# Travel >> Travel Preparation >> Travel Planning

How Can I Print Out My Trip Route?

Modern GPS units deigned for auto use provide turn-by-turn directions between departure and arrival addresses. Because these units depend on battery or electric connections, they sometimes default when the power source dries up. Have a copy of the route-planning directions printed out as a redundancy should the GPS fail during the trip. Printing your route is also useful for sharing with others. Online trip-planning sites provide printing links, and GPS units with SD card slots allow you to save the route to the card and transfer it for printing.

SD-card-compatible GPS unit
Computer with Internet connection
SD card reader with USB hub
Printer

Instructions

Online Resource Method
- 1
  Log on to the Internet and direct your browser to a mapping website like Google Maps or Mapquest.
- 2
  Enter your departure address or city and the destination address. Include any other stops you wish to travel in between the addresses and hit the Enter button. Wait for the next screen to appear and read the directions to ensure that these are your chosen addresses.
- 3
  Turn on your printer and follow the options to print the directions from the websites. Look for links that say "Print." If these are not on the screen, take a screen shot of your computer screen with your operating system -- follow your OS's directions -- and print the screen shot.
Transferring From a GPS-SD Card to a Computer
- 4
  Turn your GPS unit on and insert a blank SD card. Direct the GPS to the route-planning icon and open it.
- 5
  Enter your route addresses into the GPS and let the unit plan the travel directions. Open the "Save Route" section and follow the prompts to save this route to the SD card. Turn off the unit after the data transfer and remove the SD card. Plug the SD card reader into the USB plug on the computer.
- 6
  Open the saved route from the SD card. Turn on the printer. Follow the prompts for the computer's software to print the GPS provided route.