# GPS differs on route for return trip; why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-differs-on-route-for-return-trip-why/574788>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-differs-on-route-for-return-trip-why/574788 "2011-03-15T15:01:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedman)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-differs-on-route-for-return-trip-why/574788/21 "2011-03-17T10:27:51Z")

</div>

> [@UncleRojelio](#):
>
> [The Garmin store](https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=1268).

Thanks! (but, $18.00 for _two_ of the things???:eek:)

First, I think I’ll go by the pull-it-yourself junkyard and see if I can pry one off a dash if there is one!

cheapCedricR.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-differs-on-route-for-return-trip-why/574788/22 "2011-03-17T16:47:11Z")

</div>

Sometimes it’s as simple as the map loaded being “broken.” There is one particular road that I travel that it tells you to leave the road, and do “3 sides of a box,” then continue on the same road. It adds 2 miles to the trip, with the exit/entrance roads being only 500yds or so apart.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-differs-on-route-for-return-trip-why/574788/23 "2011-03-17T17:49:16Z")

</div>

I have a GPS in my car, but I still like to check Google maps before I leave the house. It is more up to date and will often suggest alternate routes and it easier to tweak the routes by dragging the route to the road you prefer. You can also use the street view to check out your destination.

Of course if you have an Android phone, then you can use Google maps in your car.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-differs-on-route-for-return-trip-why/574788/24 "2011-03-17T18:06:47Z")

</div>

There are perfectly legitimate reasons why one route might be quicker in one direction than another which is quicker in the other direction. For example, if you make a right turn somewhere along the trip out, you often won’t notice if that same intersection bars left turns in the opposite direction.

> [@opossum](#):
>
> Both Garmin and Tom Tom have newer models that collect user route, time, and speed data and aggregate it.

I’d like to have a device that does this only with data from _my_ travels.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-differs-on-route-for-return-trip-why/574788.md?page=1)