Features

Overview: The Garmin Drive 53 is a portable GPS navigation device that provides automatic routing and turn-by-turn voice directions. The unit receives data from overhead global positioning satellites, not cellular signals, for reliable navigation directions. The Drive 53 features free Lifetime Map Updates.

5" Touchscreen LCD: The Drive 53 features a 5" (diagonal) color TFT touchscreen LCD with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The touchscreen features multi-touch which allows you to pinch and zoom the map for the desired view. The display has both day and night modes, which are switchable manually or automatically. You can also choose a display timeout of 1 to 5 minutes, or none.

Preloaded Maps: The Drive 53 contains Here's City Navigator NT North America maps with detailed road maps of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, and Mexico. In addition, the loaded maps include a National Parks Directory, TripAdvisor traveler ratings for hotels, restaurants, and attractions, and millions of other points-of-interest.

Free Lifetime Map Updates: Drive 53 offers free lifetime map updates (of the preloaded map software) so you'll always have the most up-to-date maps, POIs, and navigation information. Map updates are typically available for download up to 3 times a year with no subscription or update fees and no expiration dates. When you connect Drive 53 to Garmin Express on your computer, you can check to see if your current maps are up-to-date, or if an update is available for download.

microSD Card Slot: The Drive 53 has a microSD card slot so you can store and use optional maps (available from Garmin). The device will accept microSD cards with a capacity of 4 GB to 256 GB.

Universal Mount: The Drive 53 features a circular Universal Bracket mount that holds the unit securely in place, but can be easily removed. The mount clips into the socket on the back of the unit, and fits the ball mount found on Garmin windshield and dash mounts. The device mounts to your windshield via a powerful suction cup mount.

Mounting Considerations: You should ensure the mounting location complies with all applicable laws and ordinances. If local laws prohibit attaching devices to your windshield, you can consider an optional friction mount for the device.

Power Requirements: The Garmin Drive 53 is powered by a built-in Lithium-Ion battery, which will provide up to 1 hour of use when fully charged. The unit comes with a 12-volt DC power adapter for powering and charging the unit while you travel. The unit can be powered by your computer when it is connected via the supplied mini-B USB cable.

Map View Options: You can choose from a 3D map view or two 2D map views (Track Up or North Up) as you navigate to your destination.

Garmin Real Directions: The Drive 53 announces your upcoming maneuvers with a clear spoken voice. Using Garmin Real Directions, the spoken turn-by-turn directions utilize traffic lights and recognizable landmarks to guide you. For example, the unit uses phrases such as "Turn left at the traffic light" or "Turn right at the gas station."

Junction View: While navigating a route on a major roadway, a realistic image of an upcoming junction appears on the screen, including a representation of the actual roadway directional signs. Junction View with Lane Assist can help you select the proper lane with brightly colored arrows pointing the way.

Speed Limits: As you travel along a major road or street, the speed limit is displayed on the screen alongside of the vehicle's speed display. If you are exceeding the speed limit, the color of the vehicle speed indication changes to red. If the highway's posted speed limit has changed since the last map update, you can change the speed limit display in the menu.

Driver Alerts: The Drive 53 features audible and visual alerts to help you drive more safely and increase situation awareness. Warnings include alerts for Animal Crossing, Railroad Crossing, School Zones, and Sharp Curves. Each situation can be selected or deselected in the menu. There are also Speeding Alerts, Break Planning for long trips, and Proximity Alerts.

Where Am I?: The "Where Am I?" feature gives you instant access to important information in case of an emergency. When you touch the vehicle icon on the map screen, the "Where Am I?" feature provides the coordinates (including elevation) of your current position, plus the nearest address and intersections. There are also buttons to help you locate the nearest hospitals, police stations, and gas stations. You can also save the location for future reference.

Up Ahead: As you travel along your route, the Up Ahead feature constantly indicates the location of nearby businesses, including gas stations, restaurants, lodging, rest areas, parking, and banks/ATMs. The locations are shown as icons, some with brand logos, and when the icons are touched on the screen, details of the services are displayed, and you are given the opportunity to navigate to that address.

Destination Search: When the Where To? button is pressed, you can use the search tools to find your destination and plan your route. The search tools allow you to search for cities, addresses, intersections, or coordinates. The Search Bar lets you directly enter a category, brand name, address, or city name. The unit's memory stores the last 50 locations you have found so you can quickly find a previous destination.

Avoidances: In the Navigation menu, you can customize your route to avoid specific obstacles or highway features. The list of avoidances includes U-turns, Highways, Ferries, Carpool Lanes, and Unpaved Roads. You can select each one individually. You can also enter custom avoidances, such as specific areas or roads. Toll roads can be allowed or avoided, or you can choose to be asked each time before routing through a toll area.

Route Planner: You can create and save a route with multiple destinations using the Route Planner. Once you have entered your destinations, you can manually set them in the order of your preference, or allow the device to calculate the most efficient route. Trip itineraries can be saved in memory for future use.

Trip Data: The Trip Data feature is a customizable tool to provide helpful statistics about your trip. Numerous data points can be selected, and three of them displayed on the main map screen. Selectable data points include: dual trip odometers (Trip A/Trip B), Direction, Current Speed, Maximum Speed, Moving Average Speed, Overall Average Speed, Stopped time, Moving Time, Total Time, Time of Day, Elevation, Location Coordinates, and GPS accuracy.

Where I've Been/Trip Log: The Where I've Been application allows you to view your previous routes and places you have stopped on the map. In addition, the device keeps a Trip Log, which is a record of the path you have traveled. The Travel History setting must be enabled in order for the Where I've Been and Trip Log features to function.

GPS Simulator: When indoors, you can activate the built-in GPS simulator and practice using the unit. This turns off the GPS receiver so it's not searching for satellites, saving battery power.