iPad as a GPS device

Genie has a Verizon phone. When we travel, she uses it just like a GPS - I think? She just Googles where we want to go, or asks it for specific subjects - like a CG or Restaurant, and it shows. And then she looks it up. Then as we get close to whatever it is, it just shows larger and larger on her phone screen until we arrive.

I'm not sure how different or how much more info you get on GPS as we've never used a GPS on any of our many coast to coast or shorter trips. The phone has always been sufficient for anything we need.