NAVIGATION APPARATUS HAVING PATH CALCULATING FUNCTION

PURPOSE:To enable a driver to check a course to a desired destination and the details in the perimeter of the current position, for instance, simultaneously by displaying a wide range map and a narrow range map, read out by a wide range map selection means and a narrow map selection means on a map display means simultaneously. CONSTITUTION:The optimum path is shown by a circle mark 23 indicated on a path to a destination 22 from the current position 21. This wide range map BT is indicated so as to occupy the most part of a screen of a display section 9. Unlike the map BT, a narrow range map KT contains a position 21 and the mark 23 and not only a main trunk road but also a small road is displayed. As a result, even when a road is branched while a running is made on small road not indicated on the map BT, the optimum path can be checked without confusion. The map KT is switched in succession as the vehicle advances beyond a display range of the map. In other words, as the map BT is wide in the display range, the map will not change even when the map KT is switched. This enables the checking of the details in the perimeter of the present location thereby always capturing a sense of distance to the destination.