Strange GPS Directions -- Directions to Go South were actually North

Without more detail it's impossible to say what caused this. You'll need to explain how you told the GPS where to go, which map you were using, which device you were using, did you follow the route you were expecting to follow or did this take you off route? It's likely just a map error but at least it seems like you got onto I-287 East

Have a couple addresses that always say on your left, when right, etc. repeatable. Even when approached from different directions. Seen over multiple map versions, so suspect it’s numbering on roadways causing the errors. These areas are also in older areas (1800’s) of towns.

Do you have a toll road or unpaved road, etc set as an avoidance.

I once had toll roads set as an avoidance. I was in the US on vacation and wanted to cross into Canada at Windsor. I couldn't understand why it was routing me through Montreal.

I realized it was because there were tolls on the bridges in Ontario, that had a $3 toll.

Do you have a toll road or unpaved road, etc set as an avoidance.

I once had toll roads set as an avoidance. I was in the US on vacation and wanted to cross into Canada at Windsor. I couldn't understand why it was routing me through Montreal.

I realized it was because there were tolls on the bridges in Ontario, that had a $3 toll.

I'm retired now but spent 35+ years driving trucks. Started out with a backpack full of paper maps. GPS is a wonderful thing. I never had a paper map make a mistake, or do things in an odd way like a GPS can.

I remember one time when the GPS would have had me take an off ramp only to travel directly across the street at the bottom of the ramp and get back on the highway. I saw what it wanted me to do before doing it so I ignored it and the GPS recalculated back on track.

When you make a mistake with a paper map, only the person reading the map is to blame and in my experience if the wife is in the car you suffer terribly.

When you get lost with a GPS, you can blame the GPS (usually).

I’ll go with the latter…

By virtue of necessity, my wife had to be the navigator, back in the good old map era. She had issues with the map to begin with, but the worst was when we were driving south. She had trouble sorting out where we were, when the map, that was in her lap, showed north facing the direction that we were going, but we were were actually in the direction that was facing her belly.

She often said, that we just passed where we should have turned. LOL

I also get to do a quick check of the GPS, to see what's coming up. Hard to do with a map at 70 MPH.

Agree.

I worked at a gas station in the early 90s on US202 in Towaco, NJ.
I287 ended a few miles South, then picked up again several miles North. It had been that way for many years and paper maps of the day reflected that. At least once a day someone from out of the area driving North would stop in lost because I287 just ended. That section of I287 was finally completed in 1993.

Before in the NYC/suburbs area. Usually caused by either the GPS avoidance settings, or because of the perpetual never ending construction on NY, NJ and CT roads. That construction sometimes temporarily or permanently change the onramp intersections/roads causing wonky routing by the Garmin Nuvi. In rare instances its caused by traffic routing when a different route is suggested due to traffic conditions.

I am unable to visualize where you were when this occurred. Where on RT 9A were you and in which direction were you traveling on 9A? I probably have not commuted much on the section of Rt 9A you were on when you ran into the situation you described.

The unit is a Garmin Drive 52. I had avoidances to avoid tolls and dirt roads. There were no tolls or dirt roads. I was traveling from the Enterprise car rental at 915 saw mill river road in Ardsley NY to Main St North in Woodbury CT. The directions were correct, except it told me to go south on the Sprain Brook Parkway. The voice told me to turn left onto Sprain Brook South. The left turn took me to the Sprain Brook Parkway North which went to I-287 East.

Directions from unit:
- Turn right on Saw Mill River Road (that would be SMR Rd N)
- Turn right onto RT-100B
- Turn left onto Sprain Brook Parkway South (left was actually Sprain Brook Parkway North)
- Take Ramp to I-287 E
- Keep left to I-684
- Take Exit 9E on right to I-84 E
- Take Exit 15 on right to US-6 E / CT-67 towads Southbury

I saw the sign for the Sprain Brook Parkway South. It was a right turn. The unit told me to make a left turn up ahead which became the entrance ramp for the Sprain Brook Parkway North. It was confusing, but I ended up where I needed to go.

My wife used to copilot with maps before gps. It was ok during the day, but it was difficult to read the road maps at night.

There is currently some construction in that area so that may have some bearing on things. See https://www.hastingsgov.org/home/news/travel-advisories-saw-....

Having pointed that out I had a similar circumstance to what the OP experienced a few years back, and on more than one occasion while on the way to Croton NY. And it occurred about where the OP encountered his issue. In that immediate area there is a point where one road goes over the other and I always wondered if that is why the anomaly occurred. The area is further complicated because there is a Saw Mill River Parkway as well as a Saw Mill River Road. I’ve had similar circumstances in Houston where several “layers” of highways exist.

GPS units are great, but they have their quirks. We all get lazy and do not double check the directions which the gps units give us.

John thank you for the feedback. I did not know if it was a quirk with my unit, or the particular area.

Google Maps directed me to drive through a pharmacy drive thru today in order to reach my destination. I did not.

For years that happened (or maybe still does?) in Vernon Ct - tells you to take the exit to the road at the bottom of the exit - then to cross over the road and take the on ramp...

Also happens in NYC - somewhere after crossing into NY over the GW Bridge, heading to the Merritt Parkway (avoiding I95) it does it also. Can't remember exactly where...

And forever - Route 6 in Eastern Ct going into RI it thinks you have to make a right turn. Have not been that route in awhile..

Lol - remember the triptiks?

I have had the same thing happen and it didn't take 35 years. Maybe the GPS is afraid of bridges.