No one who has been to the venue has been there in at least 20 years and this area has grown so much. We actually have large highways going out there instead of just 2 or 4 lane roads. Google maps has pretty good directions, that's where FI and I got ours when we went, but I've also recently had Google tell me to park in a neighborhood, walk through someone's yard, climb a brick wall, and walk through a field to get there. So I started "driving backwards" trying to figure out at what point I might need to give a little assistance and here are my issues/findings:
1. There's a sign for the venue on the right-hand side right before you get there (if they turn into that random neighborhood they won't see the sign) but the venue's on the left and it's kind of set back a little. The speed limit is at least 45 on this 2 lane road. We almost missed it but there wasn't a car right behind us so we were able to hit the breaks and make the turn.
2. Google maps shows the 2 lane road the venue's off of as a street name and FM number but the directions give only the street name. When FI and I went out there 8 months ago the street name wasn't listed - only the FM number, but there was construction in that area so that might have been why. I will be going again soon to make the final payment and revisit the venue.
3. If people take the most direct route (which is a tollroad), there is a sharp U-turn and Google maps lists it as a sharp right turn. The speed limit of the road you're on is 55, you have to quickly get over to the right (where a road merges), and then the posted speed for the turn is 25 MPH. It was a bit chaotic for us but we managed to do it (even with extreme hangovers that day).
4. If the tollroad is taken the Google directions are great (except for 1 and 2 above) but my concern is that the highway ends and I think people will freak out and want to take the exit to continue on the highway number they're on. The road goes straight and there is a definite exit to continue on the highway. The directions don't say to take the exit (since you're not supposed to), or to keep straight on new road number (new road number isn't posted) and the highway ends - the next step is just to follow the signs for the next road, which isn't posted until you have to take that #3 U-turn. When you map it out, the pretty blue line takes you past all the highway continuation stuff so if you pay attention to/remember that then you'll be fine.
Maybe I'm not giving people enough credit but I know plenty of people who get lost in this area and their own neighborhoods...and have lived here their whole life! I'm just afraid that if I say "don't take the highway exit and continue straight - the highway will end and you will need to immediately get to the right, the sharp right turn is actually a sharp U-turn and you'll need to slow WAY down, look for FM# not the street name, look for the venue sign and start slowing down, turn left and follow that road all the way to the back until it splits" that people might get lost thinking that my directions are something completely different that what they're looking at on the map, or might have a different idea of what a U-turn or a split is (I know those people too). I'm also thinking of just including a zoomed in map of where to turn into the venue so they might be a little more prepared to slow down in time (or not turn into the neighborhood). Any ideas or suggestions on what to include or exclude so that I don't confuse anyone?