Entering Coordinates on an Automotive Device

Garmin devices allow you to use geographical coordinates as a destination.

Navigating to Coordinates:

To Navigate to a Set of Coordinates:

1. Touch Where To?
2. Touch Coordinates
   • Some devices require that you touch Categories before this step
3. Enter the latitude and longitude
   
   • Some devices require that you touch the Coordinates box first
4. Touch Next, Done, or View on Map
5. Touch Go

The device will now begin navigating you to the entered coordinates.

When given coordinates for a GPS position, you may find the format does not match the device's format or that the coordinates have too many numbers.

Touch Format or Search Format if the desired coordinates do not match the format used on the device. Some devices require you to touch the  wrench icon or the  menu icon to access the Coordinate Format option.

If the formatting of the coordinates does not match the format on the Garmin Device, confirm the format of the provided coordinates. Maps will often provide the position format they use.

Coordinate Formats:

Coordinates can come from a variety of sources. Different sources may have different formats. It may be helpful to research the format your coordinates are in before entering them into your device. Below are the coordinates of the Statue of Liberty Memorial in New York using two common formats.

Degrees, Minutes, Seconds:

Here is the location of the memorial in the common "degrees, minutes, seconds" (h ddd^o mm' ss.ss") format:

N 40° 41' 21.298"
W 074° 2’ 40.201"

Follow the steps above and ensure your device is set to the h ddd^o mm' ss.ss" format to enter these coordinates into a device.

Decimal Degrees:

Here is the same location in the Decimal Degrees (h ddd.dddddd^o) format. This is used by many mapping applications and websites.

N 40.6892494^o
W° 074.0445004^o

Follow the steps above and ensure your device is set to the h ddd.dddddd^o format to enter these coordinates into a device.

Note: A Garmin device may accept fewer digits than found in your desired coordinates. You may enter as many digits as the device will allow. Your automotive device will still be able to navigate to the entered location; more digits simply allow for greater accuracy.

Survey-Grade Mapping Sources:

Garmin devices have a specific level of accuracy that they can provide. Occasionally coordinates come from a more precise source, and Garmin devices will not have the additional position format spaces needed for such accuracy. This can occur especially when using coordinates from a survey-grade map, or a survey-grade GPS system. These types of devices can have near pinpoint accuracy. When entering more precise coordinates the extra digits at the end of the coordinates can be dropped. Here is an example:

Survey Grade Coordinates for the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France:

N 48° 51' 29.1348''
E 2° 17' 40.8984''

How These Coordinates Would Look Entered Into a Garmin Device:

N 48° 51’ 29.1”
E 002° 17’ 40.8”

In the example, the last three digits from each coordinate line needed to be removed in order for the Garmin device to accept the coordinates; however, the Garmin device will still guide you to the Eiffel Tower.

Positive and Negative Numbers:

Online maps sometimes make use of positive and negative numbers (based on 0° at the equator or prime meridian) when displaying coordinates. The Garmin is formatted to show N, S, E, W.

• Longitude negative: W
• Longitude positive: E
• Latitude negative: S
• Latitude positive: N

See the following FAQ when Using a Minus Symbol to Search for Coordinates.