How to Find the Shortest Route Between Multiple Destinations with Google Maps

Every minute counts when you’re on the road, and the day is filled with multiple stops and deliveries. Wasted time and fuel can take a toll on your bottom line.

According to a study conducted by ATRI, congestion on highways and major roads in 2021 cost the trucking industry approximately $94.6 billion in lost productivity and increased operational costs. It is the highest ever recorded. For businesses, whether it be transportation, delivery, or logistics, optimizing routes can lead to significant cost savings and increased productivity.

In this blog, we’re going to explore how to find shortest route between multiple destinations. We’ll provide you with a roadmap, guiding you through the steps, pointing out the challenges, and ultimately offering a solution to make your routing tasks a breeze.

How to Choose the Shortest Route on Google Maps

Google Maps is a widely trusted tool for route planning. It offers a set of 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 devices. You can also access it by visiting the website: https://www.google.com/maps.To begin mapping out your route, click on the “Directions” button.

Step 2: Set your starting location and add multiple destinations

Google Maps will often use your current location as the starting point. You can simply change this location by entering your preferred start location in the search bar.

After setting your starting point, add multiple destinations 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 will usually suggest 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 optimize routes for efficiency automatically. 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.

What are the Limitations of Google Maps You Should be Aware of?

While Google Maps is a useful route optimization tool, it is important to understand its challenges and limitations. Understanding these shortcomings will assist you in making informed decisions and considering alternate Google Maps solutions when necessary.

• Limited number of stops

One notable limitation is that the maximum number of stops you can add to a route is ten, including your starting location and final destination. This limitation can be restrictive for delivery businesses or individuals with extensive routing needs. If you have more than nine stops, you may need to use workarounds, which can be less efficient.

• Manual route optimization

Google Maps route planner does not optimize your route automatically. To determine the most efficient, shortest, and fastest routes, you must manually rearrange stops. This can be time-consuming, especially when dealing with a complex route with many stops.

• 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 minimize travel time effectively in all cases.

• Real-time data updates

Google Maps route planner provides real-time traffic updates. However, these updates can sometimes lead to route changes that may not be the most efficient for multi-stop routes. It’s important to stay alert to such changes and adjust your route as needed.

• Not suitable for complex business needs

Google Maps provides basic navigation and route optimization. Businesses with complex routing requirements, such as attaching notes, time windows, or managing a large number of stops or a large fleet of vehicles, may find the Google Maps app insufficient. In such a case, you may want to consider dedicated route optimization software like Upper.

Google Maps is a great tool for route optimization for many users, but it has limitations that can be a roadblock for more complex routing needs.

However, if you have complex requirements such as creating highly customizable routes, want to add more stops, or need automated route optimization, specialized route planning software like Upper with advanced routing features is a better fit. The software offers features designed to address the shortcomings of Google Maps route planner.  It provides a more comprehensive solution for efficient multi-stop shortest or fastest routes management.

Which is Better for Route Planning: Google Maps Vs. Upper

Aspect	Google Maps	Upper
Route Optimization	Manual adjustments, limited optimization	Advanced route optimization algorithms for efficient routes
Customization	Limited customization for business needs	Highly customizable. Users can define preferences, such as delivery windows, stop priorities, and driver constraints
Maximum Stops	Limit of ten stops	Unlimited stops
Real-time Updates	Basic tracking and monitoring	Live driver tracking
Proof of Delivery (POD)	Not available	Offers multiple POD options such as photo, eSignature, and notes
Integration with Apps	Offers navigation but limited route optimization	Integrates with navigation apps for optimized route
Cost Reduction	Limited optimization’s impact on fuel costs	Reduces fuel consumption and operational costs
Scalability	Suitable for personal use or small-scale operations	Suitable for businesses of all sizes

How to Plan the Shortest Route with Multiple Stops Using Upper

Finding the shortest and most direct route between multiple locations is crucial for optimizing your business operations and ensuring timely deliveries. While Google Maps route planner provides a useful tool for individual users, Upper shortest route planner takes route planning and optimization to the next level. It offers advanced routing solutions to individuals as well as businesses.

Here’s how you can utilize Upper to find the most efficient route with multiple stops:

Step 1: Create routes

Start by logging into your Upper account. If you don’t have one yet, it’s quick to sign up. Once you’re in, click on “+ Create Route Plan.” This opens your workspace for planning routes.

Step 2: Add destinations

Now, tell Upper where you need to go. You can do this in a couple of ways. If you’ve got your stops all neatly organized in an Excel file, just click on “Upload File” or drag and drop it. Upper will fetch your data like a pro.

Or, if you prefer to do things manually, click the “+ Add Stops” button and enter the addresses one by one. It’s as easy as ordering a pizza online.

Step 3: Customize your route

Upper lets you customize your delivery routes to fit your business needs. Set delivery windows and service times, pre-assign delivery drivers, add notes, and set priority for each stop. It’s like customizing a pizza—your route, your way.

Step 4: Assign drivers

Once you are done with adding stops and making customizations as per your preference, click on “Next” to choose your drivers. In the current window, you can either “Add More Drivers” or choose from the existing ones.

You also have the option to set their shift schedules, break times, and choose the vehicle type. You can also add preferences, like avoiding highways or toll roads.

Step 5: Optimize routes

This is where the magic happens. Once you have selected the drivers, click “Optimize and Assign Routes.” 

On clicking that, Upper will start optimizing and finding the most efficient routes, considering factors like traffic, distance, and time. This saves you time, money, and fuel costs.

Step 6: Review your routes

On completing the optimization process, you’ll see the timeline module of Upper. Here, all the optimized routes will be mapped. Before hitting the road, carefully review your routes. You can swap routes or drivers if needed. Upper offers the flexibility to fine-tune your plan.

Step 7: Share routes with drivers

Now it’s time to shine. Once you’re done reviewing and finalizing your routes, it’s time to assign them to your drivers. With a single click, you can dispatch the optimized routes. Your drivers will get these routes instantly on their mobile apps or through email and text messages.

The best part? You can export multiple routes in CSV or XLS format, print them for your drivers, or send them to navigation apps like Waze, Google Maps, or Apple Maps. Upper’s got all the bases covered.

With Upper, multi-stop route planning becomes a breeze, whether you’re a pro or just starting.

Embrace Specialized Routing Software for Efficient Route Planning

While Google Maps is a valuable tool for route planning, its limitations become evident when managing multiple stops and complex logistics. To overcome these challenges and streamline your operations, consider using Upper, the easiest way to find the fastest or shortest route.

Upper offers a range of advanced features that can address the shortcomings of Google Maps. It includes efficient route optimization, customizable routes, and seamless delivery driver assignment. By following the steps we’ve outlined in the blog, you can ensure that your routes are as efficient as possible, saving both time and resources.So, make the smart choice by integrating Upper into your route planning strategy. Take the free trial to experience the benefits of optimized routing. Happy routing!