With the Garmin BaseCamp™ software, users can plan and manage trips, organize user data, and transfer information between the computer and compatible devices.
Learn About BaseCamp
The most comprehensive Garmin resources available are the BaseCamp Owner's Manuals in Mac or PC versions.
They are also accessible from within BaseCamp, by clicking on Help from the top toolbar:
Tutorial videos for BaseCamp are available in the Garmin Support Center for both Mac and Windows operating systems.
Additional information can be found in the Related links below.
BaseCamp Features Include:
Importing and viewing maps in 2-D or 3-D (preloaded device, memory card, or download required).
Creating, editing, and organizing routes, tracks, waypoints, and more.
Downloading and transferring BirdsEye Imagery to a device (subscription required).
Support for importing downloaded geocaches from Geocaching.com.
Viewing playback of routes, tracks, and adventures.
Creating and sharing geotagged photos.
BaseCamp is available for download at https://www.garmin.com/software/baseCamp/.
For details on which Garmin devices are not compatible with BaseCamp, see - Garmin Devices Not Compatible with BaseCamp.
BaseCamp Glossary
Below are some of the terms and definitions used in the Garmin BaseCamp application:
Activity Profile - You can use activity profiles to quickly change how the BaseCamp application presents information. Each activity profile stores routing and display preferences optimized for the activity. You can customize each activity profile or create new activity profiles. Built-in profiles include:
- ATV
- Bicycling
- Direct
- Dirt Biking
- Driving
- Hiking
- Motorcycling
- Motorcycling - Curvy
- Mountain Biking
- Mountaineering
- Off Roading
- RV
- RV - Shortest
- Tour Cycling
- Trucking
- Walking
Adventure - An adventure is a group of items like track logs, waypoints, images, and videos that illustrate your travels.
Avoidance - You can define a specific area on the map to avoid when creating a route for an activity profile.
Birdseye - BirdsEye imagery provides downloadable, high-resolution map imagery, including detailed satellite imagery and raster-based topographical maps. You can use the BaseCamp™ application to download BirdsEye imagery to your computer, view imagery on your computer, and transfer imagery to your compatible Garmin® device. Your device must have an active BirdsEye subscription or credits to download and use BirdsEye imagery.
Geocache - Geocaching is an activity in which participants hide or search for hidden caches. A geocache contains the coordinates, hints, logs, and other information for a cache.
Points of Interest (POIs) - POIs are waypoints such as nearby services or destinations you may wish to visit while traveling. These can include:
- Arts and entertainment
- Attractions
- Banks and ATMs
- Community services
- Gas stations
- Historic landmarks
- Hospitals and emergency services
- Hotels and lodging
- Parks and recreation
- Rest areas
- Restaurants
- Shopping
- Transit
Route - A route is a sequence of waypoints or locations that leads you to your final destination. The route is represented as a magenta line in Garmin GPS devices. When calculated, a route takes into account settings such as your activity profile, avoidances, route preference choices, and the map selected. Ideally, these should match those on the Garmin GPS device you plan to transfer your trip to.
Shaping Point - Shaping points help guide your GPS by routing via a specific road or waypoint. Shaping points don’t display as a next destination and are not announced as you reach them, but they shape how your route is calculated to make sure you go the way you want to go.
Track - A track is a recording of your path. The track log contains information about points along the recorded path, including the time, location, and elevation for each point.
- You can create a track from a saved route. The tracks can be navigated using Garmin devices that do not support route navigation.
- You can create a route based on a track. This can be useful if you need to apply route options to the track or use it on devices that do not support tracks.
Trip - A trip is an itinerary that includes a starting location and destination. Optionally, you can add arrival and departure times, and the amount of time you intend to spend traveling each day.
Trip Planner - The BaseCamp application allows you to plan a complete trip itinerary. You can transfer trips to your connected Garmin GPS device for navigation.
Via Point - When planning a route with multiple stops, you can include via points — waypoints your GPS will guide you to on the way to your final destination. Via points are announced as you reach them. Any saved location, known as a waypoint, can be added as a via point in your route.
Waypoint - Waypoints are locations you save and store in the Garmin BaseCamp application and on your Garmin GPS device. Waypoints mark where you are, where you are going, or where you have been.