Parks POI files / rest areas

From what I've seen, Garmin's built-in database is pretty good for rest areas. Look under "Where To" / "Auto Services" and you should see a category for "Rest Area/Tourist Info".

The Parks file at POI Factory has places like city/state parks, monuments, etc., but it doesn't cover rest areas.

JM

Yeah that's cool and all but sometimes I feel safer in the "rest stops" then I do at Billy Joe-Bobs Gas U Mart, if you know what I mean.

Safety and we travel with our 2 dogs that like to get out and mark the foliage. For some reason they don't like dogs marking the gas station pumps.

Edit:
Just my 2cents but the "rest areas" let you stretch you legs and lets the dogs out to water with less hassle then the gas stations.

At least where I've used them (in Northwestern states), the built-in "Rest Areas/Tourist Info" category on Garmin models shows public rest areas like you're describing. They typically have their own freeway off-ramp with large parking areas, restrooms, vending machines, park tables, and grassy "pet areas".

It's possible the built-in data is different for your area, but you might want to double check to see that you've found the right category.

JM

I'm looking for rest areas POI's also.

The built in POI's (at least in the Nuvi) don't seem to allow you to set proximity alerts. Trying to use the POI uploader to set a proximity alert within 10 miles of a rest area.

If anybody knows where rest area POI's exist or how to do this on a Nuvi please post!

Garmin Streetpilot 2720 does not come with any extras at all loaded on it. will have to keep looking.

My Garmin C330 v.8 doesn't seem to have this option. Am I missing something?

In the C330, you can locate the Rest Stops/Rest Rooms, under "AUTO SERVICES"

I'll show my ignorance here, I guess. I cannot find any option labeled such. So, how do I get there? Unit says I have software version 5.30/audio version 2.50.

Do I need (can I get) an updated version?

Hello
Go to the "Where to" area.
Use the down arrow until you see "Auto Services"
press OK
Use the down arrow again until you find "REST AREAS"

Any other questions ask
I do NOT have my unit unit in front of me right now, but can get it.

Woohoo! I didn't have any idea that the arrows were even functional!

Thanks loads. I'm learning - just verrrrrrry slowly.

JM, I just looked under the "Where to"/ "Auto Services". No rest areas are shown in my 660. It only has the "Local" cities Chamber of Commerce listed.

Question regarding the Rest Areas. When you load them on a SD card to use, insert into Nuvi, how does it sort the Rest Area coordinates from other's such as Car Wash, Parking, and so on?

If you load a POI file with rest areas, they will show up under:

Where to > Extras > Custom POIs

(They won't be mixed in with built-in POIs.)

I don't know if menus on nuvi are different than my i2, but on my i2 I find the built-in rest areas are together with chamber of commerce locations under:

Where to > Food, Hotels, and More > Auto Services > Rest Area / Tourist Info

They're sorted by distance from your current location. Since rest areas are usually located away from cities, they might be pretty far down on the list (if they even show in the top 50).

Do any rest areas show up if you scroll down the list?

JM

No, no Rest Areas show up at all. Just the bunch of junk you would never use, like the Chamber of Commerce.

I live in an area near an interstate highway. On my new 660, they display as described:

Where To> Food,Lodging...> Auto Services> Rest Area/Tourist Info. They are listed according to the proximity to my current location. Because I live the NC/SC state line, I can see listings for the Welcome Center Rest Areas for both states.

I also notice several listings for local tourism offices and chambers of congress.

Landcruisers, I have to go through what you did in that area, but I now think the reason I'm not seeing anything is due to being so far from an Interstate. The next time I'm on an Interstate, and sitting in a rest area I'll check to see if it shows.

I have a file with Cal and Nevada rest areas if you are interested (got it from another site)

racqy
nuvi 350

I feel so dumb, I didn't know after you select "where to" there's an arrow at the bottom. I'll have to play with my nuvi a lot more. Thanks for the help guys

The more information I have when on a trip the safer I feel.

Great! Would trying to find a rest area on the screen while driving be the same as texting while driving?

If you can't display all the rest areas along the route, it's pretty much useless.

The file needs to be the type that Base Camp will import in order to display them on the map.

Manually set up the rest areas file so that you get an alert when you are "so many" miles from a rest area.

Mine says "Rest Area ahead - any need"

Also shows my rest area icon on the screen !

Works for me !

From what I am reading everyone is trying to find rest area's in where to bu don't have the coustom poi file loaded. The one that comes with the gps is ok but MrKen's is much better. and you have to select custom poi's in order to see it.

I agree with MrKen. Load the RestAreasCombined and set a long distance alert--I use about 3 miles. I don't see the need to know about rest areas on my route that may be 50 or more miles away.

I compile the Rest Areas Combined file separately and I load it on the SD card before any other files so, if I have to search for the next one I use Where To > Near > My Current Route > Extras > Custom POIs > and it will at last be the first on the list. It at least saves me a little bit of scrolling down.

Of all things, one would think Garmin's info would be rather complete when it comes to Rest Stops or Rest Areas. I find Garmin's listing of Rest stops unacceptably poor. Some rest areas are called "Ahead" others called "Road" and some Rest Areas. Good luck with searching. If you are in the Auto Services Mode, you get FiRESTone and other irrelevant hits.

Why can't Garmin simply create a category called Rest Areas or Rest Stops? I certainly dont see it on my Nuvi 765

As far as POIS go, they're a blessing and an omen at the same time. I hate the fact you have to load all of them all over again everytime you want to add a new one. This is particular a PIA as I like to have distance alerts set up.

You need to set them up so they are in categories. Then you just load that category. I have one just for rest areas and load just that one if needed.

If done correctly, you would just match the file names and load them. I hope you are not complaining that the file is updated to frequently. Because we take pride in keeping our files updated. I would rather just choose to not download for that week than wonder when the next update is coming.
Rest Areas combined: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6643

Hi,

Without POI factory, my Garmin would be all but useless, well almost. I love and appreciate the hard work you all do. What I am referring to is the native software within Garmin itself. Something so basic like Rest Stops should be relatively complete when they sell you a GPS. Rest Stops are as important (to me) as Gas stations. Gas stations POI is a separte icon on Garmin GPS. Thanksf for the link to Rest Areas. I found them after I made my previous post.

When you use POI loader to install the Rest Area file in manual.
You can set the alert distance. I use 2000ft in case I am in the left lane and need time to move over.

I use EPE on the file, globally set all proximity alerts, then save it as a gpx. Then I can use Express Mode on POILoader and not have to set the alerts every time I load.

Although you get larger files, this solution is more convenient.

Only the size of the file to be read by POI Loader increases. There is no or very negligible difference in the size of the GPI file which is what your unit uses.

The rest areas POI is a useful file, but it's large due to the number of entries. Yes, in some jurisdictions, it is illegal to program your GPS while driving.