To map a route in Google Maps, search for your destination, tap Directions, and choose how you’re traveling. Google Maps draws the route and shows the travel time. To map a route with several stops, tap the three dots next to your starting point and choose Add stop, then drag the stops into the order you want. You can add up to 10 destinations in one route.
Below are the steps on a phone and a computer, how to plan the route for a future time, how to share or save it, and when to use Google My Maps for a custom route map.
Map a route on your phone
- Open Google Maps and search for your destination.
- Tap Directions.
- Your current location is the starting point. Tap it to change the start.
- Choose driving, transit, walking, cycling or another mode at the top.
- Pick a route from the blue and gray options on the map, then tap Start.
Add multiple stops
- After getting directions, tap the three dots at the top right and choose Add stop.
- Enter the next location. Repeat to add more, up to 10 destinations.
- Drag the handles beside each stop to reorder them.
- Tap Done, then Start.
Google Maps doesn’t automatically reorder stops for the shortest trip, so arrange them in a sensible order yourself.
Map a route on a computer
- Go to google.com/maps and click Directions.
- Enter the starting point and destination.
- Click + (Add destination) below the boxes to add stops.
- Drag the blue route line to use a particular road if you prefer.
- Click Send directions to your phone or use the Share link.
Plan a route for later
After getting directions on your phone, tap the three dots and choose Set depart or arrive time. Google Maps estimates travel time using typical traffic for that time. On a computer, change Leave now to Depart at or Arrive by.
- Share directions: Tap the three dots and choose Share directions to send the route by text or email.
- Pin a trip: On the Directions screen, tap Pin to save it to the Go tab for quick access.
- Offline: Download an offline map of the area so the route works without a signal.
Make a custom route map with Google My Maps
For a road trip, delivery list or event map you want to keep and share:
- Go to google.com/mymaps on a computer and click Create a new map.
- Click the Add directions icon under the search bar.
- Enter your start and destination, and click Add destination to add stops.
- Name the map and share it from the Share button.
Each My Maps directions layer is limited in the number of stops, but you can add several layers for a long trip.
Route mapping options compared
| Option | Stops | Turn-by-turn navigation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Maps app | Up to 10 | Yes | Driving today |
| Google Maps on a computer | Up to 10 | Send to phone | Planning ahead, custom roads |
| Google My Maps | Several per layer | No | Shareable trip maps |
Related: plan a road trip on Google Maps.
Related: find alternate routes in Google Maps.
Frequently asked questions
Can Google Maps optimize the order of my stops?
No. It follows the order you set. Rearrange stops yourself to avoid backtracking.
Can I add stops for transit or walking routes?
Multiple stops work for driving, walking and cycling. Transit directions support only one destination.
How do I remove a stop?
Tap the X next to the stop in the directions list.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.