Have you planned a long trip that involves visiting different places? This article explains how you can create an itinerary using both the Google Maps mobile app and the official website and computer. You can create an itinerary with multiple destinations to visit that you can follow by car, on foot or by bicycle.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Mobile App
Step 1. Launch the Google Maps app
It is characterized by an icon depicting a multicolored placeholder placed directly on the device Home or in the "Applications" panel. Alternatively, you can search for the keywords "google maps".
Step 2. Press the Go button
It is a blue button, located in the lower right corner of the screen, which is used to get directions from the navigator to reach your destination. In the center of the blue button there may be the word Go or just a blue arrow in a white diamond. You will be asked to set the starting point and ending point.
The procedure to follow to create an itinerary that includes multiple destinations is the same on both iOS and Android devices
Step 3. Set your departure location
By default, Google Maps uses the current location reported by the device. However, you can set any location by tapping the "Your Location" text field, then enter the one you want.
Select the "Choose on map" option to place a pin on the location or place you want to use as a starting point. Move the map on the screen so that the pin visible in the center is perfectly positioned where you want to start
Step 4. Select the "Choose destination" item and enter the name of the first destination you want to reach
You can type in the address, search for a business or place, or select the "Choose on map" option. If you have selected the latter function, you can pan the map or enlarge a portion of it to position the pin exactly where you want to start.
Step 5. Make sure you select a method of transportation from car, bicycle or on foot
If you have chosen to use a train or public transport, you will not be able to set up a route with multiple stops.
Step 6. Press the ⋮ button (on Android) or ••• (on iPhone and iPad).
This button will appear on the screen after you have set the starting point, the ending point and the blue path to follow appears on the screen, but before pressing Start.
Step 7. Select the Add Waypoint option
A new field will be added below the text field where the starting point name is displayed.
If the indicated option is not visible, it means that your device may be too old to support this feature
Step 8. Set the second leg of your itinerary
You can search using the name of a location or an address or select "Choose on map" to place the pin on the next place you want to visit.
Step 9. Continue adding more milestones (if necessary)
You can set up to a maximum of nine stages. Each time you enter a new destination, a new "Add waypoint" text field will appear below the one corresponding to the place you just entered, until you reach the maximum limit of the application.
To sort the destinations with a different sequence, you can hold down the button depicting two horizontal and parallel lines located on the right of the stage you want to move
Step 10. Press the blue Finish button
It is located to the right of the estimated travel time displayed below the list of points to visit.
Step 11. Press the Start button
It is located at the bottom of the screen. At this point, the navigator will start and will notify you from time to time the directions.
Method 2 of 2: Google Maps website
Step 1. Visit the URL https://www.google.com/maps using your computer browser
The Google Maps website allows you to create an itinerary with up to nine intermediate stops.
Step 2. Click on the "Directions" button located on the right of the Google Maps search bar
A new panel will appear on the left side of the page that will allow you to set the departure and arrival point of your trip.
Step 3. Select the way you want to travel
Use the buttons displayed at the top of the panel that appeared to be able to select the means of transport you want to use. Remember that you can set up a multi-stop route only if you choose to use a car, bicycle or walk. You cannot use this Google Maps feature if you choose to use public transport or a plane.
Step 4. Set the starting point
You can enter an address, choose a business or a place of interest or you can indicate a point on the map. Click on the "My Location" option located at the top of the results list to use your computer's current location. Your browser may allow the Google Maps website to use your computer's current location.
Before you can add new destinations, you need to set a starting point
Step 5. Set the first destination on your itinerary
Click on the "Choose destination" text field to enter the first destination of your itinerary, exactly as you did in the case of the starting point.
Step 6. Click the Directions button if you haven't done so already
If you started by first selecting a destination from your itinerary (for example by clicking on a point on the map or entering the name of a place immediately after opening the map), click on the round button "Directions" and select the starting point of your voyage. To be able to add new destinations to your itinerary, you will first need to activate Google Maps "Directions" mode by setting the starting point and ending point of your trip.
Step 7. Click on the + "Add Destination" button that appeared below your travel destination
A new "Choose destination" text field will be inserted in order to add a new waypoint to the itinerary.
- Make sure you have set your starting point and destination, otherwise the "+ Add Destination" button will not appear.
- If the "+" button does not appear, you may need to close the "Path Options" panel. Remember that you may also have selected a means of transport, for example "Public Transport" or "Flight", which does not support the use of multiple destinations.
Step 8. Add the second destination
After clicking on the "+" button, enter the second leg of your journey as you did previously for the first. The route on the map will be modified accordingly to allow you to reach the second leg of the itinerary after reaching the first.
Step 9. Repeat the process to add all the other stops on your journey
You can continue entering new destinations by following the previous steps until you have completed creating the entire itinerary. Remember that you can specify only one type of transport for the entire route.
You can set up to ten destinations in total, including the starting point. If your trip includes more than ten destinations, you will need to create more than one itinerary
Step 10. Drag the small dot-shaped button next to each of the destinations to change their order if you need to
The route displayed on the map will be reordered accordingly.
Step 11. Click on the path you want to use
If your itinerary can be made using several routes, you will find them listed under the list of destinations, accompanied by the travel time. Click on the route you want to use to view the directions to follow.
- You cannot send directions for a route consisting of several stages to your mobile device, so the corresponding option will be greyed out.
- Click on the "Print" button to print the route on paper. You will have two options: "Print including maps" or "Print text only".
- You can also click the "Share" button to send your itinerary link to other people by email.
