How to Create Route on Google Maps?

Google Maps has become an indispensable navigation tool for millions. It provides turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic updates.

While Google Maps has always been a go-to choice for those looking for the shortest route between multiple destinations, its utility doesn’t stop there. Using Google Maps Route Planner goes beyond simple navigation and allows you to create custom directions on the map to fit your specific needs.

This blog will guide you on how to find the shortest route between multiple stops on Google Maps. It also walks you through the steps to create a route on Google Maps and customize it. It further discusses the challenges of Google Maps and how efficient route planner software can help overcome them.

How to Choose the Shortest Route on Google Maps

Google Maps is a widely trusted tool for route planning, whether you’re a delivery driver, a truck driver, or simply seeking driving directions. It offers handy features that allow you to input multiple destinations and help you find the shortest and fastest route.

So, the following steps can help you find the shortest route between multiple destinations on Google Maps:

Step 1: Open Google Maps and begin mapping your route

Start by opening the Google Maps app on your iOS or Android mobile phones. You can also access it by visiting the website: https://www.google.com/maps. To begin mapping out your travel route, click on the “Directions” button.

Step 2: Set your starting location and add multiple destinations

Google Maps often uses your current location as the starting point. You can change this location by entering your preferred start location in the search bar. After setting your starting point, add multiple locations on Google Maps by clicking on the “Add stop” option in the app. If you are using the website, click on the “Add Destination” option.

Step 3: Evaluate the default route

Google Maps route planner usually suggests route options depending on the order in which you entered your stops. While this may be the most direct route, it is not always the shortest.

So, review your mapped route and make a note of the estimated time of arrival (ETA).

Step 4: Manually rearrange stops

Google Maps does not automatically optimize routes for efficiency. You may need to experiment with various stop sequences and modify the stops manually until you get the shortest route. 

Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen, and then click “Edit Stops.” After that, drag & drop stops to reorder them so that your route makes the most sense. 

Step 5: Start your journey

Once you’ve successfully optimized your route, you’re ready to hit the road. Click the start button in the bottom right corner of the Google Maps app and let it guide you on your journey.

Now that you know how to find the shortest route between multiple locations, let’s understand how to create a custom route on Google Maps.

How to Draw a Custom Route on Google Maps

Whether planning a scenic road trip, organizing efficient delivery routes, or simply exploring your city on foot, Google Maps offers tools to draw routes.

To draw a custom route on Google Maps:

1. Open your preferred web browser and go to Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/ 

2. Sign in to your Google account if you aren’t logged in.

3. Click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.

4. From the menu, select “Saved” (previously “Your Places”) and then navigate to the “Maps” tab.

5. In the “Maps” tab, you will see any previously saved maps. If you have never saved any maps before, then the list may be empty. Scroll to the bottom of this tab and click on “CREATE MAP.”

6. A new Google Maps window with an “Untitled map” page will appear.

7. Click “Untitled map” to choose the map style by clicking the dropdown arrow next to “Base map.” Select the map style that suits your preferences.

8. Below the search field, you’ll find an icon resembling a Y-shaped road. Click on it to initiate the route planning.

9. Click the icon resembling a car, bicycle, or walking person to choose your preferred transportation mode.

10. Click in the “A” field to enter your starting or departure point (address or location name), and choose from the search results.

11. Repeat the process for the “B” field to enter your destination.

12. If your journey involves multiple stops, click “Add destination” and enter the addresses or location names for additional waypoints.

13. Once you have added all your desired destinations, it’s time to give your map a name. At the top of the page, where it says “Untitled map,” click on it to type out a descriptive name of your choice.

14. After you have given the name, click on “Save” and your map will be saved.

15. Click on “Share” below the map’s name. This will provide you with a shareable link that you can send to others for collaboration or reference.

Now that we understand the steps to draw a custom route on Google Maps, let’s learn how to create it on a separate layer.

How Do I Create a Custom Route on a Separate Layer in Google Maps?

Google Maps not only enables you to draw a single route but also empowers you to create multiple routes on a single map, organized neatly with the use of layers.

This feature is handy for planning complex itineraries, such as road trips with multiple stops or optimizing business delivery routes.

So, here are the steps to create a custom route on a separate layer in Google Maps:

1. After finishing your initial route, click “Add directions” to start a new route session on a new layer. This will add a new directions layer for you to build custom routes.

2. For this new route, choose your preferred transportation mode—driving, cycling, or walking.

3. Enter the starting and ending points for your new route, and feel free to add waypoints if needed.

4. Save each route with a distinct name to identify them later easily.

5. Layers act as a virtual overlay on your map, allowing you to organize and manage different elements.

6. Below the search field, find the option to “Add layer.” Click on it to create a new separate layer for additional routes.

7. Once you’ve created multiple routes, assign each route to a specific layer. This helps maintain clarity and organization.

8. Click on the layer name to customize it. Use descriptive names such as “Trip Route”, “Delivery Stops”, etc., making it easy to identify the purpose of each layer.

9. Use the visibility toggle to switch layers on or off. This feature is handy when you want to focus on a specific route without the distraction of others.

10. Ensure each new layer is saved by clicking on the layer name and providing a descriptive title.

11. Like with a single route, you can share your multi-layered map by clicking on the “Share” icon below the map’s name.

By creating multiple routes and organizing them with layers, you can unlock the full potential of Google Maps trip planner or logistical optimization.

The next section discusses the steps to draw lines and shapes on Google Maps in the desktop version.

How to Draw Lines and Shapes on Google Maps (Desktop Version)

To draw lines and shapes in the desktop version of Google Maps, follow the steps below.

How to draw lines and shapes on Google Maps

1. Open your previously created map or start a new one following the above steps.

2. In the menu, find and click on “Saved” ( formerly “Your places”).

3. Navigate to the “Maps” tab and open your desired map.

4. Below the search bar, locate the “Draw a line” option. Click on it; you will see a dropdown menu.

5. From the dropdown menu, select “Add line or shape”. This action activates the drawing tool.

6. Click on the map where you want the line to begin. Then, drag the cursor to create the line. Double-click where you want it to end.

7. For a line with multiple points, make a series of single clicks to mark each point along the desired path. Double-click the last point to complete the line.

8. To create a polygon (a shape with three or more sides), click on the map to mark each corner. Double-click on the start point to close the shape.

9. On completing the line or shape, a text box will appear. Name your line or shape and click “Save.”

10. You can also edit color, rename, or even upload an image. Just position your mouse pointer over the line or shape, click when the cursor changes, and use the tools in the lower-right corner.

Now that you know how to draw lines and shapes on Google Maps in the desktop version, let’s understand the steps you can follow to create lines and shapes.

How to Draw Lines and Shapes on Google Maps (Mobile)

While drawing lines and shapes on a computer is more convenient, you can still perform this task on your mobile device using the Google My Maps web app. 

To draw lines and shapes on Google Maps mobile:

1. Open your mobile browser and navigate to My Maps.

2. Tap on the “Get Started” button.

3. Then, either you can start creating a new map or select an existing map.

4. Under the search field, tap “Draw a line” (represented by three lines and three dots).

5. select “Add line or shape from the dropdown menu.” Then, follow the step-by-step directions in the previous section for adding and editing lines and shapes.

The following section discusses how to add a marker on Google Maps.

How to Add a Marker on Google Maps

To add a marker on Google Maps:

1. Click on the map where you want to add a marker.

2. Below the search bar, select the “Add marker” tool.

3. Click on the spot where you want to add a marker and enter a name. The marker will be pinned to your map.

4. Edit the marker by changing its icon, renaming it, or adding additional details.

By mastering these features, you can draw your own route on Google Maps and add markers, lines, and shapes to make your custom map truly unique.

After learning how to add a marker on Google Maps, we can understand how to access Google Maps custom routes on mobile phones.

How to Access Google Maps Custom Routes on Mobile

After crafting your custom map on Google Maps, you can access and view custom routes seamlessly on your mobile device. While editing capabilities may be limited on mobile, you can efficiently view and navigate your customized routes on both Android and iOS. This can be done using the Google Maps mobile app.

To access custom routes on Google Maps using a mobile device:

1. Download Google Maps and open it on your Android or iOS device.

2. Tap on the “Saved” icon located in the menu at the bottom of the screen.

3. Within the “Maps” section, open the specific map containing your custom route.

4. Your custom route will be properly displayed on the map interface.

The next section discusses some challenges when you draw a route on Google Maps.

6 Challenges You Can Face While Creating Routes on Google Maps

While Google Maps is a popular navigation tool, it may fall short of meeting the specific needs of both individuals and businesses requiring efficient route planning.

Here are some of the challenges that you can face while creating routes on Google Maps:

• Manual input overload: Google Maps requires manual entry of each stop, making it cumbersome for individuals and businesses with multiple destinations.
• Limited stops: Google Maps allows adding only 10 stops, including the starting location and the final destination point. 
• Lacks route optimization: Google Maps lacks built-in route optimization capabilities for multi-stop journeys. It creates routes without considering the most efficient sequence of stops.
• Customization constraints: Google Maps offers limited customization options for setting priority stops, time windows, and other constraints, limiting its flexibility.
• Doesn’t support multiple drivers: Google Maps lets you plan a route for one driver only. It lacks the ability to efficiently optimize routes for a team of drivers or a fleet of vehicles.
• Doesn’t fully eliminate backtracking: When optimizing a route manually, it can be challenging to eliminate backtracking entirely. Google Maps’ route optimization feature is not designed to effectively minimize travel time in all cases.

How to Overcome These Challenges of Efficient Routing?

As businesses and individuals seek a more efficient and tailored route planning experience, Google Maps often proves insufficient due to its inherent drawbacks.

This is where Google Maps alternatives come in handy.

One such multi-stop route planning software is Upper. This route management software, which provides a competitive edge over Google Maps in the following ways.

Why Upper’s route management software is better than Google Maps:

1. Easy address entry: Bulk import stops from CSV/Excel files or scan addresses, eliminating tedious manual entry.
2. Unlimited stops: Plan routes with as many stops as needed, not just 10 like Google Maps.
3. Optimized routes: Upper’s multi-vehicle route optimization ensures efficient stop sequences, unlike Google Maps.
4. Customization: Set priorities, delivery time windows, service times, and other constraints tailored to your needs.
5. Team coordination: Easily plan and manage routes for multiple drivers/vehicles simultaneously.

Additional Upper features:

• Schedule routes in advance for dispatching
• Automated customer notifications (ETAs, updates)
• Live driver tracking
• Proof of delivery (photos, signatures, notes)
• Detailed reports and analytics

With powerful planning tools, customization, and team coordination capabilities, Upper provides a seamless and efficient route planning experience superior to Google Maps.