We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Travel Products The 6 Best GPS Navigators of 2024 Yep — a GPS device might be more helpful than a smartphone for some travelers. By Joel Balsam Updated on January 17, 2024 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist and editor who has traveled across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and spent more than a decade reviewing hotel room. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process In This Article Expand In This Article Our Top Picks ReviewsTips for Buying Frequently Asked Questions Why Trust T+L Photo: Travel + Leisure / David Hattan We’ve come a long way since the U.S. Department of Defense started launching GPS to map satellites into space in the 1970s. Now, the vast majority of us have a GPS navigator in our pockets thanks to a smartphone and apps like Google, Apple Maps, or Waze which get us from point A to point B. However, a specific GPS navigation device can still be very helpful depending on how you travel. If you’re taking road trips, it’s advantageous to have a dedicated GPS map in your vehicle if you don’t already have one in the dash. Car-mounted GPS devices also have useful features like dash and rear cams, live traffic reports, police stop data and TripAdvisor reviews. Meanwhile, handheld GPS navigators are potentially lifesaving for hikers, climbers, and other off-grid adventurers where cell phone reception won’t work. (Plus, they usually have better battery life than your phone.) Last but not least, wearable GPS smartwatches allow you to stay on track both on the trail and with your fitness goals. That said, take a look at the best GPS navigators for travel below. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Garmin DriveSmart 66 at Amazon ($285) Jump to Review Best Large Screen: Garmin DriveSmart 86 at Amazon ($350) Jump to Review Best Handheld: Garmin GPSMAP 67i at Amazon ($600) Jump to Review Most Durable: Garmin GPSMAP 64sx at Garmin.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Wearable: Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar at Amazon ($800) Jump to Review Best for Cycling: Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 at Amazon ($280) Jump to Review Best Overall Garmin DriveSmart 66 PHOTO: Amazon $234 at Amazon View on Garmin.com $322 at Staples Why We Love It It’s the best all-around GPS for drivers and there are many ways to customize it. What to Consider You’ll need to pay extra to add international maps. Garmin is the clear leader in GPS navigators (as you can probably tell from this list), and the DriveSmart 66 is the U.S.-born company’s sweet spot device. Available in 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-inch screens, it spans a range of price points and additional features for every user. Its operating system and maps are very clear and straightforward, with the ability to search and check reviews on TripAdvisor. You can talk to it with the help of Amazon Alexa, or by downloading the GarminDrive app on any compatible smartphone to play music, listen to audiobooks etc. There are other ways to customize this device, too — for example, you can add traffic info and a dash cam, or pair it with a rear backup camera. A wonderful feature for U.S. drivers is national park information, which maps out picnic spots, visitor centers and more. The only thing is, if you’re not in North America, you’ll have to pay extra to add world maps when you’re on Wi-Fi. The Details: 6 x 3.4 x 0.7 inches | 6.17 ounces | Car mount | Up to 1 hour battery life Best Large Screen Garmin DriveSmart 86 PHOTO: Amazon $300 at Amazon View on Garmin.com $404 at Staples Why We Love It It has a big, beautiful 8-inch screen with all of Garmin’s excellent features. What to Consider Its size means it may not be the best option to bring on a plane or when there’s limited packing space. If your vehicle doesn’t come with an in-dash GPS, this device is the next best thing. Available with a frankly huge 8-inch screen, the DriveSmart 86 will guide you in clarity. It comes with all the same features as the 66 above, including the possibility for traffic and a dash cam. Again, it’s best for users in North America, especially if you’re in a city where live cameras point out parking spots. That said, you can add world maps for an additional fee. Another benefit of this GPS device is an additional USB port for charging phones or other devices in the car. The Details: 7.6 x 4.7 x 0.77 inches | 10.41 ounces | Car mount | Up to 1 hour battery life The 8 Best Car Phone Mounts of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best Handheld Garmin GPSMAP 67i PHOTO: Amazon $545 at Amazon $600 at Dick's View on Garmin.com Why We Love It It’s an awesome device with plenty of features for many kinds of outdoor adventures. What to Consider It’s quite expensive. Whether you’re climbing the Himalayas or Andes, sailing the high seas, or just want to be a safe hiker, having a handheld GPS device is not just a good idea — it could be a matter of life and death if something goes wrong. This Garmin GPS Map 67i has your back with a huge number of features, including satellite messaging, SOS, topographic maps, and a whopping 165 hours of battery life. It’s also super durable, with chemically-strengthened glass. If you just need a budget-friendly, handheld GPS device, check out the Garmin eTrex SE instead. The Details: 2.5 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches | 8.1 ounces | Handheld | 165 hours battery life Most Durable Garmin GPSMAP 64sx PHOTO: Garmin View on Garmin.com Why We Love It It’s a tough handheld GPS device with the features necessary for most travelers. What to Consider It has just 16 hours of battery life. For a budget-friendly handheld device at a more pocket-friendly price than the above 67i, check out the Garmin GPSMAP 64sx. It has some of the same features but with a much shorter battery life (16 hours) and no satellite messaging or SOS. However, it’s IPX7 water-resistant (submerged to 10 feet for 30 minutes) and reinforced, making it great for backcountry hiking. It also has most of the features needed and industry-leading GPS accuracy. For an extra $100, you can add an 8MP camera, too. The Details: 2.4 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches | 7.7 ounces | Handheld | 16 hours battery life Best Wearable Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar PHOTO: Amazon $800 at Amazon View on Garmin.com View on Hsn.com Why We Love It It has plenty of features to amp up your training regimen. What to Consider You can’t receive calls unless you have Bluetooth earphones or a headset. The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Solar almost shouldn’t be called a watch — it’s more of a supercomputer for your wrist. It charges with the sun, has an amazing amount of training insights from coaches, and most impressively, it shows GPS maps as you walk. It also has cycling maps with turn-by-turn directions, surf tide info, sleep monitoring, and so much more. Plus it’ll pair with iPhones or Androids for notifications, as with an Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch. One major point of note is that there’s no mic in this GPS, so you can’t receive calls. The Details: 1.65 x 1.65 x 0.56 inches | 2.22 ounces | Up to 11 days battery life or 173 days on battery-saver mode Tech Essentials Best for Cycling Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 PHOTO: Amazon $280 at Amazon View on Wahoofitness.com Why We Love It It’s simple to use and more affordable than its competitors. What to Consider The battery life is pretty short and there’s no touchscreen. Sure, Garmin also has plenty of GPS cycling computers, but for the sake of change and affordability, check out the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2. Super simple to use, this GPS navigator has buttons on the sides and pairs with a phone app for extra features. The display might be small, but it’s quite bright and the Summit Climbing feature is a neat way to inform you when inclines are coming up. One major downside is the 15-hour battery life, which is probably longer than your smartphone but shorter than those of other GPS devices on the market. The Details: 2.2 inches | Bike mount | 15-hour battery life The 15 Best Watches for Men of 2024 Tips for Buying GPS Navigators Consider the type of trips you’ll use it on While the technology of GPS navigators (aka satellite geo-positioning) is somewhat similar across devices, each device’s features vary substantially. Most apparently, the display size of GPS navigators will determine how and where you use it, so make sure you know before buying whether you want to use it for driving, cycling, hiking, or off-grid adventures. Decide how you’ll carry and use it Not every GPS device is built for international traveling. For instance, Garmins require you to pay extra for world maps. Also, big screens might not be the best thing to take in your carry-on. So make sure portability and connectivity are your priorities if you plan to use a GPS navigator for travel. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of using a GPS navigation device versus a phone app? For many people, Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze on your smartphone is enough. But if you’re in rural areas without reception, a GPS navigator is more trustworthy. GPS navigators also come with other useful features like live traffic reports and police stop alerts, topographic maps, and perhaps most importantly, a much longer battery life than smartphones. Using a car for your journey? GPS devices are also helpful if you don’t have an in-dash system. How are GPS devices powered? In-car GPS devices usually plug into a USB jack while portable devices are either rechargeable or battery-powered. A useful feature that we’re starting to see more of is solar charging which can be important if you’re spending time away from guaranteed power outlets. Why Trust Travel + Leisure For this story, T+L contributing writer Joel Balsam reviewed the best GPS devices on the market and came to his conclusions based on research and years of experience as a world traveler to more than 60 countries. 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