Creating a route in Google Maps means plotting a path from one location to another, and you can do this on your phone, tablet, or computer in under a minute
Open Google Maps and tap or click the Directions button (the arrow icon). Type your starting point in the first box — if you do not enter anything, Maps uses your current location. Type your destination in the second box. Maps shows you the fastest route in blue, along with travel time and distance. If you want to change how you travel — by car, public transit, bike, or foot — tap the icon for that method at the top of the directions panel.
Once you see a route you want to keep, you have two choices: save it to a list for later, or share it with someone else. Both take just a few taps. The method differs slightly depending on whether you are on a phone or computer, but the result is the same — you can come back to that exact route whenever you need it.
Key Takeaways
- Tap or click Directions, enter a start and end point, and Google Maps shows you the fastest route with travel time and distance.
- You can choose your travel method — car, transit, bike, or walking — and Maps recalculates the route for each one.
- Save a route by tapping the three-dot menu and selecting "Save" on your phone, or by clicking "Save" on a computer.
- Saved routes appear in your "Saved places" list and can be organized into custom lists like "Commute" or "Weekend trips".
- You can add multiple stops along the way by tapping the plus icon between your start and destination.
How to enter your starting point and destination
On your phone, open Google Maps and tap the Directions button — it looks like a right-pointing arrow and sits near the search bar. The app shows you two input boxes: one for "Your location" and one for "Choose destination". The first box usually fills in automatically with your current location, but you can tap it and type a different address, intersection, business name, or landmark instead.
In the second box, type where you want to go. You can enter a street address, a business name (like "coffee shop near me"), a landmark, or even coordinates. As you type, Google Maps suggests matching locations below the box. Tap the one you want. If you are on a computer, click the Directions button and type the same way — the process is identical except you click instead of tap.
Once you enter both points, Maps displays the route on the map and shows the estimated travel time and distance below the destination box. The route appears in blue on the map. If you see multiple route options, they appear as gray lines — tap or click one to switch to it.
Choosing your travel method and adding stops
At the top of the directions panel, you see icons for different travel methods: a car, a bus, a bicycle, and a walking figure. Tap or click the method you plan to use, and Maps recalculates the route for that mode. A driving route may take highways; a transit route shows bus and train options with schedules; a walking route avoids highways and shows pedestrian paths.
To add a stop along the way, tap or click the plus icon between your start and destination. A new input box appears where you can type the stop's location. You can add as many stops as you need — Maps will route you through all of them in order. If you want to reorder the stops, tap and drag them up or down in the list on your phone, or click and drag on a computer.
When you add stops, Maps recalculates the total travel time and distance to include all of them. Each stop appears as a numbered marker on the map. You can remove a stop by tapping the X next to it in the directions list.
Saving a route to your Google Maps account
To save a route on your phone, look at the directions panel and tap the three-dot menu icon at the top right. A menu appears with several options. Tap "Save". Google Maps asks you which list to save it to — you can choose "Saved places" (the default) or any custom list you have created, like "Commute" or "Weekend trips". Tap the list name, and the route is saved.
On a computer, the process is slightly different. Once you have your route displayed, look for the "Save" button near the top of the directions panel. Click it, and a menu appears asking which list to save to. Select your list and confirm. The route is now saved to your account.
Saved routes do not save the exact path you took — they save your start and end points, your travel method, and any stops you added. When you open a saved route later, Google Maps recalculates it based on current traffic and conditions, so the route may differ slightly from when you first saved it.
Organizing saved routes into custom lists
Google Maps lets you create custom lists to organize your saved routes by purpose or location. On your phone, tap the Saved tab at the bottom of the screen (it looks like a heart icon). Tap "Create list" at the top. Type a name for the list — "Commute", "Errands", "Hiking trails", or anything else that makes sense to you. Tap "Create".
Now when you save a route, you can choose this custom list instead of the default "Saved places". You can also move a route between lists after saving it. Tap the Saved tab, find the route, tap the three-dot menu next to it, and select "Move to list". Choose the destination list and confirm.
On a computer, click the Saved icon (heart) in the left sidebar. Click "Create list", type a name, and click "Create". The process is the same — you can now save routes to this list or move existing routes into it.
Sharing a route with someone else
If you want to send a route to a friend, family member, or coworker, you do not have to save it first. Display the route on your phone or computer, then tap or click the three-dot menu and select "Share". A menu appears with options: you can copy a link to the route, send it via email, text, or any messaging app installed on your device, or share it directly to a contact.
When you share a route, the recipient gets a link they can open in Google Maps on their phone or computer. They see the same start point, destination, and stops you set up. If they open it on their phone, they can start navigation when ready. The shared link does not require them to have a Google account.
The person you share with sees the route as it exists at that moment — their travel method, traffic conditions, and any detours they take are their own. Sharing a route does not let them edit your saved version or track your location.
Troubleshooting common route problems
If Google Maps cannot find your starting point or destination, the address may be incomplete or misspelled. Try typing just the street name and city, or the business name without the full address. If you are searching for a landmark or intersection, use the exact name — "Fifth and Main" instead of "the corner near the bank".
If a route does not appear or seems wrong, check that you have selected the correct travel method. A walking route will not use highways, and a transit route depends on current bus and train schedules. If the route still looks odd, try zooming out on the map to see the full path, or try entering the destination again.
If you cannot save a route, make sure you are signed into your Google account. Routes save to your account, so you must be logged in. On a phone, check the Settings app to confirm Google Maps has permission to access your location. On a computer, make sure you are using a supported browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save a route with multiple stops?
Yes. Add all your stops using the plus icon, then tap the three-dot menu and select "Save". Google Maps saves the start point, all stops in order, and the destination. When you open the saved route later, you can navigate through all stops in sequence.
What happens if traffic changes after I save a route?
Saved routes are recalculated each time you open them, so they reflect current traffic and road conditions. The route may differ slightly from when you first saved it, but your start and end points stay the same.
Can I edit a route after I save it?
You cannot edit a saved route directly, but you can open it, make changes (like adding or removing stops), and save it again under the same name or a different one. The old version is replaced if you save with the same name.
Do I need a Google account to use directions?
No. You can create and use routes without signing in. However, you cannot save routes without a Google account — they will disappear when you close the app.
Can someone else see my saved routes?
No. Your saved routes are private to your Google account. Only routes you explicitly share via link or message are visible to others, and they see only that single route, not your entire saved list.