Years ago, driving across the country meant one eye on the road and the other fixed on a heap of tangled, shredded paper covering the dashboard – otherwise known as a map. But in today’s interconnected world, even when you’re lost, you’re not really lost.

GPS devices are no longer reserved for outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers, skiers or geocachers. Trip navigators, like the Garmin Street Pilot help road trippers navigate through just about any city, state and province. Take a wrong turn, no problem. The device automatically plots a new course based on your current location. Whether you want to spend a few hundred bucks or reign in your budget, a GPS device can be your best friend.

Pinpointing precise locations is as easy as turning on your device, but making your GPS work smarter takes some time, skill and a PC. It’s all about customization.

Connecting Your GPS Device to Your Computer

Anyone can buy a GPS, enter their starting point, begin wandering and find their way back again. No special skills required. You don’t need a PC to use your GPS device, but connecting the two allows you to customize your routes.

• Before you begin, connect your GPS device to your PC. Decide the area you want to explore and load the appropriate maps (additional software you’ll need to purchase beforehand).

• When you begin your adventure, your GPS device will show your exact location on the maps you’ve uploaded.

• Set your initial location as your home point.

• Begin wandering or follow the route you’ve mapped out. Enter waypoints along your route.

• When you return home, connect the GPS device to your PC again, upload waypoints to your PC to track your routes for future use.

There’s a GPS device for every trip you’ll take this year. Just make sure the one you buy is the one you really need. If you’re a wilderness adventurer, you’ll likely want a high-end and more expensive GPS device than if you’re an urban trekker who wants to track a route from Boise to Fort Lauderdale.

For the road tripper, consider a large enough screen that you can quickly glance at but won’t cause you to take your eyes off the road for long. If you’re a hiker, get one that fits into your hand (or on your wrist) comfortably. Protect it in a plastic cover in case you drop it in the swamp.

Navigating has never been easier, or for tech lovers, more fun.