What's the difference between a route and a track?

I'm using Basecamp with a Garmin Montana 680T and 24K US topo maps. I create a route in Basecamp by clicking on various points along a road, and Basecamp complete the route, following the road. When I copy the route to my device, it appears as straight lines connecting only the points I clicked on in Basecamp. The route is of no use. If I convert the route to a track in Basecamp, it then appears as I would expect on the device.

I've read the Montana manual several times. It does not say what Garmin considers a route to be, or a track. Can you get turn by turn directions on a track?