Get Turn-by-Turn Navigation in your Car

Turn-By-Turn Navigation for Your Car

by Heather Neal

In the "old days," if I was going somewhere new I'd call the business and ask for directions - a daunting proposition since not everyone is "good" with directions.  Those days are thankfully over and today I rely mainly upon the GPS in my car, with a little of my own instincts.  For the vast majority who don't have GPS standard-equipped in their car, how do you get where you’re going?

There are several great turn-by-turn navigation applications for Smartphone users:

Google Maps for your mobile phone (www.google.com/mobile/maps/, free, iPhone and Android) offers a wide variety of features in addition to navigation.  Find any location with a quick search and it'll suggest multiple routes, integrating traffic, highway construction and toll road information so you can avoid delays.  Directions are provided with a voice that sounds more human than machine and knows how to pronounce most street names correctly.  When you make a wrong turn, re-routing happens intelligently so you're not driving all around town to get back on track.  Walking and public transit directions are also provided if you decide not to drive, including estimated travel times and fare information.  Sync with Google Local for reviews of nearby restaurants and save your favorite locations for easy navigation to them in the future.


Waze (www.waze.com, free, all platforms) offers some fun features that may inspire you to give it a try.  It has a social component that automatically shares real-time traffic information and road alerts with other drivers.  Report road delays, accidents and police speed traps you see during your commute and learn about what’s in your path from fellow "Wazers."  Waze will even re-route you mid-commute if there's a better way around such an obstacle.  Share gas prices by reporting them at the pump so everyone can save a couple bucks and Waze will direct you to the cheapest station on your route.  Connect with friends through Facebook to coordinate arrival times if you're all headed to the same concert, or arrange a friend's pick-up: they request it, you accept, and then they can track your arrival time by "seeing" how close you are to them, all through the application.

There's potential risk with phone applications.  Using them while actively driving means picking up your phone to look at it (unless you have incredible restraint), and it's always dangerous to take your eyes off the road fumbling for your phone.  Even if you mount it to your dash, you may find the smaller screen more difficult to see than a stand-alone GPS device.  Do your own cost-benefit analysis to decide what's right for you.

Should you opt for a portable navigation device (PND), there are some must-have features.  A wide screen is vital for easy visibility. Make sure the device lists directions as text in addition to mapping, and it should offer re-routing around highways or toll roads.  Full-featured devices can replace your car's trip computer, serve as a Bluetooth for your cellular phone or even an MP3 player, and prices vary widely as a result based on these additional perks.

The Garmin Nuvi 3490LMT ($250, Amazon.com) is one of the highest-rated PNDs  by Consumer Reports and CNET, and for good reason - it's literally packed with features.  Use it as your bluetooth device for calls and texts.  Voice-activated seamless navigation makes it completely hands-free.  Its thin, sleek design makes it easy to drop in a pocket and improved graphics allow you to view landscapes in 3D.  Lifetime free traffic updates are included, in addition to map updates you can download up to four times a year without a subscription fee.

Those looking for a lower price point should consider the TomTom GO Live 1535M ($150, Amazon.com).  Similar to the Garmin, it has voice recognition, traffic reports (provided to you in HD!) and hands-free Bluetooth calling.  Lifetime Map Updates are included, totally free.  The “cool-factor” lies in its connection to TripAdvisor, Yelp and Expedia to help you choose your route, letting you navigate through areas with the attractions or dining options you prefer.  Integrate with Twitter so you can update family and friends through voice commands, in a safer manner than texting while driving.

With literally hundreds of devices to choose from, boiling it down to two suggestions really doesn't do the field justice.  Do your research, making sure to compare user and professional review sites to find the device that's right for you.