2026 Rand McNally Road Atlas

[bob7374]

According to Amazon.com, the 2026 Rand McNally Road Atlas, with a feature celebrating the 250th anniversary of America, will be available on April 14. Pre-orders are being accepted.

It will be available everywhere else on May 1.

https://www.amazon.com/2026-Rand-McNally-Road-Atlas/dp/0528029274

[mgk920]

Already?

Mike

[hbelkins]

Wonder if Walmart will carry it this year, or if they won't stock it similar to how they haven't carried it the last couple of years or so?

[-- US 175 --]

I wonder if it will mention the 100th anniversary of the beginning of US highway numbering.

[Henry]

I wonder if it will mention the 100th anniversary of the beginning of US highway numbering.

As mentioned in the OP, it will focus more on the upcoming 250th anniversary of America's founding.

[xonhulu]

Wonder if Walmart will carry it this year, or if they won't stock it similar to how they haven't carried it the last couple of years or so?

I have a WalMart 2025 RMcN atlas, so there was one, but I never saw a 2024 edition.

[kphoger]

I have a WalMart 2025 RMcN atlas, so there was one, but I never saw a 2024 edition.

AFAIK, the 2024 ones sold at Wal-Mart were the regular RmN atlas (or the 100th anniversary edition or the National Parks edition or whatever), not a special Wal-Mart edition.

[thenetwork]

I think this year the 2026 Rand McNally release date coincides with the first 2026 NFL mock draft....

[Max Rockatansky]

Is Rand McNally trying to riff on how car model years are done?  Awfully early into 2025 to declare anything a 2026 edition.

[bob7374]

Was surprised to find that the 2026 atlas was available at my local Barnes and Noble, though they listed the publication date as May 2, so I went a bought a copy. Here's some of my early observations. As in the past, the amount of up to date information varies by state, as in some state DOTs are better at providing information than others.
CT-New milepost exit numbers are shown for I-384, I-291, CT 2 and CT 8 that were changed in 2024 or early this year, but also for CT 15 which has yet to happen.
NC-I-42 has been added to the Clayton and Goldsboro Bypasses and US 70 returns to its old routes. The open southern section of the Fayetteville Outer Loop is shown on the city inset, but signed as I-295, not NC 295. The NC 540 toll extension to I-40 is shown.  The I-73/I-74 Bypass is shown as complete around Rockingham but is not signed. The Havelock Bypass (Future I-42) is shown as complete (though now not opening until 2026).
NY-Despite some exit numbers being change on I-81, the old numbers are shown.
OK-I-344 appears on the OK City inset
TN-TN 690 (Future I-69) is shown on the bypass of Union City.

[Henry]

Unless I'm proved otherwise, these are the changes I expect to see:

There's probably going to be a gap in I-695, with the Key Bridge now missing.

I-490 around o'Hare is completed and labeled as such.

I-69 in KY is extended to a stub end before the Ohio River.

I-49 is extended down to Ft. Chaffee.

[Rothman]

Unless I'm proved otherwise, these are the changes I expect to see:

There's probably going to be a gap in I-695, with the Key Bridge now missing.

I-490 around o'Hare is completed and labeled as such.

I-69 in KY is extended to a stub end before the Ohio River.

I-49 is extended down to Ft. Chaffee.

Hard to disprove one's expectations...

[MikeTheActuary]

There's probably going to be a gap in I-695, with the Key Bridge now missing.

While I have given up on Rand McNally atlases (as my eyes have gotten older, I like them less and less), I did get an updated National Geographic road atlas.

It shows I-695 as under construction at the Key Bridge (along with I-490 and I-69 at the Ohio River)

[Henry]

Today's the day it goes on sale everywhere; let's see what's changed from last year.

[Beltway]

Unless I'm proved otherwise, these are the changes I expect to see:

I-490 around O'Hare is completed and labeled as such.

I drove all thru there and all around the airport in January, and it looked to me like 2 years minimum before any of I-490 opens.

[I-55]

Some things I noticed:

I-57 is not signed in Arkansas. Granted it has only been signed for about a month now, but Rand McNally had 344 and 335 signed on last year's map so I was kind of expecting it.

I-69 is now on its proper alignment on the south side of Indianapolis, however the stub of SR 37 still shows inaccurately (as it has been removed). SR 37 is also still signed on I-69 in the atlas although it has been decommissioned.

Another year with no new city inset maps. Was hoping some cities in the 50-100k+ range like Clarksville, TN or Kokomo, IN could make it into this year's entry.

[midwesternroadguy]

Unless I'm proved otherwise, these are the changes I expect to see:

There's probably going to be a gap in I-695, with the Key Bridge now missing.

I-490 around o'Hare is completed and labeled as such.

I-69 in KY is extended to a stub end before the Ohio River.

I-49 is extended down to

Unless I'm proved otherwise, these are the changes I expect to see:

There's probably going to be a gap in I-695, with the Key Bridge now missing.

I-490 around o'Hare is completed and labeled as such.

I-69 in KY is extended to a stub end before the Ohio River.

I-49 is extended down to Ft. Chaffee.

None of those are depicted.  However there is a boxed note in the Baltimore inset saying that I-695 is closed for construction.

Other changes that did make it into the 2026 edition include the twinning of US 14 from Nicollet to New Ulm, Minnesota, and Trunk Highway 23 from Richmond to Paynesville, and from the Paynesville bypass to New London, Minnesota. The conversion of US 169 to a freeway around Elk River, Minnesota is shown. The twinning of US 212 between Carver and Cologne, Minnesota is shown. The extension of the US 18/151 freeway from Verona toward the Beltline in Madison is shown.  The twinning of US 30 between Columbus and Fremont Nebraska is shown as completed.  The twinning of US 30 between Tama and Cedar Rapids is shown as completed. 

[wriddle082]

I have a WalMart 2025 RMcN atlas, so there was one, but I never saw a 2024 edition.

AFAIK, the 2024 ones sold at Wal-Mart were the regular RmN atlas (or the 100th anniversary edition or the National Parks edition or whatever), not a special Wal-Mart edition.

In my work travels I have checked many Walmart locations looking for RMcN's, and have only been able to find them in rural locations the last two years.  I got a 2024 100th anniversary one near Clemson, SC, and after looking for what seemed like forever I finally found a 2025 in Coshocton, OH just a few weeks ago.  If they're not in their sorry excuse for a book section, they're in the automotive section, or near the Tire and Lube Express counter.