GPS driving/map routing - make my own route?

[Whoaru99]

Are there any of the GPS units typically used for driving with routing capability for me to make my own route and load it in, then the unit routes based on what I want rather than what it wants?

[Big Bobber]

You would need to load in waypoints that will take you on a route that you set up. The nunber of waypoints that can be preloaded will vary on brand of unit.

[delcecchi]

You can do that on google maps, although I don't know if you can then send it to the gps, like you can destinations.

Just put in end points and keep dragging the route to the road you want to be on for google maps.

Not sure why you want to do this.

Or when you get to a place where you want to go different, just go that way. It will say "recalculating" and go with it. Except with my old garmin on the new part of us53 north of virginia.

[Whoaru99]

Not sure why you want to do this.

Because I like to go to different out of the way places on my motorcycle and like to take the back county roads and such to get there, or premap out a run on what looks to be a bunch of curvy roads for a ride. The GPSs all route on main/major roads for the most part.

Sure, I can do it with just a map as I've been doing or with my ancient Magellan Meridian Gold with waypoints, but I think something that could do it with true routing would be more convenient. Just plan the route and follow the yellow brick road, so to speak. Heck, looks like some would even tell me where to turn via a Bluetooth earphone/helmet system.

[MN Mike]

I know Garmin's Mapsource will do this for you ( if you have a Garmin product ) but I have never done it myself, Google it and you'll find lots of good info. Mapsource can be downloaded for free from Garmin if you do it right.

Mike

[delcecchi]

I just looked on Garmin's web site and at least some of their units have "custom routes" where you can enter up to 200 points and it will route you along from one to another.

I also just did it from mapquest with internet explorer. Plug the garmin into your computer using the usb cable. Go to mapquest and do "directions" with the two endpoints. drag the route around like you want it. There will be various red dots. click on them and "make it a route stop". When you have enough points to get the route to stay the way you want to, go up next to print and click on send to. Select the gps tab. select your gps. hit send and you should get a confirmation that it was successful. The first time it will want to install and add on which is necessary.

When you are done sending routes, disconnect the gps (don't forget 'safely remove...'). To import the routes you need to go to tools mydata import routes and select the routes you want to import.

They will then show up in routes under where to.

Check that the routing is consistent with what you want since it only sends over the points.