Does Google Maps Have an RV Setting? My Findings

Getting lost while driving an RV can turn an otherwise enjoyable road trip into a frustrating experience. Unlike passenger vehicles, RVs have unique navigation needs due to their large size and weight. Drivers need assurance that their mapped route has been optimized for larger vehicles—but does Google Maps offer specific settings for RVs?

While Google Maps does not have designated RV settings, the platform does allow drivers to enable certain options that make navigation safer and easier for oversized vehicles.

By toggling restrictions, avoiding difficult terrains, updating vehicle dimensions, and taking extra precautions, RVers can get reliable directions through Google Maps.

Overall, with a few adjustments, Google Maps can effectively guide RVers to their destinations without issues. The platform simply requires a bit more fine-tuning to account for the special requirements of larger motorhomes and campers.

Does Google Maps Have RV-Specific Settings?

Google Maps does not have a singular “RV setting” or options exclusively made for motorhomes. The platform more generally divides vehicles into categories like car, truck, taxi or bus. There also aren’t filters specifically meant for campers, wide loads or extra tall vehicles.

So rather than having settings precisely calibrated for oversized recreational vehicles, Google Maps enables drivers to toggle certain preferences that make roads friendlier for navigation.

For example, you can:

• Avoid routes with physical restrictions
• Set height, weight and width restrictions
• Select your fuel type
• Avoid tolls
• Avoid highways or ferries
• Choose terrain and route types
• Minimize difficult turns and maneuvers
• View real-time traffic conditions

While this takes more manual adjustment from the RVer, toggling these options ultimately results in mapped routes suited for the size and capability of your RV.

Some key settings combinations to enable are avoiding narrow streets, steering clear of low bridges and overhangs, skipping steep inclines, and rerouting based on individual fuel efficiency. Mapping out everywhere you don’t want to get stuck ultimately shows you the smoothest, safest roads for RVs.

What Settings Work Best for RVs?

Since Google Maps doesn’t automatically account for RV specifications, the onus falls on drivers to indicate route preferences that match their vehicle’s needs.

Some particularly useful settings combinations for RVs include:

Avoiding Physical Restrictions

Selecting this option routes drivers away from roads with vehicle height, weight, width, or length restrictions. It helps motorhomes steer clear of low-clearance bridges, narrow alleyways, roads with weight limits, or tight squeezes. This single handy toggle optimizes paths for bigger vehicles in one click.

Enabling Height, Weight and Width Limits

You can manually update your vehicle’s height, weight, and width details under settings. Programming the exact maximum dimensions of your RV means Google Maps avoids suggesting any paths where your vehicle dimensions exceed street restrictions. This prevents getting stuck on routes clearly too small for your motorhome.

Choosing “Curvy Roads” Routing

Opting for curvy roads when possible plots routes with gentler turns and maneuvers. This setting minimizes difficult tight cornering, slippery slopes, and dangerous sharp turns – helping unwieldy RVs stay safely on track.

Avoiding Ferries and Highways

By default, Google Maps includes highways and ferries to save time. But for mammoth vehicles, these fast routes pose headaches with lane changing, blind spots, risky merges, and extremely narrow lanes or barriers. Skipping these routes makes for more relaxing RV travel.

Limitations of Using Google Maps for RVs

While Google Maps offers customizable navigation, the tool isn’t without limitations for RV travel. Depending solely on Google Maps can occasionally lead to risky scenarios for oversized vehicles.

Some key issues RVers may face include:

Last-Minute Route Changes

Google Maps automatically reroutes drivers to avoid traffic jams, accidents, and road blockades for the fastest trip time. But last-minute detours may reroute unwitting RVers down troublesome roads without enough time to check restrictions.

Difficult Terrain Risks

The platform doesn’t effectively warn drivers about extremely precarious terrain such as risky downhill slopes or flood zones on mapped routes. This leaves RVs open to suddenly encountering tricky driving landscapes.

Not Accounting for All Restrictions

Despite toggling restrictions, Google Maps can suggest roads not suitable for extra wide, heavy, or tall vehicles. The tool may overlook certain overpass height limits, narrow truck restrictions, or tight squeezes.

Small Town Blind Spots

Google Maps has excellent mapping data for highways and metropolitan areas but less insights on backcountry roads. This means RVers exploring rural, remote, or rarely trafficked routes may encounter more unmapped width barriers or clearance issues.

Due to these gaps, relying solely on Google Maps entails a bit of risk. Creating backup navigational plans and taking extra precautions is wise.

How to Create Your Own RV Route on Google Maps?

An ideal way for RVers to navigate safely is by mapping out routes ahead of time based on RV requirements. While more effort upfront, creating custom Google Map directions optimized for your oversized vehicle minimizes snags.

Here is a simple step-by-step process for RV trip planning with Google Maps:

Step 1. Begin by accessing Google Maps

Start by visiting the Google website at www.google.com: https://www.google.com and signing in to your Google account.

Look for the Google Apps icon in the top right corner, resembling a square made of nine dots. Click on it to reveal a panel of icons.

Within this panel, locate the icon labeled Maps and click on it to launch Google Maps.

Step 2. Next, open the Menu

Once you’re on the Google Maps screen, find the Menu icon in the upper left corner. It’s represented by three horizontal bars. Click on it to access various menu options.

Now, create a new map:

Within the Menu panel, locate the option Your Places and click on it.

This will open another side panel where you’ll find the MAPS tab. Click on this tab to proceed.

To initiate the map creation process, click on the CREATE MAP button positioned at the bottom of the sidebar.

Step 3. Time to personalize your map

Give your map a unique title and description by clicking on the words Untitled map and filling in the details. Remember to click SAVE to apply your changes.

To organize your markers, create layers based on trips or themes. You can do this by clicking on the words Untitled layer and adding a relevant name.

Start adding markers to your map by searching for specific locations. When you find a place you want to include, click on the + Add to map button.

Customize the appearance of your markers by selecting different icons and colors. To do this, hover over a location in the sidebar and click on the paint can icon that appears.

While requiring some additional effort, a DIY mapping approach gives RVers maximum control in choosing the safest, simplest roads for oversized vehicle navigation.

Alternative to Google Maps for RVers

The key things to look for are offline GPS capability, RV-specific routing and locations, trip planning features and the ability to find essential stops. Combining a couple of these apps usually works well for most RVers’ navigation needs on the road.

• RV LIFE Maps – Made specifically for RVers, has features like RV-friendly routing, finding RV parks and campgrounds, etc. Integrates well with the RV LIFE App.
• AllStays Camp & RV – Shows all 14,000+ RV parks & campgrounds in North America. Can filter by amenities. Offline maps are available.
• Roadtrippers – Helps plan RV trips, find interesting stops, and calculate maps. Syncs stops and routes across devices.
• CoPilot GPS – Popular offline GPS navigation app good for RVers. No cell service is required after maps are downloaded. Reasonably priced.
• SYGIC Travel – Offline GPS app with campground locator and risk zones for low bridges/tunnels. Creates shareable itineraries.
• Pilot Travel Centers – Helps locate nearby Pilot/Flying J travel centers. Good for finding parking, amenities & refueling stops.
• Trucker Path – Crowdsourced app where truckers & RVers report parking locations, road issues, etc. Useful alert system.

Conclusion

Google Maps doesn’t have a singular RV setting but enables options for customizing mapped routes to match oversized vehicle needs. While not a flawless system, the platform still allows RVers to avoid tricky terrain, dodge physical barriers, and steer clear of narrow lanes. With careful tweaking and old-fashioned route vetting, Google Maps offers adequate assistance for RV navigation. Remember to drive cautiously, keep dimensions restrictions in mind, and always have backup directions on hand for stress-free travels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Google Maps work well for planning RV trips?

Yes, Google Maps works quite well for routing RV trips. While not perfect, the platform lets you toggle multiple preferences to map out roads suited for oversized vehicle dimensions, filtration capabilities and terrain restrictions. With some manual customization, Google Maps provides reliable RV navigation.

What settings should I enable on Google Maps for my RV?

Useful Google Maps settings for RVs include: avoiding tolls, avoiding highways, minimizing difficult turns, plotting routes with gentler curves, avoiding physical vehicle restrictions, toggling height/weight/width limits to match your RV’s dimensions, and avoiding tricky terrain like steep inclines.

Can Google Maps automatically detect my vehicle height and size?

No. Google Maps cannot automatically detect RV dimensions. You need to manually enter settings for your vehicle’s height, weight, and width for routing purposes. Adjust these maximum dimensions to fit your individual motorhome or camper.

Does Google Maps have enough data on rural back roads for RV travel?

Not always. Google Maps has excellent highway and city data but fewer insights on remote, rarely trafficked rural back roads. So RVers planning to significantly explore off the beaten path should have backup navigational resources in case Google Maps lacks restrictions data.

Why should I make my own RV route instead of solely relying on Google Maps?

It’s wise for RVers to manually map out routes using Google Maps but validate all details ahead of time. That guards against last-minute reroutes down troublesome roads. Google Maps isn’t foolproof so vetting your own RV route provides an extra layer of assurance.