Differences Between Routes and Tracks

Routes and tracks are sets of GPS information designed to help you in your navigation. There are a few key differences to keep in mind when using routes and tracks, these are listed below.

Routes

Routes are pre-defined paths created from a group of location points entered into the GPS receiver in the sequence you desire to navigate them.

• Location points can be user generated waypoints or points of interest that have been loaded from a map or from a Garmin program.
• Outdoor handhelds can have routes with up to 250 points. Some other devices may have different limits. 
• Routes are created on a computer and/or on a device.

Tracks

Tracks act like breadcrumb trails, allowing you to see where you or another individual traveled in the past. This allows you to navigate a path previously taken.

• Tracks contain track points, not waypoints or points of interest.
• There are two different types of tracks:
  • Active Track Log:
    • Contains track points for your current activity.
    • Can be cleared at the start of a new activity.
    • Can be set to wrap around (overwrite older track points as device runs out of memory).
    • Can be saved as a “Saved Track.”
  • Saved Tracks:
    • Created typically from the active track log.
    • Can have a limit to the maximum amount of track points based on the device (for example: 250, 500, 10,000 track points maximum).
    • Creation can result in points being consolidated (on device) or truncated (from computer to device) depending on the source, to meet above device track point limitations.
    • Creation can result in data removal based on the device (for example: date, time, speed and accessory data).

Should I Use a Route or a Track?

• Routes are best suited for reaching a specific destination, or set of destinations, when the path being taken is not important. When navigating a route, directions will be provided either as a straight line to the destination(s) or, when using a routable mapping product, as an automatically calculated path using available roads and/or trails. If you go off course on a route, the path will recalculate based on your current location.
• Tracks are best suited when it's necessary to travel on a very specific path to reach the desired destination. When navigating a track it's possible to recreate an exact hike or ride that you or someone else has completed previously. If you go off course on a track, the GPS unit will redirect you back to the original path rather than recalculating a new one.

For more information on a specific devices track settings review your owners manual.