I'm looking for a smartphone map solution that will work when I don't have a data connections. Basically I want to be able to use the phones gps capability to see my current postion on a map that's loaded for offline use. and put my route on the map and follow it. Basically I'm looking for the functionality of the classic handheld gps devices.


I downloaded Maps.me and its pretty cool. I can add my routes by putting the kml file in my dropbox, make it available offline on my phone to load it.


two specific questions:
1 Map.me maps are really detailed and colorful. So colorful I can barely see my route when its loaded. I found I can switch to night mode and it mutes the map colors but my route stands out. But I lose a lot of map detail. Anyone know of a solution?
2 Once I load my route, its displayed forever. How do I unload a route?


Anyone have another solution? I'd like something that's not bike oriented because I'd like to use it for hiking as well. would like a free solution so I can convince friends to try it as well. two tier solutions with advanced features for a fee are fine with me.

Have you tried Google Maps? Pull open the menu and select "offline areas."

Agreed. iPhone and Android Google Maps apps support offline maps. For many phones, including recent iPhones, the GPS will work in Airplane mode.

Not sure how to load a route into Google Maps though.

Another option is OsmAnd app. It can load GPX routes and display them over pre-downloaded maps.

Yes, that's the problem with Google Maps. I work with GoogleEarth, GoogleMaps, GoogleMyMaps quite a bit. but I can't get the mix of features I want.


Google has another map app called 'My Maps'. I can load my routes in it and I use it a lot, but it doesn't work offline.

Curious that Google Maps offline areas works in some countries, but not in others. I could not download maps of cities in Japan with Google Maps, but I could with Maps.me

Another app is "HERE" originally put out by Nokia.
https://pages.here.com/app/

The routes can be different colors but there doesn't appear to be any way of changing the color in the app. You can change the color of the route in Google Earth or (if you are careful) can change the color by editing the kml file.

* Click on the bookmarks button (the three lines with two stars to the left).
* On iOS, you can the folder name to the left to delete it.
* On Android, a long press will give you an option to delete the folder.
* You can do the same sort of thing with the items in the folder.
* If you click on the blue "eye" next to the folder, it will change to gray (and disable display of the items in the folder).

Note that you can also load waypoints (not just routes). You can change the color of the waypoints (but not routes).

"maps.me" is a good choice. It also can do off-line routing.

I also use "Galileo" on iOS. It doesn't do routing but it's useful. You really need to have the paid version to be useful. There's an Android version but it seems too new (some features appear to be missing).

There's Osmand on Android. It's pretty capable and lets you load contours. You need to have the paid version to be useful. There's an iOS version but it seems too new (some features appear to be missing).

One issue with hiking using an app that uses Openstreetmap (OSM) data is that OSM maps might not have the hiking trails. Most of the apps use OSM data.

What phone do you have?

https://www.wired.com/2015/04/offline-gps-apps/

https://www.adventurealan.com/iphone-...p-backpacking/

Not sure you can get road routing and hiking topo well in a single app.

That works but it's a bit fuzzy.

It's much more straight-forward to be able to select maps by country/etc, especially, if your trip is not local. And you can't load routes and waypoints.

These are good to keep in mind but they don't allow you to load routes (they might allow you to load waypoints).

Great, thanks, the app is great but I wish it had some more tutorials on YouTube or something.


I have a IPhone 5 with a data connection and a Kyocera Brigadier (I got it really cheap on ebay) that I use offline then sync with wifi at home. Its nice have a second phone for a lot of the navigation so I can use the iPhone for other tasks.

One nice thing about maps.me is that there's an iOS and Android version.

I am using it on both phones. the maps are really detailed too. The kml support is great. I draw lots of arrows and boxes on my maps for extra info. However, I don't seem to be able to view the comments I attach to them. The free prices is great too and it looks it will be around for a long time.

With Cyclemeter (iPhone only), you can download any route from another source in GPX, TCX, FIT or KML format and save it as a Path rather than a workout (route). The GPS coordinates are stored in a local database on the phone. When you start your ride, you select the path and you can then follow it as you ride. Unfortunately, Cyclemeter doesn't offer turn-by-turn directions yet, but they say they are working on it. Once done with the ride, give the route a name and each time you select that route for a ride, it will use and display the route rather than the path. This will allow you to delete the path, if you wish to do so, and free up space in the database.

The OSM maps are very good (though, they aren't perfect).

maps.me doesn't do comments.

Yeah, you can download the maps for offline use by state or country.

I've recently started using OsmAnd+ on Android, and so far of all the one-stop map-apps I've tried, it's been the best for bicycle paths and routes.