How do I save a custom route on Google Maps? Your Step-by-Step Guide

How do I save a custom route on Google Maps? Your Step-by-Step Guide

Planning a road trip, a scenic drive, or just need to remember a specific set of directions for a recurring journey? Google Maps offers a handy way to create and save custom routes. Whether you're on your computer or your phone, the process is straightforward. This guide will walk you through exactly how to save a custom route on Google Maps, ensuring you can easily access your personalized directions whenever you need them.

Saving a Custom Route on Google Maps (Desktop/Web Browser)

Using Google Maps on your computer is often the most flexible way to build and save detailed routes. Here's how:

1. Open Google Maps: Go to maps.google.com in your web browser.
2. Get Directions: Click the blue "Directions" icon (it looks like a diamond with an arrow).
3. Enter Your Starting Point and Destination: In the "Choose starting point" field, type your departure location. In the "Choose destination" field, type where you want to end up.
4. Add Additional Stops: If you need to include more than one stop, click the "+" button next to your destination field. This will add another line where you can input your next stop. You can add multiple stops this way, essentially building your custom route.
5. Rearrange Your Stops (Optional): Once you have all your stops entered, you can drag and drop them in the order you prefer. Simply click and hold on the dotted handle next to a stop and move it to its desired position.
6. Customize Your Route:
   • Avoidances: To the left of your directions, you'll see options to "Avoid tolls," "Avoid highways," and "Avoid ferries." Click these to customize your route based on your preferences.
   • Alternative Routes: Google Maps will often suggest alternative routes. You can see these on the map as gray lines and click on them to select them as your primary route.
7. Save Your Route: This is the crucial step for making your route accessible later.
   • Once your route is finalized, look for the three vertical dots (...) to the right of the "Starting point" field.
   • Click on these three dots.
   • A menu will appear. Select "Send to your phone" or "Share."
   • If you choose "Send to your phone," you'll need to select your device (if logged into your Google account on multiple devices) and the route will be sent to the Google Maps app on your phone.
   • If you choose "Share," you'll get a link that you can copy and paste into an email, a document, or a message to save for later. You can also send this link directly to friends or family.

Using the Saved Route on Your Phone

When you send a route to your phone, or open a shared link on your phone's browser, it will typically open directly in the Google Maps app. You can then tap "Start" to begin navigation.

Important Note: Google Maps doesn't have a dedicated "Save Route" button that stores routes in a personal list within the app itself. The primary methods for "saving" are sending it to your phone or sharing a link. You can also bookmark the link for easy access.

Saving a Custom Route on Google Maps (Mobile App)

While the desktop version offers more comprehensive route building, you can also create and manage custom routes on the Google Maps mobile app.

1. Open the Google Maps App: Launch the app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Tap "Go": This is usually found at the bottom of the screen.
3. Enter Your Destination: Type in your final destination.
4. Add Stops: Tap the three vertical dots (...) next to your destination field. Then select "Add stop." You can add multiple stops by repeating this process.
5. Rearrange Your Stops: Similar to the desktop, you can tap and hold the handle next to a stop and drag it to reorder your route.
6. Customize Your Route: Tap the three vertical dots (...) again, and select "Route options." Here you can choose to "Avoid tolls" and "Avoid highways."
7. Saving the Route: On the mobile app, the most effective way to "save" a route for later is to:
   • Share it with yourself: After finalizing your route, tap the three vertical dots (...) and select "Share." Then, choose an app like Gmail or a note-taking app to send the link to yourself.
   • Bookmark the link: If you share it via a web link, you can bookmark that link in your phone's browser for quick access.
   • Take a screenshot: For very simple, multi-stop routes, you could even take a screenshot of the directions list for quick reference, though this isn't ideal for complex routes or navigation.

Tips for Managing Your Custom Routes

• Use Clear Naming Conventions: When you save or share a route link, consider giving it a descriptive name in your email or document (e.g., "Weekend Getaway Route," "Commute with Scenic Detour").
• Organize Your Links: If you're saving links, consider creating a dedicated folder in your bookmarks or a specific document for all your saved Google Maps routes.
• Recreate as Needed: If you can't find a saved route, it's usually quick to recreate it, especially if you remember the key stops.

Why Can't I Just Hit "Save" on a Route?

Google Maps is designed primarily for real-time navigation and route discovery. While it allows for the creation of multi-stop routes, it doesn't maintain a persistent library of saved custom routes in the way you might save a document. The "saving" mechanisms are more about transferring that route information to your device for immediate use or sharing it for future reference.

Can I Save Multiple Custom Routes?

Yes, you can save multiple custom routes by repeating the process of sending the route to your phone or sharing a link. Each time you create a new route and use the "Share" or "Send to your phone" feature, you'll generate a unique link or set of directions that you can then save or organize.

What's the Difference Between Sending to Your Phone and Sharing a Link?

Sending to Your Phone directly pushes the route to your Google Maps app. It's convenient for immediate navigation or when you're about to embark on the journey. Sharing a Link creates a URL that can be accessed on any device with a web browser and the Google Maps app. This is more versatile for saving for later, sending to others, or accessing across different platforms.

Can I Edit a Saved Route?

Once you've sent a route to your phone or created a shareable link, you can't directly edit that "saved" version. However, you can easily edit the route by going back into Google Maps (on desktop or mobile), re-entering your stops, making your changes, and then saving or sharing the updated route again. Essentially, you're creating a new "saved" version of the route with your edits.

How Do I Access My Saved Route Later?

To access a route you've saved:

• If sent to your phone: Open the Google Maps app. It might appear in your recent searches or notifications. You can also search for your starting point and destination again, and Google Maps might suggest your previously created route.
• If you have a shareable link: Open the link in your web browser or on your phone. It will load the route in Google Maps. You can then bookmark this link in your browser for easy access.

Remember, Google Maps doesn't have a dedicated "Saved Routes" section. Your saved routes are essentially the links you've created and stored yourself.