. I can see it being an excellent resource when traveling primary roads. Although I will probably purchase the directory for other trips I’m planning - is it also useful when traveling back roads, as I’ll be doing for my next trip?

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by DKRITTER

This not be the answer you're looking for but Google Earth has elevations.

I just went to Google Earth on both my computer and the app on my iphone. I tried searching for locations with rough terrain that I'm familiar with. Found each location, but not sure how to see actual elevations?

[DKRITTER]

Originally Posted by Souljourner

I just went to Google Earth on both my computer and the app on my iphone. I tried searching for locations with rough terrain that I'm familiar with. Found each location, but not sure how to see actual elevations?

I use google earth pro, no idea if that makes a difference. It's free to upgrade.


In the lower right hand corner it gives me Lat, Lon and elev.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Souljourner

Just took a look at the mountain directory demo from the link above. Thanks for sending. I can see it being an excellent resource when traveling primary roads. Although I will probably purchase the directory for other trips I’m planning - is it also useful when traveling back roads, as I’ll be doing for my next trip?

This is the only guide we ever used during our 16 years of full-timing and traveling secondary highways almost solely.

Give an example of what you call a back roads. Do you mean gravel or forest service roads?

If a road isn't listed in the Mountain Directory we always assumed it was OK and we drove it. Never got into trouble. Of course, we researched as much as possible. I'd never take a mapping program's recommendation as the way to go.

Personally, I don't see how you can decide on a road by using a mapping program. That doesn't tell you what's inbetween two points. You could see 1000' elevation at one point and then 300 miles farther see 6000' elevation. That doesn't mean there's a big climb. That's a lot of miles inbetween and you'll probably won't even notice the climb. What you need to know are issues between two much closer points to better judge elevation. A GPS route won't tell you that.

You only have a 22' TT so you shouldn't have any issues. We were in the mountains all the time with our 40'.

[PKI]

The mountain directory was developed to provide truckers information for route planning, so it is limited as to scope. Good to use, but other sources may be required for your detailed planning purposes on the less traveled roadways.

Google Earth and Google maps are not the same resource. We use the map function a lot. Tried the Earth application and generally walked away from it. Being a Ludite has disadvantages. Do not believe the Google map function has elevation as I have not found that information.

Our coach does well on normal grades of less than 7%. Most grades that are more challenging will be noted as others find such routes problematic to travel. We just check the Mountain directory.

Colorado has a website that lists the mountain pass elevation and associated grades. https://www.codot.gov/travel/maximum...in-passes.html

[Souljourner]

Originally Posted by DKRITTER

I use google earth pro, no idea if that makes a difference. It's free to upgrade.


In the lower right hand corner it gives me Lat, Lon and elev.

A GAME CHANGER!!!! I just downloaded Google Earth Pro (Yes - FREE!), something I didn't realize existed in addition to the web version of Google Earth. For anyone else not familiar, Google Earth Pro is a program you download onto your computer. Once I found a location, I could see, just as DKRITER said, that if I move my mouse along the road the altitude changes in a lower right box. I don't believe that information appears on the regular version of Google Earth or the phone app. The "Pro" version gives many more features.

Always looking to dig deeper, I've just taken some time to play around with Google Earth Pro, and have read help articles and watched several You Tube videos. I've discovered how to create a path for a particular stretch of road that I was using as a test location with a beginning and end point, I was able to save it under "My Places", and that gave me the ability to click EDIT (Top ribbon) and find "Elevation Profile" a nifty popup showing me all sorts of information - information I'm not quite sure how to read.

As TWOGYPSIES commented (Thank you, TWOGYPSIES for your ever sage input!) a change in elevation over 300 miles is very different from a change of elevation over a mile of road. I'm looking to minimize the steepness of grade simply to put the least amount of stress on my tow vehicle since I'm at the upper end of my tow capacity. I have gone up steep grades, but would
rather not stress my vehicle if I have alternative routes that are more gradual.

I've attached a screenshot of the information that pops up when you look at the Elevation Profile for a mile stretch of road that I've chosen. It's a road I'm familiar with and chose just to have something to play with. I can see how the elevation changes along that mile, but what I don't know is how that actually translates into steepness of grade.

Perhaps someone more savvy than me can assist me (and I suspect others who are interested in this thread) how to get the most information out of this grid that would be useful to anyone traveling with an RV of any sort?

So thankful for the RV2 community. My knowledge base has increased exponentially as a result of reading all of these threads regularly and I am a safer and more confident RVer as a result.