Navigational Avoidances on Garmin Automotive Devices

Garmin devices have an Avoidance menu where you can select various options that will adjust how your device routes you. Items with a checkmark beside them will be avoided whenever possible.

A detailed video tutorial discussing route settings is available below:

To locate the Avoidance menu:

1. Open the device's Settings menu  or
2. Touch Navigation 
3. Touch Route Preferences
4. Touch Avoidances
5. Touch the desired Avoidance to enable it

Repeat the steps above to disable the checked Avoidance.

Available avoidances:

• U-Turns – Avoids calculating routes that require a U-turn 
• Highways or Motorways – Avoids highways, interstates, freeways, motorways, and other major routes
• Ferries – Avoids routes that require a ferry crossing 
• Carpool Lanes or Car Share Lanes – Avoids lanes designated specifically for carpooling 
• Unpaved Roads – avoids unpaved roads (gravel, dirt, etc.)

The following avoidances are available elsewhere in the Route Preferences menu:

• Custom Avoidances¹ – Feature available on some devices that will allow you to select specific areas or lengths of road to avoid
• Environmental Zones² – Avoids areas with certain travel restrictions 
• Toll Roads or Tolls and Fees – Avoids toll roads and certain specified congestion zones 

Note: Devices will only avoid selected items when it is possible. For example, if you have U-turns selected as an avoidance, but there is not an alternate route available that excludes U-turns, the device may still direct you to make a U-turn.

¹ For more information about custom avoidances and steps to set them up, refer to your device's owners' manual. Custom road avoidances may need to be re-set after each map update, but they should remain intact and accurate after map updates.

² More information about Environmental Zones can be found in the following FAQ:  Environmental Zones