Maps can be used in different ways in an escape room. Here’s one way.
For this puzzle, players find either a travel itinerary or the find plane tickets. Plotting the destinations on a map, they discover the combination to a lock.
Supplies Needed
- U.S. or World Wall Map (preferably laminated)
- Something to mark the routes
- Dry Erase Markers
- Pencils
- Push Pins
- List of traveling routes
- Itinerary
- Plane Tickets
Set-Up Instructions
- Based on the combination of the number lock, come up with routes on the map that
create each number when drawn out. - Place itinerary in a lockbox or out in the open with instructions via a clue.
Alternatively, place plane tickets in various spots for players to collect and use.
Puzzle Play:
- Players find an itinerary or multiple plane tickets with locations, dates, and times.
- They are given instructions via a clue to mark the travel routes on a map.
- As they mark the routes, they notice the routes create numbers.
- Those numbers are used to open a lock.
Example:
Players are trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Calvin.
They come across a notebook that shows his travel itinerary for the past few months. In it, he has four trips that all take place in the US. The bottom of the page says, “On the Map”.
Players go to the map on the wall. They must figure out (either on their own or through another clue) that they must use the marker to follow his route from one city to the next.
As they do this for each trip, they notice the lines create numbers. Those numbers then open a lock.
Example Itinerary:
Trip #1 (Portland, OR > Lewiston, ID > Reno, NV) creates the number 7.
Trip #2 ( Provo, UT > Rock Springs, WY > Boulder, CO > Flagstaff, AZ > Santa Fe, NM) creates the number 2.
Trip #3 (Madison, WI > Sioux City, IA > Lincoln, NB > Des Moines, IA > Springfield, IL > Poplar Bluff, MO > Wichita, KS) creates the number 5.
Trip #4 (Pittsburgh, PA > Charlotte, NC) creates the number 1.
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This puzzle was taken from the book 101 Puzzles for Low-Cost Escape Rooms. You can get the downloadable PDF version in my store, or get the print version on Amazon.
