2021 Rand McNally Road Atlas

[oscar]

Is the 2021 edition in Walmart stores yet?

The Walmart version, with the store directory and a lower price, usually comes out a few weeks after the regular version.

I'm not going to be on the lookout for the 2021 Walmart edition until Memorial Day at the earliest. There are few Walmarts in my area, and they are usually slow to get their new atlases in stock.

[Life in Paradise]

My experience is that it is hit and mostly miss in my Southern Indiana area.  It's usually a few months after the roll out that they appear in WalMart (August or Sept).  There are quite a few that they don't appear until almost the calendar year.  There are also those stores that appear to find a bunch of old maps and put them out in March/April, just before the next years will debut.

[sparker]

Mine rolled in today -- one of the first things I noticed was the removal of the I-169 shield from the southern Pennyrile Parkway in KY; appropriate, seeing as how it's only signed as a "future" I-corridor -- and, unlike some of their erstwhile competitors (such as the old American Maps), Rand McNally doesn't see fit to notate "Future" interstates.

[Mapmikey]

Got mine today...

A number of North Carolina changes:
US 311 truncation shown
US 70 reroute from High Point to Greensboro shown (only labeled on the inset though)
I-885 shown as complete but not labeled and the NC 147/885 changes not shown either
I-85 Bus Greensboro removed
NC 37 extension south to US 64 finally shown
US 17 reroute back through Wilmington shown with its former freeway east of I-140 shown as NC 140
US 17 bypass of Pollocksville shown as a freeway as is now the existing segment north to US 70
NC 11 bypass of Greenville shown completed (unlabeled)
NC 24-27 Troy Bypass now shown
US 64 bypass of Asheboro shown complete
I-73/74 shown to extend slightly further south of Ellerbe but no indication under construction to Rockingham
US 19E shown 4-lane all the way to Spruce Pine (7 more miles)

Other things I noticed flipping through:
Dubuque SW bypass shown finished and unlabeled; US 52 reroute via Dyersburg not shown
I-165 in Kentucky is shown
US 63 reroute to follow US 49 in Arkansas not shown
Loop 202 in Phoenix shown complete
FL 23 toll road shown under construction south and around Green Cove Springs to FL 16 near St Johns River
Starke FL Bypass shown for first time (open)
US 17-92 reroute in Sanford FL not shown

[sparker]

The new CA 58 freeway bypass of Kramer Jct. is shown (with the "town" itself now a small circle immediately south of the US 395 interchange).  Thus the entire Barstow-Bakersfield section of 58 is now shown as either freeway or divided highway.  Also CA 46 is shown as divided between the SLO/Kern County line and just west of Lost Hills. 

[CNGL-Leudimin]

Is I-880 in Iowa shown? That was an unexpected error in the 2020 edition, mainly because it wasn't known the change was happening.

[MikeTheActuary]

Is I-880 in Iowa shown? That was an unexpected error in the 2020 edition, mainly because it wasn't known the change was happening.

Yes

[sparker]

Is I-880 in Iowa shown? That was an unexpected error in the 2020 edition, mainly because it wasn't known the change was happening.

Yes

I-880/IA is shown -- but the segment of I-29 south of that junction is still shown as the multiplexed I-29/I-680!

[GenExpwy]

2021 Walmart edition is out. I got mine Tuesday at the Geneseo NY store. Still $7.97.

• Cover photo of this edition is a hiking trail through a forest, with a wooden footbridge over a cascading creek. Location is only given as "Oregon" .
• Walmart store directory has a new category, "Walmart On Campus" ; two locations in NW Arkansas. "Walmart Grocery Pickup with Fuel"  has become "Walmart Online Pickup Only" ; about a half-dozen locations.
• For the first time in a few years, there seems to be no changes in the layout (insets, etc.) of any of the maps.
• In the front material (National Parks, again) I see that Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has now been promoted to full National Park.

[Roadgeekteen]

Is I-880 in Iowa shown? That was an unexpected error in the 2020 edition, mainly because it wasn't known the change was happening.

It's not an error as the atlas came out before the change.

[sparker]

Is I-880 in Iowa shown? That was an unexpected error in the 2020 edition, mainly because it wasn't known the change was happening.

It's not an error as the atlas came out before the change.

No -- it is an error in the 2020 edition, which began distribution in late April 2019, months before the I-680-to-I-880 IA renumbering occurred.  The 2021 edition, showing it as well, actually is correct (with the exception noted previously). 

[CtrlAltDel]

Is I-880 in Iowa shown? That was an unexpected error in the 2020 edition, mainly because it wasn't known the change was happening.

It's not an error as the atlas came out before the change.

No -- it is an error in the 2020 edition, which began distribution in late April 2019, months before the I-680-to-I-880 IA renumbering occurred.

I can't say I agree. It makes more sense to look at the situation as it actually is, with "2020 edition" being a misnomer.

[sparker]

Is I-880 in Iowa shown? That was an unexpected error in the 2020 edition, mainly because it wasn't known the change was happening.

It's not an error as the atlas came out before the change.

No -- it is an error in the 2020 edition, which began distribution in late April 2019, months before the I-680-to-I-880 IA renumbering occurred.

I can't say I agree. It makes more sense to look at the situation as it actually is, with "2020 edition" being a misnomer.

That would have to be taken up with the publisher.  In my lifetime of buying atlases (since the early '60's) the publication timeframe has moved up from sometime in October back to its current late April/early May release.  I suppose that when there was quite a bit of competition in the field (Gousha, American Map, or even AAA) ever earlier release times would be a marketing tool -- but it today's atmosphere, it hardly seems necessary.  Even though I'm accustomed to the present schedule, it certainly wouldn't be the end of the world if it were pushed back to July or August, after the middle of the year.  That might be late enough for revisions based on the spring SCOURN meetings to be added to the cartography.   

[CtrlAltDel]

In my lifetime of buying atlases (since the early '60's) the publication timeframe has moved up from sometime in October back to its current late April/early May release.  I suppose that when there was quite a bit of competition in the field (Gousha, American Map, or even AAA) ever earlier release times would be a marketing tool -- but it today's atmosphere, it hardly seems necessary.  Even though I'm accustomed to the present schedule, it certainly wouldn't be the end of the world if it were pushed back to July or August, after the middle of the year.  That might be late enough for revisions based on the spring SCOURN meetings to be added to the cartography.   

If I had to guess, the atlas comes out in April to be ready for summer road trips, so pushing the release date past midsummer probably wouldn't work.

[vdeane]

I would think people making trips in summer 2019 would want an atlas describing conditions as they are in 2019, not what they will be in 2020... so wouldn't a 2019 atlas better serve them?

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

In November 1997, the McNally family completed its divestiture by selling its majority ownership to AEA Investors for a reported $500 million.[10] Much of the purchase price was leveraged, meaning the company took on significant debt hedging on future earnings. AEA intended to capitalize on Rand McNally's brand recognition by bringing digital mapping to the masses and attracting public investors during the dot-com boom. However, the company fell behind the technology curve of upstarts such as MapQuest and fell further into debt.[11] AEA's stake in the company was acquired by Leonard Green & Partners through a prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring deal on January 15, 2003.[10] In December 2007, Patriarch Partners, which had previously been a minority owner, bought shares owned by Leonard Green and other minority owners to become the sole owner of Rand McNally.

I use that paragraph from Wikipedia's history of Rand McNally because 2007 had to about the time the Atlases went from a fall release to a Spring release.  So blame, or complain to, the Patriarch Partners concerning the dating of the road atlases.

[Alex]

I use that paragraph from Wikipedia's history of Rand McNally because 2007 had to about the time the Atlases went from a fall release to a Spring release.  So blame, or complain to, the Patriarch Partners concerning the dating of the road atlases.

The publishing date was moved to April in 2008. Was working for Universal Map Group at the time (predecessor to Kappa) and the management was in a tizzy over Rand advancing their time table. One of my projects was updating some of the pages for Universal's Road Atlas, and those of us working on their atlas were pushed to get the research expedited to compete with Rand's accelerated time table.

[sparker]

I use that paragraph from Wikipedia's history of Rand McNally because 2007 had to about the time the Atlases went from a fall release to a Spring release.  So blame, or complain to, the Patriarch Partners concerning the dating of the road atlases.

The publishing date was moved to April in 2008. Was working for Universal Map Group at the time (predecessor to Kappa) and the management was in a tizzy over Rand advancing their time table. One of my projects was updating some of the pages for Universal's Road Atlas, and those of us working on their atlas were pushed to get the research expedited to compete with Rand's accelerated time table.

Back in the day I always liked to get a copy of a Universal-cartography atlas simply because they chose to indicate future Interstate corridors over those facilities so signed as such; McNally has yet to include that in their offerings.  Also, some of the Universal detailing was a bit reminiscent of the late lamented Gousha cartography (which I had grown up on!).  But since 1964 haven't failed to pick up a McNally in any case -- more or less as a "default" reference.  My last Kappa atlas, picked up at a local Walgreen's, was a 2014 issue -- but somewhat disappointing; a lot of out of date items.                       

[Bickendan]

In November 1997, the McNally family completed its divestiture by selling its majority ownership to AEA Investors for a reported $500 million.[10] Much of the purchase price was leveraged, meaning the company took on significant debt hedging on future earnings. AEA intended to capitalize on Rand McNally's brand recognition by bringing digital mapping to the masses and attracting public investors during the dot-com boom. However, the company fell behind the technology curve of upstarts such as MapQuest and fell further into debt.[11] AEA's stake in the company was acquired by Leonard Green & Partners through a prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring deal on January 15, 2003.[10] In December 2007, Patriarch Partners, which had previously been a minority owner, bought shares owned by Leonard Green and other minority owners to become the sole owner of Rand McNally.

I use that paragraph from Wikipedia's history of Rand McNally because 2007 had to about the time the Atlases went from a fall release to a Spring release.  So blame, or complain to, the Patriarch Partners concerning the dating of the road atlases.

That explains how the Thomas Guides (and the related RMN Street Guides) went down x.x

[Bruce]

I looked through the Walmart edition and saw that they didn't mark the freeway exit for one of their own stores (Marysville-Quil Ceda). I wonder how many other errors are in there.

[Mapmikey]

Just noticed this the other day...

The Monroe LA inset was replaced with one for Lake Charles...

[jdb1234]

I picked up 2 copies from another Walmart back at the end of May.  Some came in a month ago in the Walmart that I work at, but as far as I know, they were never put out.  I have no idea where they went.  There are still 2020 road atlas for sale, though.

I looked through the Walmart edition and saw that they didn't mark the freeway exit for one of their own stores (Marysville-Quil Ceda). I wonder how many other errors are in there.

Quite a few, as I know of at least one example in Alabama.

[Galaga King]

I like the big "Great Smoky MOUTAINS National Park" heading on page vii.

[M3100]

In the Los Angeles area inset map, the 6th Street bridge over the Los Angeles River was demolished a year or so ago, yet it shows as intact.  It is being rebuilt; maybe they are just ahead of the game.

Meanwhile, same map, County route N7 (Hawthorne Blvd. south of PCH) is shown but the route number is not indicated.  End points of county roads are not always obvious from the map.

[hobsini2]

I picked up my copy of the large scale yesterday at Barnes & Noble. A few things I noticed.
1. The Indiana Dunes National Park has its own map in the front of the atlas from East Chicago to Michigan City and as far south as I-80.
2. IN 912 Cline Ave is now shown west of Harrah's to the Indiana Toll Road as a completed toll bridge. Once completed, it will be an electronic toll only bridge. There are still a few issues including the negotiating with EZPASS and the ITR for the collection device. Also, from the sketches, it looks like it will be an undivided, 2 lane with full shoulders bridge.
3. IL Route 23 interchange on I-90 at Marengo is placed.
4. Irene Rd interchange on I-90 at Belvidere is still missing.
5. IL Route 47 is shown as a completed divided highway from I-80 to US 52. The divided highway continues north 3 miles to just before Caton Farm Rd.
6. Wis 318 is shown on the state map as completed to Wis 59 but is not labelled as such. They didn't bother to move the Milwaukee inset to include it.
7. The Wisconsin city insets have been readjusted in placement so the Eau Claire map can include Chippewa Falls and the Sheboygan map includes Sheboygan Falls.
8. Wis 36 Loomis Rd is shown now as a freeway between Drexel Ave and the Root River.
9. The Elm Rd interchange on I-94 in Oak Creek is not shown yet. They also still have Wis 241 27th St having an interchange just south of that.
10. On the Oshkosh inset, they scaled back the divided highway for Wis 21 correctly.
11. US 61 is now marked as a freeway with an exit at Iowa 92 near Grandview.
12. US 30 at US 218 near Blairstown, IA is now a freeway.
13. US 30 Mt Vernon/Lisbon, IA bypass freeway is completed.
14. US 20 is completed across Iowa as at least a divided highway.