Using old Android phone as offline GPS

bobo@lemmy.world to Android@lemdro.id – 40 points –

I have quite a few old Android phones sitting around. From Samsung S3s to a OnePlus 6. I'm interested in using one offline in my car for GPS, to avoid Google tracking. Anyone have good recommendations for a GPS app with directions that I can use offline. I'd like to be able to download the data for the entire U.S., that I would periodically update over wifi, so I'd like this process not to be too onerous. Anyone else doing this?

9

Osmand can fit the bill here pretty well.

It uses OpenStreetMap data, so navigating in less-populated parts of the US might need some caution - I'd be under the assumption that less users in those areas would mean they're not updated as frequently compared to a metro area

As a mountain biker I find it interesting that osmand knows the forest trails around me way better that the local terrain maps. Like literally 60% more trails are visible there.

Organic Maps

Last I tried, 1-2 months ago, voice navigation was not working properly for me, somehow very rudimentary output like just saying "next left" or something.

Also since I don't have a phone holder I don't look at the screen while driving in the car, so I turn of the screen and Organic Maps does not give any voice output anymore then.

Osmand+ works better in both cases.

+1 Organic Maps and also Osmand. Both are on F-droid app store.