Best motorhome sat-nav 2024

When you’re looking for the best motorhome sat nav, you’ll want to buy a device that will take your vehicle’s size into account and not lead you down any dangerous routes with overly narrow roads or impassable bridges.

A sat nav for a motorhome will do just this, with the standout models on the market clearly displaying their information on a large screen and offering a range of other useful features too, such as traffic jam alerts and highlighting destinations to visit along the way. In short, you’ll want one that takes the stress out of your drive to one of the best motorhome sites, allowing you to enjoy the start of your holiday, instead of contending with any tense situations.

So, how do you go about finding the right motorhome sat nav for you? After all, there are a wide selection of models on the market from a variety of different brands, including Garmin, TomTom and Avtex, amongst others. At the Practical Motorhome Awards 2024, the Garmin Camper 795 was our pick for the best sat nav for a motorhome on the market. We really like the features it comes with, which will not only help you safely arrive at your campsite, but also make exploring the surrounding area a much simpler affair.

Here, we’re taking a look at it and our other favourite options. If you’re after another useful driving aid too, be sure to take a look at our best dash cam for a motorhome guide, a product that can provide some valuable peace of mind when you’re on the road.

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The best motorhome sat navs:

Garmin Camper 795
TomTom Go Camper Max (2nd gen)
Garmin Camper 1095
Avtex Tourer Three
Snooper Ventura S5100
Avtex Tourer Two

Best motorhome sat nav with dash cam

Snooper Ventura SC5900
Garmin CamperCam 795

Best budget motorhome sat nav

Aguri AGR520

What is the best sat nav for a motorhome?

Garmin Camper 795

• Screen size: 7-inches
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Preloaded POI: Yes
• Mapping: Yes (option to download further maps via Garmin Express)

Reason to buy:

• Comes packed with features for a hassle-free journey

Reason to avoid:

• Relatively expensive

The best motorhome sat nav overall

The best motorhome sat-nav should take the stress out of your journey, giving you the reassurance that you and your ‘van will safely reach your destination – and that’s what we liks to much about the Garmin Camper 795.

It comes loaded with features that, we think, will make driving to your chosen destination an enjoyable part of the tour. For instance, there’s custom routing, as well as warnings of any approaching obstacles, such as steep grades or sharp curves – it can even advise you about any Environmental Zones on your journey.

Yet we were impressed to see the Garmin Camper 795 not only gets you from A to B but also provides a whole host of tour-enhancing features.

After all, we’re sure you’ll agree that one of the best parts of being away in your ‘van is getting to explore the surrounding area, and thanks to features such as Local Spots and the Michelin Green Guide, you’ll be able to make sure that you find the right destinations to visit.

Pitching up has never been easier either, with BirdsEye Satellite Imagery providing an aerial view of the site on its clear seven-inch touchscreen.

TomTom Go Camper Max (2nd gen)

• Screen size: 7-inches
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Preloaded POI: Yes
• Mapping: World

Reasons to buy:

• Clear 7-inch touchscreen, animations make complex routing straightforward

Reason to avoid:

• Garmin Camper range offers more features

TomTom is one of the most highly regarded sat nav brands and its range of devices is varied and comprehensive. This mid-priced unit is the second generation model of the Go Camper Max, and provides ‘van owners with motorhome-specific routing, so you can leave narrow streets and country lanes behind and drive confidently in any unknown region.

We like how it should offer relative simplicity of use too, as it only requires the inputting of your vehicle’s dimensions before you’re ready to roll. Preloaded POI will help you locate campsites and attractions en route. Handily, all of the data is displayed clearly on the big 7in touchscreen, so it’s quicker, easier and safer to digest.

We also think the clever animations are useful, making complex routing simple to understand. Maps can be easily updated by connecting the unit to a Wi-Fi network, meaning there is no need for cables or computers.

Avtex Tourer Three

• Screen size: 6.95in
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi
• Motorhome-specific: Yes
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Preloaded POI: Yes
• Mapping: Europe (free updates)

Reason to buy:

• Offers Environmental Routing and BirdsEye technology, endorsed by the Caravan and Motorhome Club

Reason to avoid:

• Fairly expensive

Created in collaboration with Garmin, this top-spec sat nav is an improved version of the Avtex Tourer Two and is endorsed by the Caravan and Motorhome Club. We like how it incorporates a database of all the Club’s campsites, plus Tripadvisor destinations and ratings. Good motorhome sat navs should take your ‘van’s dimensions into consideration, and here, it optimises routes for large leisure vehicles, taking the size and weight of your ’van into account and warning of low bridges, narrow roads and steep gradients.

The Tourer Three also has BirdsEye technology, which delivers high-definition satellite imagery to help you navigate your arrival on site, or other tricky locations en route. The POI menu is filled with great places to visit, while we like how another new feature, Environmental Routing, can minimise your carbon footprint. Garmin Voice Assist means you don’t have to take your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road when inputting instructions.

Garmin Camper 1095

• Screen size: 10-inches
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Preloaded POI: Yes
• Mapping: Europe (option to download further maps via Garmin Express)

Reason to buy:

• Clear 10-inch screen

Reason to avoid:

• Quite expensive, screen could be too big for some cabins

Coming with a clear 10-inch touchscreen, we think this motorhome sat nav is ideal for anyone who wants the features provided in the Garmin Camper 795 but is after an option with a bigger screen – and has the cabin space to accommodate a larger device. It comes packed full of useful additions to help you get the most from your trips.

For instance, as it’s preloaded with a MICHELIN Green Guide and Local Spots you’ll be able to find the destinations that are truly worth a visit. We love the flexibility it offers in letting you use voice-control if you want, while downloading the Garmin Drive app will unlock even more functionality, including hands-free calling. Then there’s the directory of campsites, including from ACSI™ and Campercontact™, so choosing where to pitch up will be much easier too. 

Something else we like is the chance of taking a more scenic route to your destination, while features such as its custom routing take the stress out of your navigating, as does BirdsEye Satellite Imagery – something that you would want from a sat nav for a motorhome. Like the 795, it lets you know about upcoming Environmental Zones too.

However, we need to talk about its size. At 10″, you do get a clear display which is very easy to take in, but we reckon it could be a bit too big for smaller ‘vans, in which case the Garmin Camper 795 could be a better bet.

Avtex Tourer Two

• Screen size: 7-inches
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Preloaded POI: Yes
• Mapping: Europe

Reasons to buy:

• Great for finding campsites, helpful navigation features

Reason to avoid:

• Doesn’t have some of the features the Tourer Three and Garmin Camper range offer

Whether you’re a seasoned tourer or a novice navigator, when looking for a sat-nav for a motorhome it’s best to keep an eye out for one that’s tailored to your needs. This Avtex X Garmin collaboration model builds you the best route based on your vehicle’s dimensions and gives you warnings about upcoming bridges and other hazards, all displayed on a 7” touchscreen edge-to-edge screen. We like how you can easily adapt your route as you go and be sure that you’re on the fastest route with the Garmin live traffic feature.

We should highlight that it doesn’t come with a number of features provided by other options in our guide – for instance, there’s no Environmental Routing or BirdsEye Satellite Imagery.

However, the Caravan and Motorhome Club edition has built-in Club campsites and points of interest as well as maps of 45 European countries and 9000 ACSI campsites – we think this is incredibly handy as it makes it easy to find a site on the go. We love that the free Smartphone Link app sends the sat nav real-time travel, weather and speed camera information too. Another useful feature is Garmin’s trademarked Real Directions which use landmarks and traffic lights to help guide you.

We also like how its Bluetooth compatibility means you are able to take calls hands-free.

Snooper Ventura SC5900

• Screen size: 5in
• Connectivity: USB cable
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Preloaded POI: Yes
• Mapping: Europe

Reason to buy:

• Ideal for smaller ‘vans, comes with a dash cam built in

Reason to avoid:

Reason to avoid:

• If you don’t need a dash cam, the Garmin Camper 795 is a cheaper option

This sophisticated sat nav does have a hefty price tag, but that’s because it incorporates so much cutting-edge technology and a high-quality dash cam. We like how the large, clear display is easy to read, with the Garmin graphics having been honed over the years. One of the features we think is useful is the ability to link to the Garmin Drive app, and footage and data are securely saved to Garmin Vault.

This is a motorhome sat nav that comes loaded with features for a smooth experience on the road. As well as effective mapping and journey recording, it offers lane departure and forward collision warnings, reversing camera compatibility, BirdsEye satellite imaging and much more. Specifically for leisure vehicle users, it also delivers thousands of useful POI and it’s home to a database of Europe’s finest campsites from ACSI, Campercontact and Trailer’s Park.

We’d say this compact, robust little unit does pretty much everything! However, if you don’t need a dash cam, the Garmin Camper 795 could be a better bet.

Snooper Ventura S5100

• Screen size: 5in
• Connectivity: USB
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Preloaded POI: Yes
• Mapping: Europe

Reasons to buy:

• Free software updates, LCD touch screen

Reason to avoid:

• Small screen may not appeal to everyone, doesn’t have a dash cam like the Snooper Ventura SC5900

Providing lane guidance, junction view and lifetime updates, the Ventura S5100 is an attractive sat-nav for motorhome users. We reckon the size of the sat nav is something that will appeal to motorhomers with smaller ‘vans, but may not be for everyone – its LCD screen is five inches, a size which is only matched by the Aguri RV520 in our guide.

However, we think this makes it ideal for ‘vans which may have less space in the cabin area. We also like how it gives you the option of creating and saving a bespoke route – you even have the option of setting up a few stops along the way.

It has the added benefit of coming with free lifetime UK and European map updates too, so you can ensure your sat nav will stay up to date. The device will take you on a safe route, calculated to your vehicle’s specifications, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable driving experience.

If you’re happy with the screen size, you’ll get a versatile device that even allows you to adjust the size of the text too.

Do you need a special sat nav for a motorhome?

By opting for a sat nav for a motorhome, you can input the various dimensions of your vehicle so you have a more straightforward experience on the road. This can be particularly important for ‘van owners who don’t want to find themselves down a road which is too narrow for their motorhome or find themselves confronted by a low bridge.

John Sootheran is on hand to explain, “The benefit of a motorhome sat nav is that you can input the dimensions of your ’van. As a result, you will only be taken on suitable routes, with factors such as highway width, bridge heights and weight limits all taken into account.”

“A good sat nav for a motorhome will also typically have campsites, attractions and other holiday-oriented information programmed into them, helping you to get the most from your tours and exploration of the surrounding area.”

How to choose the best sat nav for a motorhome

Our expert, John Sootheran, is on hand to share his tips to ensure you find the right motorhome sat nav, pinpointing four key criteria.

Functionality

The basic functionality of a sat nav is to provide clear, accurate mapping that offers you the fastest route to your destination and quickly updates if you do have to reroute.

The best systems will alert you to any issues you face on your route – things like traffic jams, road closures or reduced speed limits.

Most modern systems automatically redirect you onto the new fastest route, seamlessly – you’ll just notice that the ETA has been extended.

Some interactive systems invite users to input and update traffic conditions and potential hazards. In this way, drivers are alerted to large potholes, speed traps, broken-down vehicles, obstructions on the highway and so on, shortly before they encounter them.

The quality of the graphics is crucial, as is the way that the information is delivered, so users can digest and understand it quickly. This includes things like the distance to motorway or A-road exits, and lane selection on busy urban roundabouts.

Most sat navs have voice guidance, which is often helpful when you’re navigating a new city or route, but can become annoying when you know the section of route you’re on. They also offer international mapping, handy if you tour on the Continent.

Ease of use

It’s essential that sat nav systems are quick and easy to use, and drivers should not be tempted, or need, to change the system’s settings while driving. You must take care when inputting information, such as traffic jams or crashes, into the interactive systems and only do so when parked.

Screen size and quality

A large, clear screen is essential for the safe use of sat navs. Typically, a 5in to 7in screen is best, with clear, concise graphics and route information. However, for those with a larger cab area, a 10in screen could be a better option for the bigger screen it provides.

Modern units also incorporate touchscreen technology to improve the user experience and make inputs simpler, quicker and safer.

Mounting and power lead

Most standalone sat navs attach to the dash or windscreen with a suction cup, clamp or permanent adhesive pad.

Make sure that the angle of the sun doesn’t reflect off the screen and spoil your view, however.

If you are using the windscreen or the top of the dash, ensure the unit doesn’t obscure your view of the road. It should ideally be positioned outside the area that your wiper blades sweep. Any loose power leads should not obstruct your view or driving inputs.

What is a sat nav?

Basically, a sat nav is an electronic device that relies on GPS technology to act as a digital map. 

Regional maps are preloaded into the system, and the device uses satellite signals to find your vehicle’s location on the map, and display its speed and direction of travel. The more satellites the sat nav can ‘see’, the more accurate the information it delivers. 

In ideal conditions, it will show your position to within a few metres and its speed display will be more accurate than your vehicle’s speedometer.

As well as their navigation function, sat navs can deliver all sorts of other useful information. They can be used to find petrol stations, highway services or points of interest (POI). They can also alert you to upcoming speed cameras, keep you abreast of the current speed limit and inform you of your estimated time of arrival. The best systems are interactive, so information on traffic conditions, accidents, hold-ups and so on can be received in time to make effective diversions or reduce your speed. When problems occur, the best systems will redirect you around any obstructions, by the quickest route possible.

How we choose the best motorhome sat navs

Selecting the right motorhome sat nav can help to make your trips to your chosen campsite a much more pleasant experience, ensuring the start of your tour sets the tone for an enjoyable holiday. The best motorhome sat-navs will let you input the dimensions of your ‘van, allowing you to pick the route that will make your drive as stress-free as possible, avoiding any town centres, tight roads or similarly tricky to navigate routes in the process.

We’re well placed to be picking these out. We’re regularly reviewing the latest motorhomes, taking them out in real world conditions. This allows us to identify the products that help to make the driving experience that bit easier. You can find out more about our testing process on our About Us page.

Written with contributions from John Sootheran.

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