Garmin GPS keeps taking us off main route

[pasusan]

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?

[mich800]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Put Google maps on your phone. Problem solved

[pasusan]

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.

[MitchF150]

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

[Matt_Colie]

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

[pasusan]

2oldman wrote:
Just drive across the river:

Well - at least yours is the more direct route! 🙂

[Sam_Spade]

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]

Just drive across the river: