A Comprehensive Guide On How To Plan A Road Trip With Google Maps

Want to embark on your favorite destination by planning a trip on Google Maps? Then, you have landed on the right spot.

Creating your travel itinerary is not a big deal when you have support from Google’s popular navigation app. And therefore, not surprisingly most travelers use it on the go.

Wondering how to make a custom Google Maps itinerary? Unsure where to get started for creating a route plan? Get ready, as we will teach you how to plan a road trip with Google Maps.

Overview Of Google’s Navigation Apps

Google Maps route planner is usually used for perfect road trip adventures. Be it a national park, sightseeing spot, or your favorite hill station; Google Maps is all you need to find the scenic route. 

The popular mapping platform works as the location finder, and to do so, you need to enter the address in the search bar. It will find the exact location in seconds along with details like the opening hours, reviews, distance from starting point, and approx. time.

Also, it will recommend must-see attractions surrounding the location. But, how well do you know that it is one of the best trip planning tools? Being a popular navigation app, it does not have all route planning options which means carrying out delivery operations could be a Himalayan task.

Alright, let’s begin with steps on how to use Google Maps to plan a trip with multiple stops.

Steps To Plan a Multi-stop Road Trip Using Google Maps App

Follow this step-by-step guide to plan a route for your road trip itinerary on Google My Map.

1. Create A New Untitled Map

Firstly, log in with your email into the Google account and go to Google Maps website > Your Places > Maps > Untitled Maps. Or else, open Google My Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/d/).  It is recommended to use a navigation app on the desktop version while planning road trips. Then, open google maps, and click on the ‘create a new map’ button.

Rename the Route Plan

A default Google My Maps name should be replaced with the new map title. To do so, tap on the ‘untitled map’ and rename the title and description of the custom map from the pop-up window.

2. Select a New Untitled Layer

Renaming the route plan, now click on the ‘Add Layer’ or use the default untitled layer. Here, you can add directions layers as many as you want.

• Edit layer

  Just like renaming the route map in Google My Maps, you need to change the name of the new single layer. So, tap the custom icon from the right side and give a new name to the selected layer.

• Add location markers

  Thereafter, you can enter the nearby destination name in the home address to get the location or use the current location. Basically, you are adding location pins to your driving route.

3. Generate a Route Map

As you know route map consists of multiple stops between the start and the endpoint. Therefore, you need to continue adding the stops one by one. It’s quite similar to the ‘add location markers’ process. So, this is how you can generate a route map in 3-step.

• Enter source and destination addresses

  In the pop-up menu icon, enter the source and destination addresses in the search bar to automatically let the system find the fastest route. In case you want to change the address, click on the edit button placed in the top-right corner menu of the start/endpoint.

• Include Additional Stops

  Now, you can add multiple stops by selecting the ‘Add Destination’ option below the start and end destination. By doing so, an empty pop-up will display where you need to enter a new stop address. Similarly, continue adding the stops as many as you want. Here, you can even import the CSV file directly from your system.

• Customize Route Map

  Once you finish, add them to the directions layer, and if required, rearrange the stops as per your wish. At this stage, you can edit or delete stops as well. It would be the last step in generating the custom map for a road trip.

4. Review Your Generated Route Plan

In the next step, take a closer look at the generated route plan and review the additional map layers, whether they are arranged in the correct order or not. Also, recheck the start and endpoint while finalizing the route plan.

5. Access Map On Your Phone

Since you have finished editing the driving route plan, you can now download the map and get editing access on your mobile device by following the below steps.

• Open the Google Maps App on your smartphone,
• Sign in with your Google Drive Account,
• Select ‘more’ from the basic options menu,
• Click on the MAPS option to open a custom road trip map,
• Get your pre-generated route map.

Moreover, you can also access the offline Google Maps by installing maps.me app from where you will get the plan without readjusting the stops.

• View a Route Map

  Thereafter, the route map will automatically be displayed on your cell phone screen. So, you can access the map when you are ready for the trip.

• Follow step-by-step driving directions

  Later, when you click on the arrow icon (or direction icon), it will automatically start giving you the navigation instruction from the start point.

Essential Tips for Multi-stop Trip Planning

Here are some handy tips to adopt while planning routes.

• Ensure you enter the correct starting and ending times for a road trip itinerary.

• Choose the mapping platform that allows you a explore the street views.

• Also, the navigation app should allow you to access offline maps.

• Following the route optimization, double-check if you missed out to add any additional destinations.

• In case you have an upcoming road trip with more than 20 stops, get the online route planner for the planning of road trip itineraries.

• Use a route planner which can assist you according to driver preferences for your road trip adventure.

• Know if there are parking zones or open spaces available for your tour vehicle.

Conclusion

All in all, Google Maps is a great navigation app for planning an adventure trip. It provides multiple routes and step-by-step driving instructions to reach your final destination. But, what it really lacks is that you can add only a limited number of stops. 

Of course, planning routes on the Google Maps app is super easy. But, it can’t be said in terms of mapping accuracy, syncing data, and accessing custom maps. If you are okay with Google Maps functionalities, you should continue using it.

If not, you should get an online route planner for your road trip, which can be a long-term solution to your road planning issues. Utilize the feature-rich online trip planner to discover how it lessens your route planning job. Book a demo with Upper Route Planner and explore its segment-best features.