I'm not sure if this just started with the latest update or if it has always done it with certain roads. We just got the new GPS (Nuvi 67) at the beginning of the year so we could add a backup camera to it.We traveled for thousands of miles down to Mississippi & Georgia - stopped at lots of CGs and sites without a problem. Well, for our fall trip we stayed in PA going across Rt. 6. 6 is a minor highway - yellow on Google Maps. Many times the GPS would try to take us off 6 for what one would think would be a shortcut, but actually wasn't.Here is one example:Click For Full-Size Image.The blue arrows are where the GPS wanted us to go, but when we ignored it and stayed on 6 the time recalculated to 5 minutes less.Other times it would have saved us a minute (or none) to get off our main route and take a "shortcut".DH is getting sick of me chiming in with "ignore the GPS"Anyone familiar with this type of problem? Doesn't Garmin know we'd like to stay on our chosen route?

The most common cause of this is selecting "shortest"(distance) rather than fastest time.You also need to check what "avoids" you have set.BUT......sometimes it's logic is fractured and there is NO apparent reason for an odd route.

2oldman wrote:Just drive across the river:Well - at least yours is the more direct route! :)

Garmin instructions are terrible. You could get online and read them and they still may not answer your question. (Says 20 years a Garmin owner of more than a few.) Most of the others are no better. Try going into the setup and make sure that the things that are checked are what you want. Two that come to mind (I don't have a 67) are "Avoid Highways" and/or "Toll Roads" and then there is the faster time/shortest route choice to mess things up.Good luck Matt

Yes, check the navigation settings. Might also look at your choice of "quickest route" or "shorter distance".Also make sure "paved roads" is checked (or it might need to be unchecked)! Otherwise you might end up in a farmers field!Good luck!Mitch

Garmin GPS keeps taking us off main route | Good Sam Community

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Oct 07, 2017
TenOC wrote:
I always plan my trip with Garmin BaseCamp. This way I can check that I am following the roads I want to . I then transfer the "route I have approved" to my old Garmin Streetpilot 2720. Love it.
Yep, this is the only safe way to do it. Letting the GPS plan the route is a recipe for lousy trip planning. Even done this way you have to be alert because the maps are not always as up to date as they should be.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Oct 07, 2017
pasusan wrote:

Since I still have the 465 I can compare routes and I never see it go off on those stupid nonsensical shortcuts.

Garmin might appreciate knowing about this strange behavior from it's unit.
PenMan
Explorer
Oct 07, 2017
I don't really trust my Garmin (with most up to date maps) even on major highways. I was on I-40 going west and went thru Oklahoma City one night last fall. My Garmin had all the correct dimensions etc. programmed in for my truck with trailer. It warned me there was a bridge up ahead that I could not go under and told me to take an exit. I noticed that the 18 wheelers were not exiting so I stayed behind one that was lots taller than my rig. The Garmin kept warning me to exit and finally told me I had to push an accept button acknowledging I had seen the warnings and choose to ignore them. I stayed behind the 18 wheelers and there was never a low bridge. I stayed on I-40 all the way to NM. Now I use my Trucker's Atlas to check routes and just use the Garmin to show me what the exits look like. I won't buy another Garmin. BTW, this was just one example of bad routing. I have many more examples where it lead me astray.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Oct 07, 2017
I wonder if the detour and construction in Coudersport was the issue.
mich800
Explorer
Oct 07, 2017
I use a combination of mapquest and google maps. I have had instances where it will try to route you around traffic or construction. Does garmin use traffic reroutes?

It also looks like 6 may have longer stretches without services. I wonder if that could also factor into the route.

Never mind. Just saw the scale on your map. Not long distances.
TenOC
Nomad
Oct 07, 2017
I always plan my trip with Garmin BaseCamp. This way I can check that I am following the roads I want to . I then transfer the "route I have approved" to my old Garmin Streetpilot 2720. Love it.
wildtoad
Explorer II
Oct 07, 2017
They all have their issues. Google won’t find my house and I’m on a main road. Keeps sending friends, delivery people to an address off the beaten path. Google earth however finds it just fine, as does my Garmin, and Apple maps.
2oldman
Explorer II
Oct 07, 2017
Sometimes mine acts like it's in a UPS truck: No left turns.

I can be looking directly at my destination and Garmin will want to direct me around the block to come in from the other side. It's so weird.. I don't remember the older units being so confusing.
Dennis12
Explorer
Oct 07, 2017
Put Google maps on your phone. Problem solved
pasusan
Explorer
Oct 07, 2017
Matt_Colie wrote:
Garmin instructions are terrible. You could get online and read them and they still may not answer your question. (Says 20 years a Garmin owner of more than a few.) Most of the others are no better.

Try going into the setup and make sure that the things that are checked are what you want. Two that come to mind (I don't have a 67) are "Avoid Highways" and/or "Toll Roads" and then there is the faster time/shortest route choice to mess things up.

Good luck

Matt
Yeah, we've had Garmins for many years too. Our last one - a Nuvi 465 was a trucker one which we found we could hardly ever use the truck feature - it sent us all over H E double toothpicks.

We definitely have everything set correctly - avoiding only Ferries and Gravel Roads. The Gravel Road avoidance doesn't always work - we figure the map people just don't know that it's gravel. Also the other stuff is set correctly - fastest, not the shortest.

Since I still have the 465 I can compare routes and I never see it go off on those stupid nonsensical shortcuts.

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