Baltimore to Reagan National Airport, not by Garmin.

 

I had to go to Reagan National Airport in DC from Baltimore twice last week. Good thing I had a clue and didn’t trust the Garmin.

From north of Baltimore the Garmin wanted to go through the city of Annapolis (which is east of Baltimore/Washington), down to Southern Maryland, make a U-turn (yes the directions say make a U-turn), and then north to DC. Total driving distance according to Garmin is 85 miles, not all of which is limited access. Total driving distance according to Google is 58 miles, all on limited access highways. Not until just outside the DC Beltway did the Garmin stop trying to go out to the middle of nowhere.

Just to make it worse, about a mile before the 14th Street Bridge, the Garmin wanted me to exit on Maine Avenue. If I had it is possible to get back to the 14 St Bridge but it is longer and far messier than just continuing across the bridge in I395. That totally confused the Garmin, so it just gave up and gave a “as the crow flies” route to the airport. Not helpful.

Really

My 2508 plots a perfectly logical route (I lived in DC for 2 years) taking me straight to the airport, without any of the situations you describe. Total distance is 43 miles, that was from the center of Baltimore as unsure exactly where you started from.

What device do you have? Which map (mine is 2017.20).

Do you have any avoidances set?

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Wild Routes

In the past I would get wild routing like that because I had the "No Tolls" option set. Just one Toll bridge or tunnel would generate some of the wildest routes imaginable. Now I have an EZPass box I no longer set that option and routes always seem to come out much more reasonable.

Surprising that Garmin did

Surprising that Garmin did not give you good directions.

Personally, I drive NH avenue south into DC, left on North capital street, right on H street (I think), onto 395...then over some bridges and then GW Parkway to the airport.

One needs to be very careful in DC as there are cameras all over the place. I have had times when my Garmin crashes because it is overwhelmed with so many cameras so close to my car. This has happened when passing New York avenue.

I mentioned

on Monday that this past weekend, Garmin had a tough time in DC. (again updated last month, someone said to clear out junk which I take it is icons, voices, etc.)

Again I had my android with google maps and Garmin both routing, and the Garmin could not recalculate once I didn't take its course, more than 60 secs. every time, which was not practical.

And also, it illogically wanted us to take New York Ave. from near the Verizon center, to get to our destination. For one, I could already see traffic backed up, and of course, solid green on Garmin.

Google maps took us north westward across town, which, again not knowing the area that well, made sense to me, since we were headed into MD NW of the city.

please try

dougcutler wrote:

In the past I would get wild routing like that because I had the "No Tolls" option set. Just one Toll bridge or tunnel would generate some of the wildest routes imaginable. Now I have an EZPass box I no longer set that option and routes always seem to come out much more reasonable.

clearing junk out of a folder called "buck wild routing" That may help to stop this undesirable behavior.

p.s. I hate how some tolling authorities now charge the cash rate if you did not get your EZPass through them. MD and NYC come to mind. It can be substantial, like $16 instead of $11.08, where even though you have EZPass, you still pay $16. I think that is unethical.

Why bother with EZPass then?

dougcutler wrote:

p.s. I hate how some tolling authorities now charge the cash rate if you did not get your EZPass through them. MD and NYC come to mind. It can be substantial, like $16 instead of $11.08, where even though you have EZPass, you still pay $16. I think that is unethical.

I have been working in CT for the past few months and I heard that NY does not charge to get an EZPass. I guess this is how they are making the extra money to pay for that now. I am also starting a new job in DC next month, and figured it would be smart to get one since I could use it all over New England and even out as far as IL. But, if they are going to charge me the same rate as cash, why waste my time. I am also from CO and have no need to do this, once I get back home, but was hoping to save a few bucks while out here over time.

Thanks for the heads up.

Alan

no worries

abeebe wrote:
dougcutler wrote:

p.s. I hate how some tolling authorities now charge the cash rate if you did not get your EZPass through them. MD and NYC come to mind. It can be substantial, like $16 instead of $11.08, where even though you have EZPass, you still pay $16. I think that is unethical.

I have been working in CT for the past few months and I heard that NY does not charge to get an EZPass. I guess this is how they are making the extra money to pay for that now. I am also starting a new job in DC next month, and figured it would be smart to get one since I could use it all over New England and even out as far as IL. But, if they are going to charge me the same rate as cash, why waste my time. I am also from CO and have no need to do this, once I get back home, but was hoping to save a few bucks while out here over time.

Thanks for the heads up.

Alan

I had once heard that there was a tiny tolling authority called the Peace Bridge in NYS, that did not charge anything, so they were inundated with applications. For example, NJ is $1/mo., IF you do paperless. $12/yr. is not the end of the world...but it stinks to be treated as 2nd class in NYC or MD. The NJ Turnpike is a gold mine, why don't they start charging non NJ EZPass tags more (unethical)?

But, I suppose the real reason for EZPass is to save time at the toll booths, AND, take advantage of a commuter plan where you live....

Oh as you probably know already, be careful in DC/MD as they are blanketed with speed and red light cams. I do find MD to be totally reasonable, you only get a ticket if you are >= 12 mph over the limit, and the fine is $40. A clue that there is a speed camera is that all the cars are moving at the speed limit (feels slow)...and locals do not seem to take advantage of that 11.x mph buffer, they seem to go the limit....good luck in your travels!

John

Tolls

dougcutler wrote:

In the past I would get wild routing like that because I had the "No Tolls" option set. Just one Toll bridge or tunnel would generate some of the wildest routes imaginable. Now I have an EZPass box I no longer set that option and routes always seem to come out much more reasonable.

In Canada and the USA I have my GPS set to avoid tolls. Just because of it, it still will take me across the Ambassador bridge (Toll) or the Blue water bridge (Toll).
That may be partially because I set a waypoint right on these bridges!!!!
I also take 2-3 toll roads in Texas, but again I have wayoints on these roads for the route I'm on !

--
Nuvi 2797LMT, DriveSmart 50 LMT-HD, Using Windows 10. DashCam A108C with GPS.

I

I don't think there is any "maybe" about it. laugh out loud There are lots of stories around about not having those waypoints on the bridge and the toll road avoidance on. The result is the Nuvi will direct you somewhere east of Lake Ontario where there is one route without a toll to get from the US to Canada or vise versa.

--
Nuvi 350, 760, 1695LM, 3790LMT, 2460LMT, 3597LMTHD, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, DriveSmart 61, Garmin Drive 52, Garmin Backup Camera 40 and TomTom XXL540s.

Details

sussamb wrote:

My 2508 plots a perfectly logical route (I lived in DC for 2 years) taking me straight to the airport, without any of the situations you describe. Total distance is 43 miles, that was from the center of Baltimore as unsure exactly where you started from.

What device do you have? Which map (mine is 2017.20).

Do you have any avoidances set?

I actually started from three different locations, one on the I95 North corridor, one on the I83 North corridor, and one in between. All had equivalent nonsense. I only checked the full route details when I investigated from home, since I am not going to try to analyze nonsense routing while actually driving. I did look ahead enough while driving to know that all wanted to put me on Riva Road in Annapolis.

I was using a 50LM (without traffic) with maps updated a couple of months ago. It had no problem routing me through the tolls (Harbor Tunnel).

I used the Garmin preloaded POI for Terminal BC. Seemed like the logical thing to choose as that was where I was going. Guess I should try picking the same point off the map and see how it routes.

Well ...

... I checked that POI. It's bang on and doesn't change the routing, regardless of which of your 3 start points I choose.

Why yours routed the way it did I can't explain, unless you have a strange avoidance set or maybe inadvertently inserted a via point somewhere.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

A couple other possibilities

sussamb wrote:

... I checked that POI. It's bang on and doesn't change the routing, regardless of which of your 3 start points I choose.

Why yours routed the way it did I can't explain, unless you have a strange avoidance set or maybe inadvertently inserted a via point somewhere.

We're assuming the OP has chosen Fastest Route. Choosing Shortest Route, most fuel-efficient route, etc. may cause odd routing.

Unlikely, but another possibility is having the device in pedestrian or bicycle mode rather than automobile. I suppose trucker/RV devices may also create routes not optimized for automobiles.

Well ...

... he has a 50LM so the only mode is automobile. The route chosen is over 80 miles instead of 50 odd so it would be an even weirder'shortest' route.

Something though is wrong but as you know pinpointing issues like this over a forum can be tricky smile

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

possible via point?

zeaflal wrote:

...all wanted to put me on Riva Road in Annapolis...

Is it possible you have a Saved Place or a POI on Riva Road? Perhaps it was previously used in a GoTo or as a via point in a trip/route? Perhaps there is more than one navigation going on at the same time.

While navigating a trip that contains a via point, if you do not actually hit the via point, or about 100 feet either side, if it is along the road, then after the via point is bypassed the GPS will not go to the end destination but try to get back to the via point again and again. While driving, it is difficult to determine whether this is happening. It would be best to stop at a safe location. It is certainly better than going a long distance the wrong way.

Click on the X icon on the home screen to stop navigation, and re-enter your intended destination. To be sure, shut the GPS down - not just sleep - and restart it.

dobs108 smile

No via point

dobs108 wrote:

Is it possible you have a Saved Place or a POI on Riva Road? Perhaps it was previously used in a GoTo or as a via point in a trip/route? Perhaps there is more than one navigation going on at the same time.

Well I have been to 9 states in the past month, plus having no problems routing home from the airport. Sure seems to be something weird about that destination.

Note that it also said to make a U-turn. I do have U-turns disabled, so this is the first time I have seen it do that.

cause unknown

The cause for the GPS wanting to "go back" cannot be determined. I predict that after restarting the GPS, the next time you navigate to Reagan (without a via point) the navigation will be correct. This is assuming that avoidances are correctly entered and that traffic info has not altered the route.

dobs108 smile

try again

Try again and let the Nuvi build the route. Look through the turn-by-turn instructions by touching the top green bar and paging through them. See if any flags show on the directions. This will tell you if you have a via point or a POI getting mixed in.

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

It's the Garmin

So I tried again from my home on the north of Baltimore. Fresh start, no routes, and no vias. Avoidances are U-Turns, carpool lanes, and dirt roads. Preference is for faster time. No traffic available on the 50LM.

Picking Terminal B or Terminal C from Garmin's POIs gives the same nonsense routing as Terminal BC. Picking Terminal A (which is about 200 yards up the road) routes properly on the route I took.

Also note that if I look ahead at the turn-by-turn directions for the bad routing, it includes an explicit U-Turn even though U-Turn avoidance is set. I have to conclude that Garmin's POIs include some additional data that is very faulty for these destinations.

Well ...

... I suspect something is wrong with your nuvi as I can't get mine to behave like yours. Try a master reset to see if that resolves it.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

One more test

I did one more test. I went to the Nuvi map and pointed to the road in front of Terminal C and told it to navigate to that point. Still selected the same absurd routing so my thought that it might be related to the preloaded POIs is wrong. Pretty much says I have found a setting for which the Garmin produces blatantly wrong routing. If can do it wrong in this case, it can do it wrong elsewhere. That really highlights the need to have a clue where you are going and not blindly trust the GPS.

Well ...

... As I've pointed out it works for me and others. Have you tried a master reset as I suggested?

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Just tried it with a Dezl

Just tried it with a Dezl 770. Used Jarretsville Pike as the start, and the Terminal C entry from the Reagan listings that showed in the search.

As near as I can tell, the route goes around the west of Balimor, down 295 to 695, crosses the river to US1 to the south end of the airport then back around NE to terminal C.

Avoidances are U Turn, Carpool Lanes and Unpaved roads. Faster Time. Even selecting Avoid Highways, took me west to 97, then straight south to the airport..

As said above, you need to do a Master Reset, (found in the FAQ), then possibly reinstall the map software.

--
Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

failed map update?

phranc wrote:

... As said above, you need to do a Master Reset, (found in the FAQ), then possibly reinstall the map software.

At worst, there could be a failed map update. If so, a master reset will not fix that. Using Garmin Express, reinstall the map. Charge the GPS beforehand. Watch the PC screen to make sure it completes properly.

dobs108 smile

Well ...

... There's no indication it's a map issue. A master reset takes a few seconds, a map update an hour or so. I agree with phranc, do the reset first. If still an issue reload the map.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

I think there is still

I think there is still something being missed. If it's routing him through Annapolis, it's taking him 40 miles to the East and avoiding the major highways.

Perhaps there is an AVOID set in Navigation?

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

No special avoids.

They are all listed above. The odd thing is that even though avoid U-turns is enabled, the bad routing requested a U-turn.

I have trouble conceiving of an internal issue that would cause this behavior AND that could be fixed by a reset. After all, multiple thousand miles through ten states in the past couple of months seemed to work just fine. In any case I am due for a software/map update so it is downloading as I type. We will see if that corrects the issue.

Maybe a bad unit.

zeaflal wrote:

They are all listed above. The odd thing is that even though avoid U-turns is enabled, the bad routing requested a U-turn.

I have trouble conceiving of an internal issue that would cause this behavior AND that could be fixed by a reset. After all, multiple thousand miles through ten states in the past couple of months seemed to work just fine. In any case I am due for a software/map update so it is downloading as I type. We will see if that corrects the issue.

I don't doubt your word at what you are seeing, however, no one else can replicate your problem. That leaves three options. Master Reset, map reinstall, or call tech support and try to get it replaced under warranty.

The fact that no one else can replicate it points to a fault in the unit. I list the other two options, because tech support will request you do them before they will act. Be sure to call, not email Garmin. You will get a much better response.

Oh, and if Garmin can't go around the block in a reasonable distance, it WILL route you through a U Turn despite your preferences. So don't fret over that too much. It will ignore avoidances some times if necessary.

Also, I don't remember reading this, but is this a new to you unit, or is this something that just started after the last map/software update?

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

Reset

zeaflal wrote:

I have trouble conceiving of an internal issue that would cause this behavior AND that could be fixed by a reset.

So you never rebooted a computer to fix it's wonkiness? I have, even on Linux and Mac. And your Garmin runs on a Linux based OS.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

not sure if anyone ever answered

why Garmin routes one way to a destination, and another way back, on the same preference. There is no question their devices can be quirky. The one that I find impractical is when you can't use the address that an establishment gives you, such as town, you have to try to figure out what other town to use like you're on a game show, when you have a map that is weeks old and the establishment opened in 1971.

Example is xxx Route 1 & 9 South, Newark, NJ, i.e. these types of addresses. With google, you just google the establishment, and hit directions, and you're off and arriving by the time you get it squared on the garmin.

have you ever been on a car forum

sussamb wrote:

... As I've pointed out it works for me and others. Have you tried a master reset as I suggested?

where the thread is, how do I tell if my battery is still good?

I've been on 3, and for whatever reason, folks dance around the load test, which tells in 3 sec. if a battery is good, or bad. They just don't want to do it, so they want another way to get the answer, and all the other ways are subjective.

"Did you talk to a psychic? A good one can compare your CCA today, to the original."

"I would just make sure the blinker fluid was topped off in the last year, if so, you're good."

"Just drive until your alternator burns out, then you will know the battery was bad all along."

It borders on ridiculous..haha

There ...

johnnatash4 wrote:

why Garmin routes one way to a destination, and another way back, on the same preference. There is no question their devices can be quirky. The one that I find impractical is when you can't use the address that an establishment gives you, such as town, you have to try to figure out what other town to use like you're on a game show, when you have a map that is weeks old and the establishment opened in 1971.

Example is xxx Route 1 & 9 South, Newark, NJ, i.e. these types of addresses. With google, you just google the establishment, and hit directions, and you're off and arriving by the time you get it squared on the garmin.

... are numerous reasons why out and back routes differ. Two examples are one way streets and preference for left over right turns or vice versa depending on where you live.

As for Google versus your nuvi, it's fairly obvious that Google has massive servers able to cope far better than the rather small processor in your GPS device. Having said that I've never had a real issue locating places I want on my nuvi.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Well yes and no.

phranc wrote:

So you never rebooted a computer to fix it's wonkiness? I have, even on Linux and Mac. And your Garmin runs on a Linux based OS.

I have rebooted computers when the software runs away and generally stops working. On anything I have seen in the past several decades that means a power cycle and the Nuvi has been power cycled numerous times. I have never seen a case where the software basically works except for producing an answer you don't like that can be corrected by a reset.

Well ...

... I have, and seen numerous comments from others that it has. Of course it doesn't solve every issue ...

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

Map

phranc wrote:

...If it's routing him through Annapolis, it's taking him 40 miles to the East and avoiding the major highways...

It's almost as if a piece of the map is missing.

dobs108 smile

avoidances

The avoidances have been checked and re-checked. That is understood.

A few times in the past, settings on my nuvi 3597 have changed and had to be toggled back and forth to be set correctly. For example, I have always had a setting for alerts to be on at custom POIs such as red light cameras, and this has never been touched. Twice the alerts stopped happening. When checked, the setting was on. I toggled the setting to off, restarted the nuvi, and toggled the setting to on. That solved the problem, but the cause was unexplained.

Try to toggle the settings to allow u-turns and avoid limited-access highways. Restart the GPS and restore the correct settings.

Alternately, doing a reset should restore these settings to their defaults.

dobs108 smile

Here's a thought. On every

Here's a thought. On every page with a variable setting, click the three small lines in the upper left of the screen. There is a choice to restore Defaults.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

It is easy to demonstrate it

It is easy to demonstrate it s not a general avoidance glitch. Most obvious is that if I select terminal A which is a couple of hundred yards down the same road the routing is normal. If there was an odd avoidance enabled, the adjacent location would also not route properly. In addition some of the obvious potential avoidances (tolls, limited access highways) are used for the bad routing, even though they need not be.

As I mentioned upthread,

As I mentioned upthread, judging from the number of folks and the number of different models of GPS, that your problem is confined to just one device, yours.

In this forum, there are some pretty established Trouble shooting procedures. Master Reset, Reinstall of software/map update, contact tech support on the fail of the first two.

So, the question remains, have you done any of this? Has any thing helped? Remember, even after a reinstall of software/map update, a reset by pressing and holding the OFF button until TURN OFF is displayed can be necessary.

It would seem that you have exhausted the resources of this forum, and lacking any other feedback on you results of trying the suggestions, I would say that it's time you perhaps contacted Garmin's Tech Support line.

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

I had same thing happen in

I had same thing happen in San Francisco.... Ended up I had "Avoid Toll Roads" enabled.... I could get away with that in Illinois or NC, but not SF!

--
A 2689LMT in both our cars that we love... and a Nuvi 660 with Lifetime Maps that we have had literally forever.... And a 2011 Ford Escape with Nav System that is totally ignored!

Wash DC

Every one of my Garmin Units has done strange things whenever I travel near/around DC.

Takes me different ways each time, goes thru the city instead of staying on major roads... it's weird.

If ...

... you have traffic avoidances set I'm not surprised as DC traffic can be horrendous. If not then all I can say is that routing when I was there in March/April did what I was expecting.

--
Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20

no traffic

If zeaflal is using the 50LM,it does not have traffic.

dobs108 smile

Well ...

... I was replying to the post above mine, so not sure what GPS pratzert is using wink

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Where there's a will ... there's a way ... DriveSmart51LMT-S, DriveSmart50LMT-D, Nuvi 2508LMT-D, 1490LMT, 1310, Montana 650T, Etrex 20