If you use your car daily, make deliveries, work in sales, or simply love planning road trips, you've probably wondered more than once how Create multi-stop routes in Google Maps without going crazyThe app is free, it's on all mobile phones and it works wonderfully as a GPS, but as soon as you want to go beyond the typical point A to point B route, the limitations and workarounds begin.
The good news is that Google offers several ways to plan routes with intermediate stopsFrom the classic turn-by-turn function, through custom maps in My Maps, to combining them with browser extensions or specific route optimization software. Let's take a look. How to get the most out of all those options, step by stepWhat can you do with just Google Maps, where its limitations are (like the famous 10-stop limit), and in what cases it's worth using more advanced tools.
Why use Google Maps to plan routes with stops
Google Maps has become the default navigation app for millions of people because It's easy to use, reliable, and always at handIt offers directions for driving, walking, cycling, public transport, motorcycling, car sharing… with real-time traffic information, speed limits (in areas where available), incident alerts and the ability to consult Street View to recognize places before arriving.
When you just need to get from one place to another, Maps shines: it calculates the best route based on traffic, distance and estimated timeIt lets you avoid tolls or highways and shows you alternatives in gray next to the recommended option in blue. However, when you want plan a route with many stops (deliveries, customer visits, a road trip with several tourist spots…), things get complicated.
The reason is that Google Maps, as it comes out of the box, It is not a professional multi-route plannerIt does allow you to add multiple stops, but it has a limit and doesn't automatically optimize the order for the fastest route. Even so, by learning all its tricks and combining it with other tools, you can get a lot out of it.
How to create a route with multiple stops in Google Maps (desktop and mobile)
The most direct way to use Google Maps as route planner with multiple directions It's the classic directions function. It works on both computers and mobile devices, although for more detailed planning it's usually more convenient to do it on a large screen and then send the route to your phone.
Choose your first destination and open the directions.
The first step is search on the map for the place you want to goYou can type in the exact address, enter the name of a business or point of interest, or even click directly on the map. If it's a city or a well-known place, you'll see its listing with photos, reviews, and the option to get directions.
Once you've located it, tap on "How to get there" or the directions icon.On the computer, the route panel opens in the left column; on the mobile device, the screen appears with the destination ready for you to add the starting point.
Configure the route starting point
In the field above, you can choose your starting point. You can leave "Your location" if you want it to start from where you areOr you can manually enter a different address (your warehouse, your country house, the office, etc.). Once you complete the origin and destination, Maps will generate the first basic route between them.
This first section is usually already the fastest option based on current traffic and type of transport that you have selected (car, on foot, bike, motorbike, etc.). Now is a good time to make sure the transport icon is correct, because some features, such as adding multiple stops, are not available for public transport or airplanes.
Add additional stops to the route
To turn this simple trip into a multi-stop journey, you need to use the option "Add destination" (on desktop) or "Add stop" (on the mobile app)On a computer, you'll see it just below the source and destination fields; on mobile, it usually appears in the three-dot menu or directly in the interface, depending on the version.
Each time you press that button, a new field will be added where you can enter another address or select a point on the map. You can go typing the addresses one by one or tapping on the places you want to visitGradually, the line connecting all the points will be drawn on the map, although initially in a rather random order.
In this mode, Google Maps allows up to 10 locations per route Counting the origin and final destination. That is, you can have your starting point and a maximum of 9 intermediate stops. This limit applies to both the navigation system and the app, and affects all modes of travel except public transport and airplanes, which do not allow multiple stops.
Reorder, move, or adjust the stops
Once you have created all the stops you need (up to the limit), you will see them in the left column or in the mobile list. all the addresses in the order you added themIt's rare that this order is the most logical or efficient, so it's time to reorganize.
On a computer, you can hover your mouse over any stop and you'll see an icon with six points that allow you to drag that line up or down in the list. On mobile, it works similarly: press and hold on a stop and drag it. Each time you change the order, Google Maps will recalculate the route and the total travel time.
Besides reordering, you can also move the points directly on the mapIf you drag a pin to another location, the app will redraw the route. This is great when you want to adjust the route slightly to avoid detours, turn onto another street, or make a quick stop somewhere along the way without changing the entire sequence of stops.
Save, pin, and share your route
Once you have the route you like, it's best not to lose it. On the desktop interface, you can use the option to "Share or embed on the map"You'll find this in the main menu (three-line icon) or next to the route itself. There you can copy a direct link, which is very useful for pasting into an email, WhatsApp message, or saving it to your notes.
Another option is to use features like "Send to phone" or "Share directions"On mobile, tapping "share" opens the generic Android or iOS panel with all your apps, allowing you to choose how to send the link. The recipient will only need to have Google Maps installed to open the route exactly as you designed it.
If it's a regular route, you can also set the route in Maps (Select the "Set" option when viewing route alternatives). This way, you'll always have it handy in the set routes section without having to re-enter the addresses each time.
Tips and advanced options within Google Maps routes
Although Google Maps is not a professional route optimizer, it does include several Options to fine-tune the route and adapt it to your preferencesIt's worth knowing them to avoid unpleasant surprises on the road.
Avoid tolls, highways, and other adjustments
From the route panel, on both mobile and desktop, you can open the menu of "Options" to activate checkboxes such as "Avoid tolls» or «Avoid highways»This is useful if you want to save money on tolls, prefer secondary roads, or are traveling in a vehicle that cannot drive on certain sections.
You can also change the estimated departure or arrival time (Only for routes with a single destination) so Maps can calculate how long it would take you based on the expected traffic at that time. This feature is ideal if you're planning well in advance and want to see the difference between leaving at 8:00 or 10:00 in the morning.
Preview the route with Street View
On a computer, once you have created a route, you can go to "Details" and then the enlarged viewIf you hover your mouse over any of the directions, you'll see a Street View thumbnail when images are available.
Clicking on that thumbnail opens the street view at that exact point in the route, which is very helpful. Recognize complicated access points, parking entrances, unusual turns, or poorly signposted areasYou can advance step by step or jump between segments of the route using the controls at the bottom.
Traffic alerts, map orientation, and speed limits
During navigation, Google Maps offers different map orientation modesYou can set north at the top or have the map rotate to follow your direction of travel. Just tap the compass icon to switch between them.
Additionally, the app can show real time traffic data and incident reportsYou can decide whether you want full voice directions, just traffic alerts, or to mute the voice prompts completely—important so you don't get too distracted.
You'll also see the approximate speed limit And in some countries, you'll get alerts if you exceed the limit. However, these are just guidelines: you should always obey real road signs, which take precedence over what your phone says.
The 10-stop limit on Google Maps and how to get around it
One of the biggest headaches when you start using Google Maps for complex routes is the limit of up to 10 locations per trip (Origin plus nine stops). For occasional errands or a short trip, it's usually enough, but if you have to visit 15, 20, or 50 addresses in a day, it clearly falls short.
Google has never publicly explained why it maintains this limit, although everything points to performance and simplicity reasonsMost users don't need that many stops, and managing very long routes complicates the interface and time calculations. The problem is that delivery drivers, salespeople, service technicians, and frequent travelers are severely hampered by this restriction.
Divide the route into several blocks
The most basic solution is the most obvious: split your address list into several sections of 10 stops or lessYou create a first route with an origin and up to 9 intermediate stops; when you finish it, you start a second route from the last location of the first, and so on.
This method has the advantage that it is done Using only Google Maps, without any strange tricks or external toolsBut it's also a hassle: you have to keep track of when one block ends to start the next, you'll lose an overall view of the day, and you'll still have to manually schedule the stops in each section.
Save all addresses to Google My Maps
Another way to deal with many stops is to use Google My MapsThe custom map tool lets you create your own map and add hundreds or even thousands of points of interest distributed in layers, each with up to 2.000 locations.
My Maps is ideal for See at a glance all the places you want to visit (shops, customers, tourist attractions, gas stations, restaurants, etc.), group them by categories, color them, put different icons and even add notes, photos or relevant information to each marker.
The not-so-good part is that My Maps It does not generate optimized routes or real-time directions like the standard Google Maps app. For driving, you'll have to extract 10-point segments from your custom map and use them with your regular navigation app. In other words, you gain in visual organization and data volume, but you don't completely eliminate the data limit.
Advanced tricks with Google Maps URLs
There is a relatively technical trick that consists of Manually edit the URL of a Google Maps route To combine multiple sets of addresses into a single link with more than 10 stops. The idea is to create several routes, copy their URLs, remove the part starting with "/data=", and concatenate the addresses separated by "/".
This may allow you to open routes with a higher number of stops than the official limit, but it has several drawbacks: It's not supported by Google, it's easy to make mistakes, and it can stop working overnight. If the company changes the URL format. It's a curious workaround for advanced users, but it's not a stable or recommended solution for professional use.
External extensions and planners: going beyond Google Maps
When you reach the point where the 10-stop limit and the lack of automatic optimization hold you back, the wisest thing to do is to rely on tools designed for routes with many directions. These apps handle the intelligent calculation, and then let you navigate with Google Maps, Waze, or the app of your choice.
Chrome extension for optimizing routes
There are browser extensions, such as Routific's, that integrate with Google Maps in Chrome. They generally work like this: You install the extension, connect your Google account, and let the tool read your route information. to apply their own optimization algorithm.
Once you've entered your stops into Google Maps, the extension can automatically reorder addresses in the most efficient order It calculates routes based on distance and travel time, saving you the trouble of manually trying different combinations. Then it provides an optimized route that you can share or send to your phone just like any other.
This approach is useful if You're already used to working with the Google Maps interface But you need that extra bit of intelligence in the order of the stops without completely changing tools.
Dedicated route planners: Routerra, SimpliRoute, and similar programs
Above the extensions are the dedicated route plannersDesigned from the ground up to manage dozens or hundreds of addresses and optimize them in seconds. Some examples include Routerra, SimpliRoute, or complete delivery management platforms like Routific.
These solutions generally allow, introduce many more stops than Google MapsThere are tools that can comfortably handle 20, 50, 100, or even more than 200 addresses in a single optimization. They also typically offer bulk import from spreadsheets, address list pasting, or even automatic reading from unsorted text.
The great added value lies in its advanced optimization algorithmsThey don't just draw the path between points, but calculate the ideal order to minimize time or kilometers, taking into account traffic, opening hours, delivery windows, estimated duration at each stop, priorities or vehicle restrictions.
In the case of Routera, for example, you can plan routes of 20 to 200+ stopsYou can adjust whether you prefer a shorter distance or a faster route, set stop times, avoid tolls, and export the result directly to Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps for turn-by-turn navigation. In practice, it becomes the "brain" that decides where to go, while Google Maps acts as the "mouth," giving you directions with the familiar voice and interface.
SimpliRoute, on the other hand, is very much geared towards delivery and logistics companiesIn addition to optimizing multiple routes, it incorporates real-time driver tracking, performance analysis, customer communication, delivery receipt management, and many other features typical of a professional fleet. It's more than just a planner; it's a complete logistics platform.
Most of these tools offer Limited free plans (For example, Routerra lets you test routes with up to 20 stops for free) and offers paid versions for high-volume routes. If your daily routine involves visiting many places, the time saved in planning and fuel usually quickly offsets the monthly fee.
Google My Maps: personalized maps for long trips and itineraries
Besides the "normal" Google Maps routes, it deserves a separate chapter Google My MapsIt's not your typical route planner, but a custom map creation tool that saves to your Google account and syncs with Google Drive.
Create a new map and add places
To begin, enter mymaps.google.com or access it from Google Maps Open the menu and go to the Saved Places section, then to "Maps". There you will see the "Create a new map" button and the list of maps you have already created.
On a newly created map, you can use the search bar to locate places and add them with one clickYou can also click directly on any point on the map to create a marker. Each map supports up to approximately 2.000 places per layerTherefore, it is perfect for planning complex trips or gathering a lot of information about an area.
Customize icons, colors, and notes
One of My Maps' strengths is its customization. Each marker can have its own color, icon and descriptive noteYou can, for example, use one color for "must-sees", another for "if you have extra time" and another for "places only if they are nearby", or separate hotels, restaurants, viewpoints and activities with different icons.
You can also rename sites and add Practical details such as "closed on Mondays", "cash only" or "no entrance"This is very helpful when you're traveling, because you don't have to look for the information every time; it's saved on the map itself.
Create routes within My Maps
My Maps includes a route drawing tool: by tapping on "Draw line" and choose "Add driving route", "bike route" or "walking route"You can click on the starting point and the next destination to generate a path between them.
Each route of this type is saved as a directions layer with up to 10 destinationsJust like in regular Google Maps. You can add multiple route layers if you need more stops, but you'll still be working in blocks of 10. Even so, it's a great way to calculate approximate times between places and visualize what to combine in the same day.
If you want to see a breakdown with distances and duration between each stopYou can open the route layer menu and choose detailed directions. My Maps won't give you real-time turn-by-turn navigation, but it does offer that planning information that comes in very handy before your trip.
Share and use the map on your mobile device
Once your map is finished, you have the option to share it via a link From the "Share" button. You can make it visible to anyone with the link (ideal for sharing with your travel companions) or limit it to only certain accounts.
On your mobile, when you open Google Maps and go to "Saved" → "Maps", you will see All your My Maps maps ready to useWhen you tap them, they appear in the app with all their layers and markers. You won't be able to navigate a My Maps route like a normal route, but you can tap on a point and request "Directions" from there whenever you want to go to a specific stop.
The usual process is: you arrive at an area, you open the custom map, You choose the next place you want to visit and ask for directions on Google MapsYou finish, return to the map, choose the next one, and so on. It's not as convenient as having everything on a single, continuous route, but for long trips with many possibilities, it offers a lot of flexibility.
Practical uses of multi-stop routes
Planning routes with stops in Google Maps (and in external tools when necessary) has very different applications depending on the type of userA delivery driver is not the same as a group of friends organizing a road trip.
Deliveries, logistics and service routes
For delivery drivers, courier companies, technical or commercial services, the key is in reduce travel times and fuel consumptionHere, Google Maps falls short in terms of the maximum number of stops and the lack of automatic optimization, so it usually works better as a final navigation system than as a planner.
The usual practice in these cases is to use a specialized route optimization software (Routerra, SimpliRoute, Routific, etc.) that generates efficient routes for many destinations and then exports each route to Google Maps so drivers can follow the directions with the app they already know.
Road trips and group getaways
If you're planning a road trip with friends or family, Google Maps and My Maps let you Draw the entire route, marking rest stops, points of interest, and gas stations, in addition to saving frequent routes (for example, the outbound and return journeys).
With a little advance planning, you can organize yourself to group visits by neighborhoods or areasThis reduces unnecessary detours and allows you to make better use of your time. My Maps is especially useful here for saving ideas of places to visit and then deciding on the fly which ones to visit depending on your time and mood.
Sales visits and sales routes
Professionals who need to visit several clients in a single day can rely on a mix of address lists in spreadsheets, dedicated route planners, and Google Maps For navigation, creating an initial map with all clients, optimizing the order with an external tool, and then following the route with Maps is a very common combination.
Planning detailed travel itineraries
Beyond driving, My Maps serves as highly visual itinerary plannerYou can create layers for types of places (hotels, restaurants, museums, viewpoints…), add notes about opening hours and prices, and then, from the map itself, build 10-stop routes to calculate travel times between activities.
A good practice is to leave a certain daily margin for unforeseen events (weather, closures, mood swings…) and avoid filling every day with stops. Google Maps helps you visualize what's reasonable to do in a day based on distances and estimated traffic.
By combining the native functions of Google Maps, the custom maps of My Maps, and, when necessary, external planners such as Routerra or SimpliRoute, it is possible planning everything from short errand routes to complex itineraries with dozens of stops without getting lost in the process. Understanding the limitations (like the 10-stop limit per route) and the strengths of each tool is what makes the difference between half-heartedly improvising and having a solid plan that you can then adjust on the fly without stress.
