Google Maps is an essential tool for road trips. It comes with everything you need to navigate anywhere on the planet. It does not only function as a highly accurate Global Positioning System (GPS). It also has several features that can make your trips worthwhile.
One feature that users rave about is the road trip planner for Google Maps. It provides an excellent way to assess potential stops ahead of your road trip. With it, you can find the best hotels, identify gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops, and more.
This post will provide an overview of the road trip planner for Google Maps. This impressive feature will also teach you how to make your journeys and deliveries more seamless.
Can You Plan a Road Trip on Google Maps?
If you plan a trip, you may have asked someone, “Can you plan a road trip on Google Maps?”
The answer to this question is yes. Adding multiple stops to your map and saving various locations is excellent. It helps you plan the best route from your starting point to your desired destination.
It is equally important to recognize that the road trip planner for Google Maps is helpful if you run a delivery business. As discussed in the previous section, it has different functionalities to help you efficiently meet your customers’ demands.
Top Features of The Road Trip Planner for Google Maps
The road trip planner for Google Maps is a popular tool that people use for road trip adventures. Asides from adding stops along the way, it can help customize your routes according to your preferences. Here are some specific features of the road trip planner on Google Maps:
- Multiple Stops
With the road trip planner feature, you can add up to 10 stops along your route. Ultimately, planning a trip requires you to stop at multiple destinations quickly.
- Points of Interest
The road trip planner feature also allows you to search for different points of interest along your route. These include motels, gas stations, coffee shops, and restaurants.
- Real-Time Traffic Updates
Google Maps provides real-time traffic updates and alternative routes to help you avoid traffic jams and reach your destinations faster. It also provides an estimated time of arrival for more convenience.
- Customizable Routes
Google Maps automatically generates a route after adding your destinations. You can customize your route by dragging and dropping the route line to add or remove stops. Alternatively, you can click the three dots next to each destination to add or remove it from the route.
- Saved Trips
You can save your trip plans and even share them with family, friends, and drivers. This feature allows you to access your itinerary later and modify it if necessary easily.
Overall, the road trip planner for Google Maps is an excellent feature for anyone planning a road trip. Its various functionalities allow you to plan a customized itinerary that meets your needs and preferences. It also makes it easy to access and update your trip plans anytime.
6 Steps on How to Plan a Road Trip With Google Maps
Road trips are fun, especially when you embark on them with family and friends. The feel of the wind whipping against your face as you listen to loud music and make jokes in the vehicle is incredible. Plus, the prospect of visiting new, exciting locations and trying new things is quite thrilling.
Generating routes with the “Places,” “My Maps,” and multiple stops features are accessible. If you want to know how to plan a road trip with Google Maps, follow these six steps.
Step 1: Use The “Places” Feature To Save Points of Interest
Suppose you’re traveling and stop by a coffee shop to order a drink. Then, it so happens that the coffee is one of the best ones you’ve ever tasted. You like the coffee so much that you want to make a note to remember the place. What do you do?
You use the Google Maps “Places” feature. Whenever you use the road trip planner for Google Maps, you can save various locations to a list. You can easily access them later in the “Places” tab.
If you intend to use the Google Maps road trip planner, the first step is to save your desired locations to “Places.” Here’s how to do it.
- Open the Google Maps app. Alternatively, you can visit the Google Maps website.
- Locate the search tab. Search and click the location you want to save
- Look for a bookmark icon underneath the location’s name to find the “Save” icon
You can save your preferred location into any one of the default three lists tagged “Favorites,” “Starred Places,” and “Want To Go.” Alternatively, you can make a new list by selecting “New List.”
On mobile, click “Saved” on the screen’s bottom. If you’re using a PC, you can do the same by clicking on the three-dotted icon at the top-left corner of the screen and selecting “Your Places.” After saving the location to your preferred list, you can access it whenever you’re using the road trip planner for Google Maps.
Step 2: Create a New Map Using The Road Trip Planner for Google Maps
Now that you know how to add and save your preferred locations to Google Maps, it’s time to proceed to the next step. When using the road trip planner for Google Maps, you’ll have to generate a route map which you will then use to navigate. Here’s how to create a new map:
- Log in to your Google account.
- Visit the Google Maps website.
- Click the menu icon at the top left-hand corner of the page
- Select the “Saved” option
- Select “Maps”
- Click the “Create Maps” option at the bottom of the tab
The tool will redirect you to a new page where you now have the new map. Here, you can name the map and add a description.
Note that the Google Maps desktop version provides more flexibility when planning a road trip than the mobile app.
Step 3: Select a New Untitled Layer
When using the road trip planner for Google Maps, adding a new layer to add multiple directions on the map is essential.
To edit the layer, tap the custom icon at the right-hand tab to rename the selected layer. Afterward, you can add location markers by entering destination names.
Step 4: Generate a Route Map Via The Road Trip Planner for Google Maps
As you use the road trip planner for Google Maps, you should understand how route maps work. Route maps consist of multiple stops between your start and end points. So, you’ll have to add the stops one after the other.
Here’s how to generate a route map:
- Enter the start and end point addresses in the search box to allow the system automatically denote the fastest route
- Select “Add Destination”
- Enter the new stop address into the new pop-up display
- Add as many stops as you want
- After adding your preferred locations along the route map, add them to the directions later.
You can also rearrange and delete the stops if you like.
Step 5: Review Your Route After Using The Road Trip Planner for Google Maps
The next step is to review the route you generated. You must examine all the layers and check whether the arrangement is correct.
You should also check the start and endpoints before finalizing the route plan. This is an essential aspect of using the road trip planner for Google Maps. It helps you assess whether you did everything correctly.
Step 6: Access The Map on Your Mobile Device
After successfully editing your routes and generating your route map, the next step is to make it accessible.
For convenience, avoid going on road trips with a PC. This is why accessing your map on your mobile phone is ideal.
Here’s how to download the map and get edit access to your mobile phone:
- Launch the Google Maps app on your smartphone
- Open the Menu tab
- Click “More”
- Select the Maps option to open your custom road trip map
Now you can view your new route map via the road trip planner for Google Maps. You can also access it whenever you’re ready for your road trip.
Advantages of The Road Trip Planner for Google Maps Over Other Navigation Tools
For many travelers and business delivery services, the road trip planner for Google Maps is all they need to make navigation a breeze. Here are reasons why Google Maps is a great navigation tool for planning road trips:
- It Helps You Plan Your Road Trip Itinerary
Suppose you’re planning a short visit to a nearby location or a week-long road trip. In that case, Google Maps allows you to select the best locations for your trip itineraries. This way, you can schedule your events adequately, factoring in essential things like transportation and relaxation.
- Easy Access on the Road
The road trip planner for Google Maps is functional and highly accessible. You can quickly access and download your map on the go. You can also keep it open throughout the trip and ensure you follow the correct routes. Additionally, if you’ve saved your routes, you can access your map in areas without an internet connection.
- Get Efficient Routes and Up-to-Date Information
With Google Maps, you will get the most efficient routes. The app considers multiple traffic restraints like sites under construction, traffic congestion, and restricted zones. It helps you to calculate your travel time during your trips.
- You Get Details for Each Location
Google Maps provides essential details to users. These details include availability, user ratings, reviews, cost, and estimated arrival time. As such, travelers using the Google Maps road trip planner can access extra information at each stop. You can also view photos and reviews of locations that other users have navigated.
- Customizability
Google Maps is highly customizable. The tool lets you apply color coding to multiple locations, easily differentiating them. For instance, you can color code multiple attractions by category, such as restaurants, religious buildings, and beaches.
Tips to Help You Plan a Road Trip With Multiple Stops On Google Maps
As you use the road trip planner for Google Maps, there are certain tips to note, particularly while setting up the routes. Here are four tips to help you plan a road trip with multiple stops on Google Maps:
- Make sure you enter the accurate start and end times for the road trip
- As you plan your route, double-check to make sure you haven’t missed out on any locations
- Check for parking spots or open spaces for your vehicle
- When adding stops via the road trip planner for Google Maps, remember that you can only add a maximum of 10 stops
How to Gain Offline Access After Using The Road Trip Planner for Google Maps
Indeed, knowing how to use the road trip planner for Google Maps offers easy navigation during your journeys. However, accessing your maps offline is essential, especially if your route will take you through places where internet connection will be poor. The best alternative is via the Google Earth app, which allows you to access satellite-view images of the area. To access Google Maps offline, follow these steps:
- Download the Google Earth app on your device
- Navigate to the trip planner for Google Maps on your desktop
- Click on the three-dotted icon next to the map’s title
- Click on Export to KML/KMZ
- In the pop-up boxes, select Download
After this, you view the downloaded file offline via the Google Earth app.
The Road Trip Planner For Google Maps Is Limited: Create Your Custom Maps With Mapize
While road trips are fun, navigating your way can be tricky, especially if you haven’t been there before. By using the road trip planner for Google Maps, you’ll enjoy a more fun trip and ensure that you use only the best routes.
However, it is essential to note that Google Maps has its limitations. Unlike other Google Maps alternatives, it offers limited stops and customizability options.
On the other hand, Mapize allows you to create a powerful interactive map with analytic features. With it, you can create even more dynamic and highly-customized maps when planning your next trip’s routes. You can also generate a new map with just coordinates from a spreadsheet.
With Mapize, your route maps become richer. More so, you’ll be able to do everything you can with Google Maps with extra features like map clustering. Try us out for free and create your first map today.
