Using GPS without destination?

No, you don't need to enter a destination. If you just press View Map, it will show your current location and update the map as you move.

It shows where you are and displays the upcoming street or exit if on a highway....

Thanks guys, that is exactly what I needed to know.

Okay, one more thing. If it will always follow where you are going, what is the purpose of the Garmin 750 having the "Where am I" feature. It says "At any time, with a single tap of the screen, drivers can display their exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations." I will be able to find gas stations and such if I have not put in a destination want I? Thanks

When you select that feature, the window that opens gives your coordinates, nearest address and hospitals, police, and gas stations. It would be handy to let emergency crews know your exact location....

You can even if you have put in a destination...

But I don't know if I would always trust it for gas stations, it gives a 7 11 as a gas station near me and it has never sold gas...

Yes, it will still show you them, but it all depends what POI's you have selected in the settings. Your manual will tell you more on how to enable them.

Hope that helps. Cheers!

i for one never know where im going. thats why i hang out here lol

Thanks again guys, that clears it up. I know I could have waited until my unit arrives to learn this but I am just excited to learn about it.

Like the description says, it displays several pieces of information with a single stroke that would normally take several different menu's to find.

As for the original question, I gotta be kind of a wet blanket here!

I find that trying to focus on the GPS screen closely enough to see the name of the next street is a dangerous thing for THE DRIVER to do, even MORE dangerous than talking on a cell phone maybe.

Notice the warning screen that comes up when you first turn it on (I assume Garmin has one similar to Magellan).

Distracted driving may be hazardous to your health.....and mine.

I'm guessing that the 4250 does not have the same feature as most (or all?) of the Garmins -- the name of the next street at the top of the screen in big bold letters (same as an alert banner). It certainly is a quick view, no more time than glancing at the speedometer. If the 4250 requires that you read the fine print on the street itself, I understand your concern.

Good point. I don't know 'cause I've never paid attention to the screen when it wasn't "on route".

If it does, it would be at the bottom where the "next manuver" appears in routing mode.

I can understand your excitement over owning a new gps unit. I'v been using one for over 3 years and find it to be a major part of the enjoyment of each trip I take. Imagine never getting lost while traveling to a destination. Yes there may be some "bad" directions but the unit will always correct and send you back on course if you give it time. Enjoy your new garmin unit!!

gusb

Most of the nuvi's will display your current position ( lat and lon ) and elevation, when you tap on the vehicle icon, while on the map page.

The "Where am I" feature will display..
Lat and Lon, Elevation, Nearest Address, and Nearest Intersection.
It also has the option of displaying Hospitals, Police Stations, and Fuel in that area.

Once your unit arrives and you see it, it will make more sense.

When you are driving with out a route, you see a map and you see your vehicle and the side streets. From the map you can graphically see where you are.

If you select "Where am I", then you get the specific coordinates where you are (Lat and Long) and the other information mentioned already.

In both cases you can "see where you are". With the normal map view you see it graphically on a map, while "Where am I" gives the coordinates and other text information.

Hope this helps. Again, once you get your unit it will make a lot more sense.

The "Where Am I" feature would really be helpful in an emergency situation. For example, if you were stranded somewhere in the dark of night and needed to give your location to a tow truck company or to a 911 operator. I believe the 700 series also have a "bread crumb" to help you locate your car in a huge parking lot at a shopping mall or theme park parking lot as long as you bring your gps with you and had press the button before leaving your vehicle.

My 660 is only 7 months old but I am going to upgrade to the 700 series because of those features.

I often drive around without a destination entered just to see the street names ahead of me. The red light camera alerts are still active with or without a destination.

I was out the other day and comming up to where I thought would be my turn and the battery went dead on my nuvi 750. So I pulled over and plug it in and hit where am I and I was right back on track in no time.