I will use a wifi only ipad mini as GPS.

I got a Garmin (forget the model) for $79 on Groupon. Usually it's a $175 model. Works great one year and lots of use later.

I visit free POI (Point of Interest) sites and download their files in Garmin format form. Adding these files make a Garmin far more powerful than how it's delivered with only the information that is normally included in it.

pnichols wrote:


Garmin is the way to go ... they only need satellite signals ... which are in a lot more places than cell towers. After you get a Garmin, download into it thousands of the free Points of Interest locations from users all over the U.S. to just about find anything anywhere. I have over 850,000 Points of Interest in my RV's Garmin navigator, including such things as every lake - wet or dry - in the U.S..

How do you do that? I have a Garmin Nuvi and can add MicroSD card.

I use a cellular/gps iPad mini with CoPilot GPS software.

The ipad was cheap when we upgraded our Verizon plan.
Service is $10 a month (on top of our existing Verizon phones)
CoPilot was 24.99, and it doesn't use data to work.

rtrevinoh wrote:
What would be a cheap yet reliable way to track my routes offline, without using my phone or hotspot data plan??

How about a regular ole map.

teejaywhy wrote:
My wi-fi only Samsung Galaxy Tab has built in GPS. I bought a mapping software that works OK but I think I would rather have a dedicated Garmin.

I know what you mean... I've used the TomTom, Sygic and CoPilot apps and they're all a bit off.

But, give the free Here Maps (make by Nokia) a try. It doesn't have a thousand bells and whistles, but it does have all the essentials (downloadable maps, offline mode, excellent search engine for addresses and points of interest, and navigation to a single stop) and it does it very well with a simple, clear, easy-to-use interface.

I have the iPad Mini WiFi which has no GPS. There is no data plan and it cannot be used for navigation without an add-on GPS.

I do have "GPS CoPilot" and "Pocket Earth" apps which are both offline maps. They can plot a route but due to no GPS they do not follow the route. The offline iPad maps essentially take the place of a paper map or atlas.

I use a TomTom GPS for navigation which cost $69 on Black Friday.

Using up your data plan notwithstanding, suppose you want to get navigation help using iStuff when you can't make connection to a cell tower? Look at a Verizon coverage map of the U.S. in the scenic areas of the Western states to see what I mean about cell coverage blank spots.

Garmin is the way to go ... they only need satellite signals ... which are in a lot more places than cell towers. After you get a Garmin, download into it thousands of the free Points of Interest locations from users all over the U.S. to just about find anything anywhere. I have over 850,000 Points of Interest in my RV's Garmin navigator, including such things as every lake - wet or dry - in the U.S..

We travel with an Ipad, Kindle, and two laptops, in addition to two Iphones; plus a Garmin. Unless you have a data plan for your Ipad, and you don't want to use, or have, Iphone; the Garmin is definitely your best option for directions. And even if you do have an Iphone, the Garmin is a better bet in our opinion.

Ed_Gee wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
In response to the title, no you wont. A WiFi iPad doesn't have a GPS receiver built into it.

+1. True.

My wi-fi only Samsung Galaxy Tab has built in GPS. I bought a mapping software that works OK but I think I would rather have a dedicated Garmin.