Now prices begin much lower. GPS manufacturers have basic units beginning at around $200. Despite the low price, most of these devices still manage to boast a lot of the most helpful features. Every gps unit that I looked at had spoken directions. Although the basic models use terms like turn right, instead of turn right on elm st. Almost all the devices have features like rerouting. Higher priced devices add other options such as bluetooth support and up-to-date traffic conditions. But the most essential item for many campers is a POI database that includes RV Parks and Campgrounds and other RV services.
Any GPS unit can get you to a campground if you already have a destination. Just type in the address and listen to the prompts. That is fine if you have a planned itinerary. But what about those days when your plans change unpredictably? The pizza you had for lunch isn’t sitting well, the motorhome seems to be running a little hot or you just spent four hours browsing through an antique store that wasn’t on your itinerary. You could pull out the campground guide, figure out where you are and look for a new place to spend the night. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just ask your gps unit to find the nearest campground? Although improving, vehicle GPS manufacturers haven't fully embraced this idea.
One of the biggest names in GPS devices is Garmin. I looked at every GPS they offered and not one that I saw had any categories in their POI database
related to RV Parks or Campgrounds. I was unable to try out a Cobra Nav One GPS, but their 4500 model does have categories for camping, propane and RV services. The basic devices from Cobra do not.Basic vehicle GPS devices from Magellan lack a campground category and listings in their POI database. These choices were present in their more advanced devices. However, I tried the Magellan 4240 and though it had campground listings they were incomplete, missing several RV Parks in my area. Tom Tom GPS devices had the most complete line of deviceswith campground databases already installed and ready to go. The Tom Tom one 3rd edition ($149) had RV Parks as a POI category and listed all the RV Parks in my area. Their more advanced devices boast the same campground data.
There is an fascinating option for GPS owners -- Update the POI database yourself. Most GPS manufacturers have software on their website that will allow you do this. The software will permit you to keep your POI data up to date as well as add new POI databases. There are many databases available, some are free. Traffic cameras,
school zones, stores and restaurants are available individually or as bundles. For example there is a database of all the Starbucks in the US! There are also a couple campground databases available ($35-$45) .
