Best alternatives to Microsoft Streets & Trips for modern trip planning
Microsoft Streets & Trips was once a go-to program for detailed road trip planning, but it was discontinued in 2014. If you’re looking for a modern replacement with similar or better features—such as offline maps, customizable routes, and points of interest—you have several solid options today. This article compares popular trip planning apps, explains how to transfer your old Streets & Trips data, and offers advice on choosing the best tool for your travel style and devices.
What made Microsoft Streets & Trips a favorite for road travelers?
Microsoft Streets & Trips stood out for its combination of detailed maps and user-friendly trip planning on Windows desktops. Its offline maps allowed users to create routes without needing an internet connection—important for rural or low-coverage areas. The software supported flexible route customization with multiple stops and included a large database of points of interest (POIs) like gas stations, restaurants, and attractions.
Users could save, print, and share detailed driving directions, which was especially useful before smartphones became widespread. Importing address lists made it practical for both personal and professional travel planning. Overall, Streets & Trips offered a reliable, standalone tool that many found indispensable for organizing road trips.
How do current trip planners compare to Microsoft Streets & Trips?
To help you find a replacement, here’s a comparison of four popular alternatives based on key features relevant to Streets & Trips users:
| Feature | Google Maps | Roadtrippers | Furkot | Sygic GPS Navigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offline use | Limited (offline maps by region) | No offline maps | Yes (offline maps) | Yes (strong offline support) |
| Routing customization | Good (multiple stops, route options) | Excellent (custom routes, attractions) | Excellent (detailed planning, multi-day trips) | Good (routing with offline support) |
| POI database | Extensive | Focused on travel spots | Extensive | Good (tourism focused) |
| Platform compatibility | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | iOS, Android, Windows |
| Cost | Free | Free + paid tiers | Free + paid options | Paid app with free trial |
Google Maps offers extensive POIs, live traffic, and broad platform support but depends mostly on internet connectivity. Roadtrippers excels at creating custom routes and finding interesting stops but doesn’t work offline. Furkot offers strong offline map support and multi-day trip planning, making it the closest functional match to Streets & Trips. Sygic focuses on offline GPS navigation with paid apps, supporting Windows and mobile platforms for users needing reliable offline routing.
Each app has trade-offs: Google Maps is great for connected users but limited offline; Roadtrippers is best for discovering attractions but requires internet; Furkot supports offline use and detailed planning but can be complex; Sygic provides robust offline navigation but costs more and is less focused on trip discovery.
Which alternative is best for different types of travelers and devices?
Your choice depends on your travel habits, device preferences, and what features matter most:
- For travelers who rely on smartphones and have steady internet access, Google Maps is convenient and free, with live traffic and cross-device syncing. Offline use is possible but limited to downloaded map regions.
- If you enjoy planning leisure trips with many stops and want to explore attractions along the way, Roadtrippers offers excellent route customization and discovery features. It requires an internet connection.
- For those who want offline maps and multi-day trip planning on desktop and mobile, Furkot is a strong option. It replicates many Streets & Trips capabilities, letting you plan routes, stops, and accommodations without internet.
- Users prioritizing offline GPS navigation and willing to pay will find Sygic reliable across devices, including Windows. It’s better suited to navigation than trip discovery.
Consider your comfort with technology, the complexity of your trips, and whether you need offline access when making your choice.
Can I transfer my old Streets & Trips routes and data?
Transferring data from Streets & Trips can be tricky because it uses proprietary file formats. However, if you still have the software or backups, you can often export your routes and waypoints as GPX or KML files, which many modern trip planning apps support.
If you have these export files, follow these steps:
- Export your Streets & Trips routes or waypoints as GPX or KML files.
- Open the new app you want to use, such as Furkot or Google My Maps.
- Use the app’s import or upload feature to add your saved routes.
- Review and adjust the imported routes or stops as needed.
If you don’t have export files, you’ll need to manually recreate your trips by entering addresses or points of interest into the new planner. This takes more time but is sometimes necessary.
Before committing, verify that your chosen app supports importing these file types. If your data is only in Streets & Trips format, you might use third-party tools to convert it or export from Streets & Trips itself if possible.
What should I keep in mind when switching to a new trip planning app?
Switching from Streets & Trips means getting used to new software and workflows. To make the transition smoother:
- Start by exploring basic features like creating routes and searching for points of interest before planning complex trips.
- Use tutorials or help resources provided by the new app.
- Backup any existing plans before importing or creating new ones.
- Test how the new app calculates routes to ensure they match your preferences.
- If offline use is important, confirm you can download maps and navigate without internet.
- Consider apps that sync your plans across devices if you want easy access on phone and desktop.
Give yourself some time to learn the new tool. Many users find they can match or improve on their Streets & Trips experience once they’re familiar with the new software.
Conclusion
Finding the right replacement for Microsoft Streets & Trips depends on your travel style and devices. Google Maps suits connected users on smartphones, while Furkot and Sygic offer stronger offline support and more detailed trip planning. Roadtrippers is ideal for discovering points of interest on the go. If you have old Streets & Trips data, exporting it to GPX or KML can help you move it into a new app. Take time to learn your chosen tool, focusing on the features you valued most. This approach ensures you get a modern trip planner that fits your needs without losing the convenience you had before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft Streets & Trips still supported or available?
No. Microsoft discontinued Streets & Trips in 2014. It is no longer supported, sold, or updated by Microsoft.
Can I use Streets & Trips on modern Windows versions?
Some users run Streets & Trips on recent Windows versions using compatibility modes, but it’s not guaranteed to work reliably. Modern trip planning apps are recommended for better support and updated features.
Are there free alternatives with offline maps like Streets & Trips?
Furkot offers offline maps in its free tier with some limitations. Google Maps allows downloading offline maps for certain areas but is limited in full offline trip planning. Fully offline trip planning similar to Streets & Trips often requires paid apps or subscriptions.