Best Cell Phone App

In addition to our phones and excellent Garmin navigator, when traveling in the Western U.S. we always try to carry along several of these to cover each state we might wind-up in. They are excellent - and well worth the money: https://www.benchmarkmaps.com/atlas

I'm curious ... my phone has a huge storage memory (256GB) and as I understand it ... full GPS capability. When is SOMEONE going to come out with a super great navigation phone app (doesn't have to be free), that can hold an entire U.S. roads updateable database (updates don't have to be free) in phones with large storage capacity ... that DOES NOT need to have Internet access in order to navigate?

It seems like many of today's modern phones could be programmed and otherwise equipped to on demand perform just like (or better than) a non-Internet-connected navigation unit. :h

afidel wrote:
Google maps will cache an area for you.

Google Maps has offered this feature for a long time. Just create the route on your phone while you have internet access and it will ask if you want to download it for offline use. The data will stay on your phone for a few months. Google will ask if you want to keep and update the stored maps as the expiration date nears.

We use our Garmin regularly. If we are going to an unfamiliar location or if I think Garmin is steering us wrong, I will confirm with Google Maps.

-Michael

Google maps will cache an area for you. If you want true no internet access ever the RV Life app and Sygic Truck/RV both allow you to download the entire US map set for offline use.

While not towing, I only use waze app.

When towing, I have an older garmin that will be upgraded to RV unit this fall. I like having two different sources available. When they are in conflict with each other, then it gets to be interesting, and I have used a 3rd source, Inrex which will often allow me to quickly identify why there's a conflict.

wildtoad wrote:
While it sounds good to use your phone and an app to navigate but you will be happier with a Garmin for RVs. Garmin is the best of a so so bunch. Yes you will have an additional piece of hardware but money well spent.

My new Garmin Is junk and not any better than Waze.

way2roll wrote:
Despite some of the RV specific nav apps, I still prefer WAZE. I like that fact that updates are real time from other users.

x2

wildtoad wrote:
While it sounds good to use your phone and an app to navigate but you will be happier with a Garmin for RVs. Garmin is the best of a so so bunch. Yes you will have an additional piece of hardware but money well spent.

I agree 100%. I travel from East Tx to NW Arkansas several times yearly goin thru eastern Ok. No cell service in many Ok/Ar areas.
Not saying don't get an App just have other navigation tools including an old fashion map.

DougE wrote:
Let's get specific. I have a Toyota Tacoma on order and have found that I will be able to mirror my cell phone on the Tacoma display, so didn't get navigation. I would appreciate specific recommendations for an android cell phone navigation app. Phone, of course, comes with Google Maps pre-installed, so is there something better?

In theory there are better apps for Big Rides. and occasionally Google Maps has given me a case of the giggles (Like one spot where it says "TURN LEFT" .. well the only thing to the left is a chain link fence (You continue straight. Legally that's a left turn because the road you are on angles right but you want to continue straight onto another road)

The best is a mix of the GPS app and I only have one issue with Google Maps which I will tell you.. And your BRAIN and possible paper maps.

The issue with Google maps is if for any reason you leave the app, and you are out of range of a cell. unless you saved it. you can not restore the map. had to switch from Phone to brain on one trip and it was not fun. Thankfully Brain worked.

You'll likely just want to use android auto. After a first use it just fires up automatically. It used to ask whether to use Google Maps or Waze but I think since Google is combining the features of the two apps it uses maps automatically.

pnichols wrote:
Doesn't WAZE requie Internet access? If so, it's of no use in many places in the western U.S. where we travel.

We prefer complete independence from the Internet, so we use detailed map atlas books and our satellite-based Garmin unit with it's free updates so we can keep it always up to date for free.

TomTom, though not free, does not need internet. Maps updated once a quarter. Needs internet for real time traffic, but if you are where there is no internet, traffic probably not an issue.