Google Maps doesn’t have a setting to turn off automatic rerouting. It changes your route when it finds a faster one based on live traffic. The most reliable way to keep your route is to add stops along the roads you want, so Maps has to go through them. You can also set Route options to avoid highways, tolls, or ferries, dismiss “faster route” suggestions when they pop up, or use downloaded offline maps so Maps stops recalculating based on traffic.
Why Google Maps changes your route
- Traffic changed. Maps checks live traffic while you drive and suggests or switches to routes it thinks are faster.
- You missed a turn or took a different road, so Maps recalculates from where you are.
- A road closed or an incident was reported.
Method 1: Add stops to lock in your route
- Enter your destination and tap Directions.
- Tap the three dots in the top-right corner and choose Add stop.
- Add a town, road, or landmark on the route you want. Drag the stops into order.
- Tap Done, then Start.
Maps still reroutes between stops, but it can’t skip them, which keeps you on the general path you chose. You can add up to nine stops on the phone app.
Method 2: Set route options
- After tapping Directions, tap the three dots > Route options.
- Turn on Avoid highways, Avoid tolls, or Avoid ferries.
- To make it the default, turn on Remember settings if you see it.
Method 3: Dismiss faster route suggestions
When Maps finds a faster route, it may show a banner with the time you’d save. Tap the option to keep your current route or dismiss the banner, if one appears, before it switches. Maps doesn’t always ask first, especially when the new route is much faster.
Method 4: Use offline maps to stop traffic rerouting
Without a live connection, Maps can’t see traffic, so it won’t suggest faster routes for traffic reasons.
- Before you leave, tap your profile picture > Offline maps > Select your own map, and download the area.
- On Android, go to Settings in Maps and turn on Wi-Fi only to use offline maps when you’re not on Wi-Fi. On iPhone, turn off mobile data for Google Maps in Settings > Apps > Google Maps.
You’ll lose live traffic, accident reports, and real-time arrival estimates, so turn it back on afterward.
Method 5: Plan the route on a computer and send it to your phone
- On maps.google.com, get directions and drag the blue route line onto the roads you want.
- Click Send directions to your phone.
Maps may still reroute during the drive, so combine this with stops for the most control.
Related: find alternate routes in Google Maps.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn off rerouting in Google Maps settings?
No. There’s no setting for it. Stops and route options are the best workarounds.
Why does Google Maps keep rerouting me in circles?
This usually happens with a weak GPS signal or when your phone thinks you’re on a different road. Calibrate your location by tapping the blue dot and choosing Calibrate, and make sure Location accuracy is on.
Does Waze have the same problem?
Waze also reroutes for traffic, and it’s even more aggressive about it. Adding stops works there too.
Why does Maps take a longer route?
Maps picks what it predicts is fastest, not shortest. Check Route options in case avoidances are turned on.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.