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It won't. The cell phone needs the internet to load the map tiles. For navigating with no cell service you need a GPS device with the maps built into it's memory.

I spend probably 2 days a week in the mountains of VA and WV with no cell service. I have a Garmin GPS that mounts to the windshield with a suction cup. I think it cost about $300. I move it between our 3 vehicles depending on what I'm driving. I've even taken it on my boat to find an address by water. I just can't justify the huge cost of a built in navigation system, particularly when it only works for one vehicle.

The post above is wrong. You don't need cellular for the entire trip. If you know you are headed to a no cell zone you can download the map before you leave. Otherwise, Google Maps and WAZE will keep the route ahead downloaded to your phone and you will have no idea when you run in or out of cell service.
You don't need a stand alone GPS (especially a built-in which is a pain to keep up to date). Plug in your phone and you will have the most up-to-date information for routing plug minute by minute traffic updates and POI information the GPS units can't touch. Google and WAZE will even keep up with temp road closures due to construction which would take a year to get updated in a GPS system.

What Lou said.

My Cell loaded the map at startup (With internet) then so long as you did not CLOSE the map app you were golden... I also have a darn hood geo-memory so even if I lost the phone map I was USUALLY at least silver if not Gold.

Now it's kind of hard for me to find "NO COVERAGE" spots.

Find a friend with a truck that accepts and displays your cell phone’s maps. My iPhone and 2020 Silverado work great together.

LouLawrence wrote:
The post above is wrong. You don't need cellular for the entire trip. If you know you are headed to a no cell zone you can download the map before you leave. Otherwise, Google Maps and WAZE will keep the route ahead downloaded to your phone and you will have no idea when you run in or out of cell service.
You don't need a stand alone GPS (especially a built-in which is a pain to keep up to date). Plug in your phone and you will have the most up-to-date information for routing plug minute by minute traffic updates and POI information the GPS units can't touch. Google and WAZE will even keep up with temp road closures due to construction which would take a year to get updated in a GPS system.

1) Can Waze be configured to route big rigs around low clearance overpasses, weight-limited bridges, restricted roads, etc?; and 2) how much data on the cell phone plan does Waze typically use?

Rob

OK, someone tell me which Internet Map base you use that can let you input your RV's height into so it won't route under a low overpass???
My Garmin allows me to input height, weight, and length to keep me off of roads I shouldn't be on.
After all this is an RV Forum.

you need cell service for phone/messages etc. For NAV all that is needed is GPS coverage as long as the map is already loaded into the device, and the cell phone will get that as will the NAV system even with no cell service. Now traffic info etc. needs cell service as well.

https://copilotgps.com/en-us/CoPilot GPS is an app that works offline AND is RV aware. You enter your height, propane etc. and it will route you accordingly. It's not free like Google or Waze. The RV version is $30/year.

Thanks everyone for the replies and all the info.

So, just so I am clear. If I use a cell phone and e.g. Waze, does downloading "the map" before I leave, mean a map of the whole U.S. or a map of the planned route (we routinely travel to/from Denver, Co and BC, Canada with unplanned deviations in routes/way-stops where no cell service is common)?

If an entire country/continent can be initially downloaded, then I don't likely need a traditional navigation system.

Marv