Sat nav with Apple Maps

Do you have a WiFi Only model of iPad, or WiFi+Cellular?

Only WiFi+Cellular models of iPad have GNSS/GPS positioning capabilities - this being a function of the iPad Cellular chipset. WiFi Only models of iPad have no GPS capabilities with which iPad Location Services can derive location. This fundamental difference may significantly impact your ability to use mapping Apps - in particular if real-time positioning (e.g., a moving map) is required.

WiFi Only models can only “infer” their location from a database lookup of neighbouring WiFi networks for which the geographic location is known, or the geographic location of your public IP address. For static applications in urban locations, where the location of IP public IP addresses and WiFi networks are known, an “inferred” location can be relatively accurate. However, in rural locations, or when using a Cellular/Satellite/VPN connection, location accuracy of an inferred location [if it works at all] may be very inaccurate. 

All this has significant implications for non-static mapping applications. If you need to have moving maps, or have future flexibility to do so, you’ll need to consider a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad. Choosing a cellular model does not commit you to adding a cellular service plan for the iPad, but ensures that you have immediate access to GPS/GNSS positioning services.

If you have a WiFi Only models iPad, your available options are:

• Substitute your WiFi Only iPad for a WiFi+Cellular model; this does not commit you to provisioning Cellular service for your iPad, but does provide the needed GPS functionality for the iPad.
• Add an external GPS receiver to your WiFi Only iPad. These are often used in marine, aviation and vehicular applications - and can be either directly connected via Lightning or via Bluetooth. Their are various third-party manufacturers, of which two are BadElf and Garmin Glo.

You should also note that some mapping Apps require an active network connection (either via WiFi or Cellular) to access online mapping. By contrast, some mapping Apps include (or allow download of) map data for offline use. Offline navigation merely requires GNSS/GPS for moving maps; online mapping requires an active network connection - and can be expensive to use if using cellular.

Currently Apple Maps needs online connectivity, i.e. cellular when no Wi-Fi is nearby. iOS 17/​iPadOS 17 (later this year) is supposed to change that a bit, with the possibility to pre-download parts of the map. Select other mapping apps already have that possibility. Google Maps, Waze, Route4Me, Maps.Me, OsmAnd, etc.

If your iPad is Wi-Fi only, then you may be able to use your smartphone as a hotspot, to provide Wi-Fi/​internet connectivity to the iPad.

Sure, same as iPhone, only bigger.

There is no setup. Use the Search field to enter a destination. Click the Car icon for travel route by car.

View maps on iPad - Apple Support

Search for places in Maps on iPad - Apple Support

Use Siri, Maps, and the Maps widget to get directions on iPad - Apple Support

An excellent question - as your iPhone itself has no mechanism by which it can share its own GNSS/GPS location with a tethered iPad.

A WiFi Only iPad, tethered or otherwise, can only derive its geo-location from its public IP Address and Apple’s crowd-sourced database of detected WiFi networks - accessed via the active network connection. To be clear, detected WiFi networks are those within proximity - and not, necessarily, the WiFi network to which the iPad may be connected.

I did test my answer with an iPad Air A2152 (Wi-Fi only), Wi-Fi connected to iPhone hotspot. It somehow kept track of my position on the route. Without GPS/GNSS, how could that work? I’m puzzled more than before. Thanks for any insights.