How do I get my Garmin to take me on major highways?

Thanks. So is it better to have Traffic Trends on or off.

Lately, I have found that my Nuvi is taking strange routes. Going around when there is a straight path. Very unusual.

Check your avoidance and your routing preferences.

I have been getting strange routing from Garmin. Downtown in NYC on 7th street and need to get to queens. Garmin has me going uptown to midtown in midday traffic to go through the tunnel. checked Waze and it directed me to williamsburg bridge. faster time and less traffic. may need to start using Waze.

My Garmin likes to go out of her way to take an interstate - I generally have to custom route a better route which is both shorter and faster by not using Interstates at times.

Mine has the option to avoid interstates

One way to possibly solve the problem is to say highway fuel consumption is 90 mpg and city is 10 mpg. Then choose least fuel consumption instead of fastest route. I don't have my Garmin with me, so I don't have the words right, but I came across this years ago.

Also make sure you haven't selected avoid major highways.

interesting problem

I have not selected to avoidvoid highways since the point is that I want to take highways, yet Garmin insists on routing me through the cities instead of around the city on a loop highway.

I live west, slightly north, of Boston. If I want to go south or slightly southwest of Boston, Garmin sends me east of my home to suffer interminable traffic, lights, twisty turns, left-turn only lanes, etc. A virtual nightmare. While there is a very good route going west from home to a highway, and south to a minor state route, which I can then take east to get to my destination. Barely a light in sight, and, at noontime, no traffic.

One solution I've found is that I've saved to my favorites, the junction of my westbound highway and the north/south highway. Then I set my destination. Then I set another destination for this junction and when it asks if it's a new destination or via-point, I select the latter and it takes me to the highway first, then goes the highway route from there.

It still sometimes wants me to get off the highway too soon. So I check out my route on Google maps first; I know when to get off the highway. I stay until the right exit, let Garmin do its "recalculating." Then it's good about giving me good surface street directions to the exact address.

So in effect, I use internet maps to get a big-picture of the route, and use Garmin only for the local streets once I'm close. This is disappointing, but generally works. If I had to travel a long way in unknown territory, though, not so good.

You say you haven't set "highways" as an avoid but you didn't say what you have set as an avoidance. Having things like U-turns, toll roads and carpool lanes set as avoidances can make big differences in how your Nuvi routes around which maybe even more of an issue in and around large urban areas.

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There is a "Learn" button in the upper right of this page next to "red light cameras" that takes you to a Getting Started page. It is worthwhile visiting this page.

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So, using the "Learn" link, you might try the "Ctrl" - left-click sequence and then return here. You can return by either "X-ing" out of the "Getting Started" page (using the "X" on the "Tab" itself) or just left-clicking on the "Tab" for the page you are on right now.

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The first link makes sure the settings on your computer are such that you can do more advanced POI loading.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30393

The next link helps you make a backup of your GPS by attaching it to your computer. (NEVER do anything to your GPS until you have a backup). It also assures that you put your (newer) unit into a state where you can see all of the folders there.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30394

In trying to help you understand why your nuvi is not routing the way you think it should, we might be better able to help is we knew exactly what device it is. Your profile is not specific.

Also, the suggestion made by t923347 that you tell us what avoidances (if any) are set on your device will also help us respond to you.

Bear in mind that "shorter distance" is often part of problems such as these. I usually choose "faster time".

Let us know some more details and maybe we can figure it out.

I have the same problem, using a Garmin DriveSmart 76! I am ready to scrap it!

sometimesthe Nuvi will direct me off the highway exit ramp only to direct me back again in the same direction. Strange.

I have to laugh at this because the "shortest distance" option happened to me once with a brand new Garmin. My original Garmin went up in smoke while driving to a destination. I pulled into a Best Buy, purchased the same model but didn't have time to check settings. I later left Schenectady NY on a Friday afternoon. The GPS took me through downtown Princeton NJ at about 4 PM on a Friday. Not good! Another thing that burned me once was the "Avoid ferries" option. Coming from Charleston SC to Williamsburg VA I got on a ferry. I thought it strange until I discovered the setting.

I wish there was a "remember frequent shortcuts" setting. From my home Garmin always takes me the long way to the major roads and I save over .3 miles and 4 minutes by using local neighbourhood roads.

One of the features Garmin introduced in the past and later deleted was MyTrends. On your frequently used routes, the Garmin device would learn the detours you prefer.

You could look on eBay for a used Garmin device of a model that had MyTrends.

That My Trends feature leaves a lot to be desired. Within a few days you are constantly having routes automatically added when you have no intention of going "there". Tried it and gave it up.

I have on another brand admittedly, the options to "avoid freeways" "avoid ferries" " avoid toll roads"
is there something hiding on page 999 somewhere like
Tools > Settings > Navigation > Avoidances

I had the same issue once when I was down in the states. Set for No Toll Roads to avoid the I90 and couldn't understand why it wanted to route me through Montreal, instead of Port Huron or Michigan.
For Future trips, I created a custom avoidance for the I-90.

I just checked and this is nuts. I wondered about this when he said he was using a new 255W and never thought to look at the date..

How on earth did carollu revive this?

I have often felt that the software should look at the date of the initial post and prompt someone if they are posting 10 or more years later. Perhaps even less, maybe 7 or 8.

This is helpful information.

Yeah, when on a trip if will frequently want me to get off the interstate way early. Just have to pay attention to the signs and keep going until it recalculates. Very frustrating. Once it recalculated me off the interstate which I wouldn't reach for more hour away. I kept going and if was clear. Apparently when if reroutes you it never looks again even when you are over an hour away. Crazy. Back it up with the phone traffic app now.