Step By Step Guide To Creating And Customizing Routes In Google Maps For Any Trip

Navigating unfamiliar cities, planning a cross-country road trip, or organizing a delivery route doesn’t have to be stressful. Google Maps offers powerful tools that allow users to create, customize, and optimize routes with precision. Whether you're a frequent traveler, a logistics planner, or someone who just wants to avoid traffic, mastering route customization in Google Maps can save time, fuel, and frustration.

This guide walks through every essential step—from setting up your first route to adding stops, avoiding tolls, and sharing your journey—with real-world tips and practical insights.

Create Your First Custom Route

Every journey starts with a beginning and an end. In Google Maps, this means defining your starting point and destination. While the default navigation mode works for simple trips, building a custom route gives you full control over your path.

1. Open Google Maps on your desktop browser (maps.google.com) or mobile app.
2. Click or tap the search bar and enter your starting location. You can use an address, business name, or even “Your Location” if GPS is enabled.
3. Tap the directions icon (arrow pointing right).
4. Enter your destination in the second field.
5. Select your preferred mode of travel: driving, walking, cycling, or public transit.
6. Review the suggested route options based on distance, traffic, and estimated arrival time.

The initial route is automatically generated using Google’s algorithm, which prioritizes speed and efficiency. But this is just the starting point—you can refine it further.

Tip: Always check real-time traffic conditions before departure. A route that looks fast on paper might be slowed by congestion, construction, or accidents.

Add Multiple Stops to Your Route

Most real-world trips involve more than two points. Whether you’re stopping for gas, visiting clients, or planning a scenic detour, Google Maps allows up to nine additional stops per route (for a total of ten destinations).

To add stops:

1. After entering your start and end points, click the \"+\" symbol (on desktop) or \"Add stop\" (on mobile).
2. Enter the address or name of the place you want to visit en route.
3. Repeat as needed for additional stops.
4. Reorder stops by dragging and dropping them into your preferred sequence.

Google Maps will automatically recalculate travel time and distance after each addition. The order of stops significantly affects efficiency—especially for long trips—so take a moment to organize them logically.

“Efficient routing isn’t just about distance—it’s about sequence. One misplaced stop can add hours to a trip.” — David Lin, Logistics Optimization Specialist

Customize Your Route Preferences

Not all drivers want the fastest route. Some prioritize scenic views, others avoid highways or toll roads. Google Maps lets you adjust routing preferences to match your priorities.

Avoiding Tolls, Highways, and Ferries

If you’re looking to save money or enjoy a slower-paced drive, you can exclude certain types of roads:

• In the desktop version, click the three vertical dots next to “Directions” and select “Route options.”
• Check boxes to avoid tolls, highways, or ferries.
• On mobile, tap the three dots during navigation and choose “Route options” to make similar adjustments.

Keep in mind that avoiding tolls may increase travel time and fuel costs due to longer distances or lower-speed roads.

Setting Preferred Travel Mode and Departure Time

You can also plan routes based on when you’ll be traveling. For example:

• Use the “Depart at” or “Arrive by” feature to simulate traffic conditions at specific times.
• This is especially useful for commuters trying to avoid rush hour or travelers aiming to reach a destination before dark.

Tip: Schedule your departure outside peak hours—even a 30-minute shift can reduce travel time by 20% or more in congested urban areas.

Save, Share, and Collaborate on Routes

Once you’ve built a customized route, don’t lose it. Saving and sharing capabilities make Google Maps ideal for group trips, deliveries, or recurring commutes.

Saving a Route

While Google Maps doesn’t allow direct saving of multi-stop routes as named entities, you can:

• Save individual destinations to a custom list (e.g., “Road Trip 2024”).
• Bookmark the entire URL of your route on desktop for quick access later.
• Use third-party tools like TripIt or Roadtrippers to import and archive complex itineraries.

Sharing a Route

To share your planned journey:

1. Click the “Share” button below the route summary.
2. Choose how to send it—via messaging apps, email, or clipboard link.
3. The recipient can open the link directly in Google Maps and follow the same path.

This is particularly helpful for coordinating meetups, guiding guests to an event, or delegating delivery tasks.

Real Example: Planning a Weekend Road Trip

Consider Sarah, who lives in Denver and plans a weekend getaway to Rocky Mountain National Park. She wants to stop at a popular breakfast spot in Boulder, refuel in Estes Park, and reach Bear Lake before noon.

She opens Google Maps and:

• Sets her starting point as her home in Denver.
• Adds Boulder Diner as her first stop.
• Includes a gas station in Estes Park.
• Sets Bear Lake as her final destination.
• Chooses “Avoid tolls” since the scenic route via US-36 is free and beautiful.
• Uses “Depart at” to simulate leaving Saturday at 7:00 AM, avoiding weekend traffic.

The result? A stress-free, well-timed journey with minimal surprises. She shares the link with her friends, who sync it to their phones.

Action	Benefit
Add multiple stops	Ensures no detours or forgotten errands
Avoid tolls	Saves money and enhances scenic experience
Set departure time	Provides accurate traffic prediction
Share route	Keeps group coordinated and on schedule

Essential Checklist for Route Planning

Before hitting the road, run through this checklist to ensure your route is optimized:

• ✅ Confirm all addresses are correct and complete
• ✅ Order stops efficiently (nearest to farthest)
• ✅ Check traffic and weather forecasts for each leg
• ✅ Avoid unnecessary tolls or highways if desired
• ✅ Share the route with travel companions
• ✅ Save the route link or print directions as backup
• ✅ Enable offline maps in case of poor signal

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a route with more than 10 stops?

No, Google Maps limits custom routes to 10 total destinations (including start and end). For longer itineraries, break the journey into segments or use specialized route-planning software like RouteXL or MyRouteOnline.

Do customized routes update in real time during navigation?

Yes. Once you begin navigation, Google Maps continuously monitors traffic and road conditions. If a faster alternative becomes available, it will suggest rerouting—even for multi-stop trips.

Can I edit a route manually by dragging the path?

On desktop, yes. After generating a route, you can click and drag the blue line to reroute along specific streets. This is useful for avoiding temporary obstacles or sticking to local roads. Mobile does not support drag-to-route.

Final Tips for Mastering Google Maps Routing

Creating a route is easy—but optimizing it takes awareness and attention to detail. Use real-time data, consider timing, and always have a backup plan. Remember that small adjustments, like reordering stops or shifting departure time, can yield big improvements in comfort and efficiency.

Whether you're commuting, touring, or managing deliveries, Google Maps puts powerful planning tools at your fingertips. The key is knowing how to use them intentionally.

🚀 Ready to plan your next journey with confidence? Open Google Maps today, build your first multi-stop route, and experience the difference that smart navigation makes.