Question

Both on the simulator and the device, my delegate for LocationManager is getting didUpdateToLocation:fromLocation: exactly every 5 minutes while traveling while monitoring SLC. Why is this?

Answer 1

According to the CLLocationManager Class Reference:

For applications that do not need a regular stream of location events,
consider using the startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges method to
start the delivery of events instead. This method is more appropriate
for the majority of applications that just need an initial user
location fix and need updates only when the user moves a significant
distance. This interface delivers new events only when it detects
changes to the device’s associated cell towers, resulting in less
frequent updates and significantly lower power usage.

My guess is that when your app is running in the background, iOS only “wakes” the app every 5 minutes to check whether you have made a Significant Location Change, in order to conserve battery life

There might be some useful information for you also in this previous question.