Driving in The US - sat nav recommendations?

[BoostMonkey]

Thanks people, looks like its a trip to Walmart

[RicksAlfas]

I used the Navigon app on an iPhone4 last time I went. It worked very well. Cost about £20 I think as you buy it by region rather than the whole country. Battery hungry though so you need a car charger with it.

[5potTurbo]

Unlight said:

Anyone used the iPhone garmin or tomtom apps for the USA?

I use the TomTom app on an iPod Touch, but you need the separate docking cradle too.
It is, however, VERY good - even in midtown Manhattan surrounded by skyscrapers.

[contractor]

i recently did a trip to LA and found Google maps navigation perfectly acceptable. You can pre-load maps onto the phone or get a cheap t-mobile usa sim and put it on the $3/day plan if you want data.

[BertieWooster]

contractor said:

i recently did a trip to LA and found Google maps navigation perfectly acceptable. You can pre-load maps onto the phone or get a cheap t-mobile usa sim and put it on the $3/day plan if you want data.

+1. I did this the last time I was in the USA and it worked fine. The other option, as other PHers have mentioned, is to buy one from somewhere like Walmart. I've seen a refurbished Garmin GPS advertised on their website for $82 including lifetime maps.

Bertie W

[SimNugget]

I bought a TomTom from Bestbuy which I was going to buy UK maps for, very good and has lifetime updates.

Alamo hire car had nav but they removed the SD card because I did not pay the extra for Nav.

And typical man, when confronted with the tiny $100 TomTom or the 7" $200 one with Live traffic info, Internet access and lifetime updates, I opted for the $200 one!

To be honest I will either just keep it for future Hols or eBay it.

S

[Unlight]

Thanks for all your suggestions!

I've downloaded Nav Free USA, and have purchased a windscreen mount for the iPhone - if I find this doesn't do the job when I get there, I'll nip into Best Buy or Wal Mart and buy a Tom Tom!

[Flying Toilet]

Don't forget the in car charger, it can hammer the battery at times.

[BigBen]

zax said:

Totally agree with the comment regarding "Neverlost". Avoid at all costs! When I used it I found myself lost rather frequently due to it's inability to recognise the difference between a freeway and the smaller roads running alongside one...

To balance this I have used Neverlost a lot and never had a problem, although the interface is starting to show its age a bit.