Route optimization

Is there a way to compare toll free route vs route with tolls quickly on Garmin?

I generally use an iPad to get a rough estimate of travel times and distance. In Google Maps you can do the following:

Open Google Maps
Go to three lines or three dots Menu at top left
Scroll down to Settings
Scroll down to Navigation Settings
Scroll down to Route options
Select your choice, tolls or no tolls.

This procedure may vary slightly depending on the Google Map version and device (iPad vs. Android).

Google Maps is generally close to Garmin with respect to distance and times. But you can if you desire toggle tolls or non-tolls on a GPS as well.

I believe then go to Navigation. Toggle the toll box on and off. It will show both routes. One with the toll box checked and the other route when the toll box is unchecked. However, it will not show the amount of the toll.

I use BaseCamp to compare routes, and have one Activity Profile set to avoid toll roads and another to use them, easy then to compare.

I have my GPS set to avoid toll roads at all cost, no pun intended.
I make two exceptions if I drive in Kansas I do take their toll roads since they are very reasonably priced and also in Mexico but that is because it saves me time. Mexican tolls are quite expensive.

We used to make trips to Atlantic City fairly often - before the pandemic.

When I first got a Garmin, the 660 would route us east on I-64 to US 13 and across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (Toll $14 M-Th, $18 F-Sun). We would then take US 113 up to Delaware 1 (toll road - $4 total) to I-95 and then across the Delaware Memorial Bridge (no toll going north, $5 going south) to US 40 and on to AC. Garmin wanted us to take the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, but we did that a few times and sometimes you had to wait 2 hrs in the summer to be loaded and the fare is now $46.00 (for 2 seniors one-way). The ferry does give you some time to stretch your legs, but the price & wait time is not worth it for us, plus the Garden State Pkwy is a toll road - but not very expensive.

Nowadays, my 3597 wants me to go west on I-64, then I-95 north, to the Delaware Memorial Bridge and then the the NJ turnpike and then take the AC Expressway. This is a shorter route, but there are almost always severe traffic delays. PLUS, this is not a route for "Timid" drivers. 10 to 15 mph over the speed limit is the norm. Lots of 18 wheelers and extremely aggressive drivers and "White Knuckle" driving.

I have to drive almost to the Hampton Roads bridge-tunnel before the 3597 routes us up the eastern shore. My 660 still wants me to go via the eastern shore, but I prefer the 3597, of course.

We pay the tolls to avoid the hassle and most of the time it takes less time. Plus there are lots of Wawas and fast food places along the route for pit stops. I have EZ-Pass which saves time and sometimes there is a discount.

At least on a nuvi 2689, there is a way to exclude ferries from any routing.

So, in a previous post above, I made the claim that the routing was different between my 660 & my 2597.

Well I double-checked and it still is. And "Avoid Tolls" is NOT selected on both units.

I wonder how many other users that have multiple Garmins get different routing.

What is BaseCamp located. Is that on Garmin GPS?

Thanks

I’d start at https://www.garmin.com/en-US/software/basecamp/. Having said that I don’t use it so don’t know anything about limitations, use, compatibility, etc.

I tried to Optimize my school bus route Took me an hour to get it back like it needs to be. You can't just turn a 40' school bus around in the average driveway.

Seriously, I drove a school bus that had been converted over for use as a band bus. We came back from a band competition and one of the students parents did not show up to pick him up, so he asked me if I could take him home. I said sure and he jumped on the bus with me. Come to find out that he lived on a cul-de-sac. Upon finding that out I had him get out and walk to his house which was a few houses down. I managed to get turned around by using the cross street. You can get into some unusual situations when driving a bus.

TomTom is much easier at including tolls or excluding them

In a Garmin you just select Avoid tolls or not, how can it be any easier?

My Zumo 665 and my Nuvi 885 give different answers with the same avoidances turned on and the routing set to car. If I end up having both in the car and running routes on both, I choose one to mute so i only hear one version of directions.

Agreed! Turn On Avoid Toll many Garmin devices, they will show different options, but never can be easier if you are local drivers. All are following to their 3rd paid parties to Garmin. plus, most recent Garmin unit don't show much POI as old version. Even the new map version 2021 still show less POI than previous.
For ex. Garmin new map 2021 miss many POI compared old car map year 2018. Hope this help!

Avoid tolls is the option for me

Doesn't Waze show you a dollar amount that could be saved if you select the toll-free route? I think I've noticed that on their system.

I find the routing on Garmin to be glitchy. I live on Long Island and I was on the LIE and it told me to get off the LIE, which I did. Then it told me to get back on the LIE. There was no traffic or anything so I don't know why it did it. But it was frustrating b/c it added to my total drive time.

I had a couple routes in the nuvi and whenever I updated the maps it would re-map the routes direct, as in the crow flies. I would have to re-map it to fix. I moved so don't use those routes anymore.

Tomtom asks during routing if you want to avoid tolls. This would be a better option thatn garmin

You can set most Garmins to use tolls, or avoid tolls or ask ...

I'm lucky that I live in an area with no tolls and honestly, I can't tell you how many years it's been since I paid a toll. If TomToms ask about tolls whenever creating a route, I'd really hate to have to say no every time.