Best GPS For RVs

‍If you’re an adventure-traveling RV owner, you’ll need a reliable RV GPS device to navigate the remote areas of the country without getting lost.

The six best RV GPS systems include the following:

1. Garmin RV 890 GPS Navigator
2. TomTom Go Comfort RV GPS Navigator
3. Garmin GPS RV 1090
4. Rand McNally TND 750 GPS Navigator
5. Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator
6. JOGANVE RV GPS Navigation

We spent numerous hours researching and testing various RV GPS devices, keeping in mind the essential factors to help you find the one that suits your motorhome travel needs best. Let our efforts guide you through this essential piece of RV equipment and lead you into the next section, where we showcase the top GPS devices for RVs.

‍6 Best GPS For RV Owners (Complete Guide & Reviews)

Navigating the open road in an RV is a rewarding experience. However, it's essential to have a reliable GPS system to ensure a smooth and enjoyable adventure.

Standard GPS devices are not always designed to accommodate the unique needs of RV drivers, such as vehicle size and special routing requirements. That's where the GPS devices specifically made for RVs come into play.

RV GPS devices cater not only to essential navigation features but also consider vehicle dimensions, potential road restrictions, and points of interest for motorhomes. So to improve your experience, we built this list of the best RV GPS units available.

1. Garmin RV 890 GPS Navigator

We highly recommend the Garmin RV 890 GPS Navigator for its feature-packed design and easy navigation for RV owners. The large 8" high-resolution touch display impressed and provided an amazingly clear picture.

It offers a large 8-inch edge-to-edge display, making it easy to view information at a glance. It features custom routing based on the size and weight of your RV, providing the best route for your vehicle. It’s superior to the smaller Garmin RV 785 too.

Switching between portrait and landscape modes provided convenience and screen visibility while driving our RV. The custom routing feature made our journey smoother, adjusting our route based on the size and weight of our vehicle.

What We Like Most About This GPS

Preloaded with a directory of RV parks and services, this Garmin RV GPS unit took away the hassle of searching for suitable places to stay. We found the road warnings and weight limits feature to be very useful, as they helped us navigate our RV more safely and efficiently.

It’s got a huge selection of features like hands-free calling, Bluetooth, built-in WiFi connectivity, and advanced mapping. This is one of the top-rated GPS units and works just as well as Google Maps alternatives.

Pros

• Large 8" touch display with portrait and landscape mode options
• Custom routing for RV size and weight considerations
• Road warnings for safe and informed driving
• Pairs with wireless Garmin BC 35 backup camera

Cons

• Requires a smartphone with Bluetooth for hands-free calling

2. TomTom Go Comfort RV GPS Navigator

The TomTom Go Comfort 6 Inch GPS Navigation Device is an excellent choice for RV owners who value convenience, reliable mapping, and smart routing for their trips. I found it to be very convenient for our RV road trips.

The Wi-Fi connectivity ensures that we receive fast updates and real-time phone notifications, allowing us to focus on driving. Although navigating the device takes some getting used to, once we were familiar with it, we found it quite user-friendly.

This GPS also offers smart routing and traffic updates, giving us the confidence that we're always on the right track. However, we noticed that the initial charge and Wi-Fi connection took longer than expected, which might be an inconvenience for some users.

What We Like Most About This GPS

One of the standout features of this GPS device is its compatibility with the TomTom My Drive mobile app, which enables us to plan and edit our routes before even getting into our RV. It’s super easy to use too.

The TomTom RoadTrips website offers a wealth of routes and experiences shared by a community of travelers, serving as an invaluable resource for discovering new road adventures.

Pros

• Wi-Fi enabled with fast updates and phone notifications
• TomTom Smart routing and traffic with regular map updates
• Seamless integration with TomTom My Drive mobile app and TomTom RoadTrips

Cons

• Takes time to get used to navigating the device

3. Garmin GPS RV 1090

This Garmin RV 1090 GPS navigator is an excellent choice for RVers seeking large, reliable, and feature-packed GPS systems in their vehicle. Its size allows for easier viewing of maps and information, eliminating the need for squinting or constantly zooming in.

We recently had the chance to use the Garmin RV 1090 on a road trip and were immediately impressed with its large 10" high-resolution touch display, which provided crystal-clear navigation visuals. The screen was easy to read in both portrait and landscape modes and made it simple to follow our route.

The voice control and hands-free calling capabilities were convenient features, allowing us to stay connected without taking our eyes off the road. Additionally, the built-in Wi-Fi connectivity made updating maps and software a breeze, even without access to a computer.

What We Like Most About This GPS

One huge advantage of the Garmin RV 1090 is its customized RV routing feature. It took into account our RV's size and weight, helping us avoid roads with restrictions or difficult conditions like steep grades and sharp curves.

This came in handy on multiple occasions and gave us peace of mind as we navigated unfamiliar territory. The preloaded RV parks and services directory was a game-changer during our trip.

This Garmin GPS unit offered traveler ratings and content from different sources to make life easier for RV owners. The extensive information available made planning our stops and overnight stays much easier.

Pros

• Large 10" high-resolution touch display
• Customized RV routing and road warnings
• Preloaded directory of RV parks and services
• Provides alerts for potential road hazards

Cons

• Requires a lithium-ion battery

4. Rand McNally TND 750 GPS Navigator

The Rand McNally TND 750 is a highly reliable GPS navigator for truck drivers with customizable routing and unique features, making it worth its price. It also ranks as one of the best RV GPS navigator models today.

The TND 750 features a bright, 7-inch, high-definition touchscreen. This larger screen allows for easy viewing and interaction, which is particularly helpful while navigating on the road.

This device is designed with truckers in mind. You can input your truck's specific information (height, weight, length, and cargo) to get a custom route that's suitable and safe for your vehicle.

It provides advanced lane guidance, ensuring you're in the correct lane well before you need to exit or interchange. This feature is particularly useful when navigating complex highway interchanges or unfamiliar routes.

What We Like Most About This GPS

We found the interface to be user-friendly, allowing us to access necessary information quickly. The large screen with 800 x 1280 resolution makes it easier to view detailed maps and directions.

In addition to the attractive design, this GPS unit is fueled by Rand Navigation 2.0 software, which allows us to customize our routes based on truck dimensions, fuel prices, and even live traffic data. This customizable routing has been quite beneficial, as it helps us find the most efficient paths to our destinations.

Pros

• Large, easy-to-read 7-inch touchscreen
• Customizable routes with Rand Navigation 2.0
• Millions of truck-specific POIs
• Provides real-time updates on weather, traffic, and fuel prices

Cons

• Charging cable issues

5. Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator

We highly recommend the Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator for its extra-large display, custom RV routing, and helpful satellite imagery. The large 10” display made viewing our route and following the map updates easy.

The custom RV routing ensured we stayed on roads suitable for our vehicle while exploring North America. The BirdsEye Satellite Imagery was a game-changer, providing vivid aerial views that helped us find the perfect RV park or campground.

On the downside, we found it necessary to have the device plugged in constantly, and we had to adjust the mounting bracket to fit our RV correctly. But overall, the sunlight-readable display ensures clear and comfortable viewing even in bright daylight conditions.

What We Like Most About This GPS

The device then creates custom routes appropriate for your vehicle's dimensions, weight, and height. It provides road warnings for upcoming bridge heights, weight limits, sharp curves, steep grades, and more, ensuring a safe and efficient journey.

It also comes preloaded with a comprehensive directory of RV Parks and Services and TripAdvisor traveler ratings. You can download the latest maps and software updates without needing a computer.

Pros

• Large 10” high-resolution touchscreen
• Custom routing for RV size and weight
• Built-in Wi-Fi for easy software and map updates
• BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for easy navigation

Cons

• Requires constant power connection
• Mounting bracket may need adjustments

6. JOGANVE RV GPS Navigation

We recommend this JOGANVE RV GPS for its affordability and useful features but be prepared for a slight learning curve. The lifetime map updates ensure you always navigate with the most accurate and up-to-date information.

We appreciated the large 7-inch touchscreen display, which made it easy to see the map and directions even under direct sunlight. By inputting your vehicle's specifics, you can receive appropriate and safe routes for your RV.

We found the GPS to be somewhat confusing to set up at first, but after a little time spent with the instruction manual, we managed to figure it out. The device offers multilingual voice guidance, which is a nice feature for those who prefer listening to directions instead of looking at the screen.

What We Like Most About This GPS

I love that this GPS comes preloaded with maps of North America. Additionally, it offers free lifetime updates, ensuring you always have the most recent map and points of interest information.

Apart from GPS navigation, the device serves as a multimedia player, supporting MP3 and MP4 files. It also supports multi-language functionality, offering a choice for different language speakers.

Pros

• Lifetime map updates
• Large 7-inch touchscreen display
• Multilingual voice guidance

Cons

• Lower resolution compared to competitors

What To Look For When Buying A GPS For RVs

Choosing the right GPS for your RV requires careful consideration. Here are some factors you should keep in mind when making your selection.

Screen Size and Resolution

The screen size and resolution of the GPS device can significantly impact your user experience. A larger screen size with high resolution allows for easy reading and better interaction. Consider the size of your RV's dashboard to ensure the device will fit comfortably.

Custom RV Routing

This is a crucial feature for RV GPS devices. Custom routing allows you to input your vehicle's dimensions, weight, and height, and the device will then provide suitable routes based on this information.

This can prevent you from encountering roads with height or weight restrictions that your RV can't handle. Plus, GPS devices that offer free lifetime map updates can ensure you're always navigating with the most current information. This is particularly useful if you're frequently on the move and traveling to new locations.

Preloaded Points of Interest (POI)

Some GPS devices come with a preloaded directory of RV parks and services, fuel stations, rest areas, and attractions. This feature can greatly assist in planning your stops and finding essential services on your route.

And you can get real-time traffic, and weather updates can help you avoid congested roads, road works, and adverse weather conditions, ensuring a smoother and safer trip.

Connectivity

Features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can enhance the convenience of your GPS device. Wi-Fi allows easy map and software updates, while Bluetooth enables hands-free calling or integration with other devices.

Your GPS should be durable enough to withstand the rigors of frequent travel, including high temperatures and constant vibrations.

RV GPS vs. Smartphone Maps: Which Is Best?

The choice between using a dedicated RV GPS device and smartphone maps for navigation can depend on several factors, including your specific needs, where you're traveling, and your comfort with technology.

Typically, it’s best to have both with the RV GPS as the primary option. Here’s why:

1. Connectivity and Data Usage

Smartphone maps require a stable internet connection to function optimally, especially for real-time traffic updates and route changes. If you're traveling through remote areas with spotty mobile coverage, this can be a major drawback.

However, some map apps allow offline usage, which can circumvent this issue. On the other hand, dedicated RV GPS devices use satellite signals and don't require an internet connection, so that they can provide uninterrupted service even in remote locations.

2. Customization and RV-specific Features

Dedicated RV GPS units are designed specifically with RVs in mind. They allow for custom routing based on your RV's dimensions, weight, and height and can alert you to potential issues like low bridges, weight limits, and restricted routes.

These devices often come preloaded with points of interest like campgrounds, service stations, and attractions tailored to RV users. While some smartphone map apps offer route customization based on vehicle size, they typically lack the level of detail and RV-specific features found in dedicated GPS units.

3. Battery Life

Using map apps on your smartphone can drain its battery quickly, which could be a problem if you're on a long journey and need to use your phone for other purposes. A dedicated GPS device has its own power source, so it won't drain your smartphone's battery.

4. Screen Size & Visibility

Dedicated GPS devices usually have larger screens than smartphones, providing better visibility. The screens are also designed to be readable in various lighting conditions, making them more practical for use during the day.