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I remember when I was caravaning with my folks as a kid, that my Dad would pore over OS maps checking terrain to plan the best route to the campsite.

No I know that cars have moved on (I have an Smax) and I am pulling a Folding Camper (1 tonne) but should I still be worried about this or just go where Google maps or TomTom takes me?

Is there an online planner for people towing yet?

For the first trip, Google is saying I could shave 20 miles of the route (but no time) by going an A-road route as apposed to the M-way and major A roads.  In terms of fuel saving is motorway driving better?

Many people still swear by having lots of maps and planning a route - personally, I check the paperwork for the site I'm going to, to see if they mention any specific local obstacles to avoid, glance at the basic route on Google Maps and then I just follow the sat-nav. If it looks like its about to take me down a stupidly small road, I ignore that instruction and let it re-route.

Loads of route planners on-line (Google, AA, RAC etc) and viaMichelin is good if you're going abroad (and is also the only one you can select 'caravan' on and all it does is update travel times, not the route itself).

Motorway driving, although dull, is almost always quicker, more fuel-efficient and less-stressful (until you hit traffic!!).

I use a map to have a good understanding  of the route assisted with a sat nav to support. I use my common sense in which satnav instructions I follow. Any A roads should be perfectly ok. I try to avoid particularly narrow B or unclassified roads.

Motorway would be more economical but you have to weigh this against any extra mileage you may have on motorway.

I think sat navs are excellent bits of equipment but they are not intelligent! In addition to using the sat nav I would always check the route against a road atlas and if concerned I would look at Google Earth as that gives you an impression of what the actual road is like. If I am visiting a CC site I always follow their instructions which I have printed off from the website.

David

I use a map every time.  Probably because I don't have a sat nav.  If I get lost it is my fault not a machine's.  However, I do see the point of a machine for the last few miles which can prove difficult at times.  

Came across two double axle vans on a 1:7 the other day in Sheffield.  Narrow roads in a residentail area - parking either side of the road.  Even solo you have to wiggle your way up and down the hill.  Were they sat nav assisted, lost or just daft.  Obviously oin their way to Chatsworth/Castleton area. 

I use tom tom sat nav and a software program called "Tyre,"

Tyre allows you to select your rouet on google using way points and then download it as a dedicated route on to tom tom. (This stops the sat nav from selecting its own route and possibly sending you up some 16th century drovers road.)

I plan the route using Garmin's Mapsource program on the computer plus proper road maps. I then check out bits of the route where I am unsure of the road quality using Google Earth and adjust the route as necessary. I then transfer the route to my Garmin satnav. Job done.

I only do all this when I'm towing, normally I just let the satnav do its own thing.