(Click to compare the GARMIN NUVI 5XX SERIES!)
Do it all with the rugged, waterproof, multi-mode Garmin nuvi 550. Drive, hike, bike or boat - this dynamic device switches modes to navigate your active lifestyle. It's packed with detailed street maps for North America or Europe and millions of places. Like the nuvi 500, nuvi 550 provides spoken turn-by-turn directions to your destination and accepts optional maps for any adventure.
Take It Anywhere
nuvi 550 features driving, walking, bicycling and boating modes which customize your nuvi specifically for your method of travel. This portable hybrid combines the advanced navigation features and large, color display found in automotive units with the durability of an outdoor handheld. Sleek and slim, you can slip nuvi 550 into your pocket or backpack. The user-replaceable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery lets nuvi navigate you on roads or off.
Get Turn-by-Turn Directions
nuvi 550's intuitive interface greets you with two simple questions: "Where To?" and "View Maps." Touch the color screen to easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions to your destination. It comes preloaded with detailed City Navigator NT street maps, millions of points of interest (POIs) and features digital elevation maps that show you shaded terrain contours at higher zoom levels. With nuvi 550, you can upload custom points of interest (POIs) and navigate to geo-tagged photos. If you're lost, use the Where Am I? emergency locator to view your exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations.
Navigate Off-Road
Conveniently plug in optional maps on preloaded microSD cards for all your off-road adventures. Add topographic maps to explore the backcountry or load BlueChart g2 Vision and Inland Lakes Vision marine maps for a great day on the water. The card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment, so you don't have to worry about getting it wet. With its high-sensitivity GPS receiver and HotFix satellite prediction, nuvi 550 locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover, deep canyons and near tall building and trees.
Expand Your GPS
Navigation is just the beginning. nuvi 550 includes many travel tools, including world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. Show off photos of your excursions with nuvi's picture viewer. Even download geocaches and instructions from Geocaching.com straight to your unit. It also supports optional FM traffic alerts or optional MSN Direct content. The 550 features Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and is compatible with free Garmin Garage, where you can download custom vehicles that show your location on the map.
Garmin nuvi 500/550 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the Garmin nuvi 500 and nuvi 550?
A: The nuvi 500 and nuvi 550 represent the ultimate in portable multifunction navigation tools. They are similar in design to a nuvi 200 series models, but with ruggedized cases and screens that make them waterproof and therefore able to handle jobs on the trail or on the water. The interface lets you choose between driving, walking, bicycling and boating modes, so that whatever activity you do, you can take your nuvi with you.
Q: What's the difference between the nuvi 500 and nuvi 550?
A: The difference is in the pre-loaded data. The nuvi 500 contains City Navigator NT for the lower 48 United States, plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico; the nuvi 550 adds City Navigator NT maps for Alaska and Canada as well. City Navigator NT provides detailed road maps and a robust points-of-interest database; it also enables the nuvi 5x0 to give simple voice directions on the road. Though the nuvi 500 doesn't have northern road data, it does have pre-loaded topographical data for the lower 48 United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. This data is 1:100,000 scale and equivalent to what one would find on Garmin MapSource Topo 2008.
| Feature | nuvi 500 | nuvi 550 |
| Pre-loaded road maps of the lower 48 United States, Hawaii & Puerto Rico | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-loaded road maps of Alaska & Canada | no | Yes |
| Pre-loaded topographical maps of the lower 48 United States, Hawaii & Puerto Rico | Yes | no |
Q: How do the nuvi 500 and nuvi 550 compare to the new Garmin Oregon series?
A: The Garmin Oregon series (click here)are new outdoors GPS receivers with a touch-screen interface. Here's a comparison chart:
| Feature | nuvi 500/nuvi 550 | Oregon series |
| Unit Size | 4.21" x 3.35" x .9" | 2.3" x 4.5" x 1.4" |
| Screen Size | 3.5" diag. | 3.0" diag. |
| Touch-screen | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Loaded City Navigator Maps | Yes | no |
| 3-D Street Views | Yes | no |
| Voice prompts | Yes | no |
| Pre-Loaded U.S. Topo Maps | nuvi 500 only | Oregon 400t only |
| 3-D Topographical Views | no | Oregon 400t only |
| Pre-Loaded U.S. Coastal Charts | no | Oregon 400c only |
| Pre-Loaded U.S. Inland Lakes | no | Oregon 400i only |
| Barometric Altimeter | no | Yes |
| Electronic Compass | no | Yes |
| Battery Type | Rechargeable Li-ion included | 2 AA (not included) or rechargeable (not included) |
| Battery Life | 8 hours | 16 hours |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| High-sensitivity receiver | Yes | Yes |
| Expandable memory | microSD slot | microSD slot |
| Waypoint storage | 1000 | 1000 |
| Routes | 10 | 50 |
| Tracklog | no | 10,000 points, 20 saved tracks |
| FM Traffic compatible | Yes, with GDB 55 | no |
| Picture viewer | Yes | no |
| Geocaching mode | Yes | Yes |
| Rubberized seal | no | Yes |
Q: What maps are available for the nuvi 500 & nuvi 550?
A:A: All forms of City Navigator NT will work on these nuvis. In addition, there's BlueChart g2 Vision software and Vision Inland Lakes software for use with these units, though you won't be able to view aerial photography and satellite overlay on the nuvi 500/550. Topographical accessory mapping will be available as well in the future.
Q: What's the difference between the nuvi 500 and nuvi 5000?
A: The nuvi 5000 is a large-screen automotive navigator designed for truck drivers and other road vehicles with large dashboards. It boasts a huge 5" diagonal screen, but is not equipped to handle outdoors functions like the nuvi 500 and nuvi 550 are.
