I am planning a trip from New Jersey to see my daughter in suburban Atlanta next month and as I started mapping out various route I wondered how other people do it.
How do you decide which roads you want to take? How fast you can get there, or do you need to do the scenic route thing like me?
I've come up with several routes (yes all of them get me from Point A to Point B) but in very different ways, so I'm just turning to the group for your thoughts on planning.

FYI, none of my routes include very long stretches of Interstate because I would much rather see the real-life countryside or dual highway as it may be

I use an atlas, us route 15 is a road to take for a while, but when you get to front royal Va. get on Skyline drive, at the end of that jump on Blue ridge parkway all the way down to foothills parkway, take that to the dragons tail which is 129, run that at deals gap go to the right over the bridge then take Cherhola parkway. this is the top of Georgia. If you do the ride from ront Royal all the way down to Ga you will have ridden the best roads east of the big muddy, and of done about 560 miles of no bumps trucks or anything. Probably at least one Black Bear, and there is a motorcycle campground that is great, also has little cabins. One stop you should make is at milepost 10 on the BRP in Maggie Valley, Wheels through time, American motorcycle museum, it is call the museum that runs, becaus Dave Wexler walks around starting bikes up and telling you about them. A day at the museum is maybe enough time to understand everthing. Some people probably stay a couple of hours, he offered the floor for me to sleep on if I wanted.
But to get back to the question I use an atlas, I usually run alone and have been cross country twice, every state but Ak. and SD, I try to ride where I have the oppertunity to vist our national parks, great roads in them and not much traffic, worst thing is the wildlife when it is in the road and I am going 80mph or so.
Where are you from in NJ, I am from River Edge, now live in Shrewsbury Ma. went on a ride in 1971 with a map and when I got to Ma. never went back, except to visit and for drag races.
don't forgrt to thank a Vet this weekend, that is why we have this great country to play in.
Deerslayer USN 63-66

If I'm in a hurry I take the interstate as much as possible if I'm not in a hurry I take the back roads.
I try to plan ahead and study all the possible routes then I make notes I don't carry maps.
I'm married so I have that you missied your turn dumbass indacator built in

I plan using a road atlas, state maps and even city maps to navigate around choke points.
I like to use the largest scale map to plan overall routes then see what my options are though those corridors.
Time constraints and schedules are the next process.
Who am I meeting up with or solo, if solo, I'm much looser with the schedules. My pace I get there when I get there attitude, usually shorter trips. Planning a multi day trip with overnights and reservations I like to average 7-9 hours on the bike per day max. One can spend a day cruising the interstate at 80 or the back country at 40 Trying to cover vast distances takes time, at 80mph for 8 hours I go 640 miles, at 40mph for 8 hours I go 320miles - If I have one week off and want to relax a little I plan on 5 days on the road and 2 days R&R. , when able I prefer the slower easier pace. I like small diners over chains and enjoy the trip much more. But, not every day is sunny or dry so always plan for the worst. All weather gear is always packed in the bags. I travel with my maps and clip notes on the windshield bag.
Have fun and a safe trip.

I spend a lot of time and effort planning trips. Google Maps is your friend. I find the mileage from home to my destination, then try to break it up in 400-500 mile chunks, which is about all I care to ride in a day. I look for routes on secondary roads rather than interstates, when possible. I look for towns with major motel chains so I can use my AMA or HOG discounts, and I book all of my rooms ahead of time. I always book them so I can cancel in advance without penalty, just in case. I then set the routes in my GPS, even if I know the route. I like being able to see my ETA for a specific stop. Then I pack up the bike and hit the road.

You and BI should get together, he is a meticulous planer also.

Hey I resemble that remark!

Here's how i plan my trips. I figure out the milage between towns and when I break down, if I'm over half way, I walk forward, otherwise I head in the opposite direction.

True That.

Some serious wisdom going on here...