GPS or smart phone

We use a Garmin GPS for the long haul and for quick 'finds' we use our smart phones...
Using a smart phone for a long time as a GPS burns a lot of data time.

I tried using my smartphone as my audiobook player, GPS, and phone on a long trip last year. A dashtop GPS receiver is far easier to read and use than the phone. In addition, you won't miss any turns when your daughter calls to chat for a half hour.

I have heard good things about using an iPad with a GPS app, but it ends up costing about the same as a "regular" GPS unit.

While I have smart phone map apps, I really don't use them but rather my Garmin GPS. Reasons:
1. I don't have to physically hold in my hand the Garmin while I am driving.
2. The Maps on a Garmin screen are larger and thus easier to read while traveling down the road. Easier to read the map at night when driving. The flexibility of being able change my route and then have Garmin reschedule the route.
3. I like the audio prompts telling me the road names, traffic conditions, school zones and step by step directions to my destinations.
4. I like the visual warnings when I am going over the posted speed limit, the estimated time of arrival.

The smart phone won't work everywhere, that's the downside. The smart phone only works where there is cell service or wi fi. The gps, satellite based, works everywhere. The smart phone is of no use in huge parts of Death Valley for instance. We have both, but use the GPS most of the time when on the road.

X 2 GPS unit for long trips. Smartphone for around town.

Ron3rd wrote:
The smart phone won't work everywhere, that's the downside. The smart phone only works where there is cell service or wi fi. The gps, satellite based, works everywhere. The smart phone is of no use in huge parts of Death Valley for instance. We have both, but use the GPS most of the time when on the road.

Agreed...except cell coverage loss for me is in the high country where the cell signal loss can happen more than one would think.

I've been using an app called WAZE on my phone more an more. I love it!
Use a phone mount on my dash to hold it
crowd sourced data gives great traffic info, re-routes, etc....
extremely accurate travel times considering traffic
also users report police traps, road hazards, red light cameras, etc.... and it warns you.
voice commands
great where there are lots of users to report data, such as cities and interstates. Not so useful in the sticks....
and as previously mentioned, need cellular data service coverage (doesn't use a lot of your data plan, even with constant use)

I also agree that a dedicated GPS is still useful for long haul routes, but less and less so..... really only when cell coverage isn't great.

Usually I use the phone app. It's quicker and has more features than our TomToms do. It also updates itself without cost. I did use the GPS coming from Seattle to Denver as there were large areas without coverage.

No reason not to have both.

Although smart phones have gps in the they rely on the data connection to render the map. So if no cell service no gps.