detours
Roundabout road paths
Detours are routes that bypass the usual path, typically because of road construction, accidents, or closures: Follow the detour signs.
More broadly, a detour is any departure from a planned course: My career took a few detours before I found my calling.
To detour is to take such an alternate route: We detoured around the flooded road.
Posted public displays
- mapSpatial representation of terrain
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- wayfindingNavigating through physical spaces
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
directions · reroute · alternate route · road signs · markers · exit · turnoff · junction
Veering off topic
- tangentLine touching curve once
- sidetrackDivert from purpose
- departureAct of going away
- deviationDeparture from expected path
diversion · scenic route · meandering · unexpected turn · career change · pivot · interruption · sidebar
Obstruction across a road
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- setbackReverse in progress
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
inconvenience · disruption · deviation · unplanned · unexpected · delay · frustration · problem
Road selected for beauty
- backroadsSecondary rural routes
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
- discoveryAct of finding something
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
meandering · countryside · hidden gems · off the beaten path · serendipity · spontaneous · local spots · roadside attraction
Movement along routes
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
- holdupTheft by threat
- slowdownReduction in pace
- jamCooked fruit spread
obstruction · roadwork · construction · backup · gridlock · bottleneck · closure · accident
signage
Posted public displays
- mapSpatial representation of terrain
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- wayfindingNavigating through physical spaces
bypass · directions · reroute · alternate route · road signs · markers · exit · turnoff · junction · roundabout
digression
Veering off topic
deviation · diversion · scenic route · meandering · unexpected turn · career change · pivot · interruption · sidebar · aside
roadblock
Obstruction across a road
complication · inconvenience · disruption · deviation · unplanned · unexpected · delay · frustration · problem · challenge
scenic route
Road selected for beauty
wandering · meandering · countryside · hidden gems · off the beaten path · serendipity · spontaneous · local spots · roadside attraction · curiosity
traffic
Movement along routes
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
- holdupTheft by threat
- slowdownReduction in pace
jam · obstruction · roadwork · construction · backup · gridlock · bottleneck · closure · accident · rubbernecking
- Driving TermsGPS, maps, highways, toll roads, backroads
- transportation routeshighways, interstates, freeways, toll roads, bypasses
- travel routesSilk Road, Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, trade routes, trade route
- winter roadssnow plow, snowplow, road salt, plowing, de-icing
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
- GPS navigationdirections, destination, route, ETA, rerouting
detoursbeelines
Most direct routes
shortcuts · main roads · straight lines · highways · thoroughfares
detourscharted course
- detour ahead
- detour signNotice of temporary rerouting