How to Draw a Route on Google Maps – Custom Route Options

Drawing and customizing routes on Google Maps is a powerful way to plan trips, optimize deliveries, or create personalized travel experiences. While Google Maps automatically generates routes based on the fastest or shortest path, knowing how to draw your own route and customize it gives you greater control over your journey. Whether you want to add multiple stops, avoid tolls, or design a scenic cycling trail, mastering these features can save time, reduce stress, and enhance your travel planning.

This article will guide you through the detailed process of drawing routes on Google Maps, exploring custom route options, and making the most of this versatile tool.

Why Draw a Custom Route on Google Maps?

Google Maps typically provides the quickest or most efficient route between two points. However, there are many scenarios where you might want to customize your journey:

• Planning multi-stop trips such as deliveries, road trips, or errands.

• Avoiding toll roads, highways, or construction zones.

• Adding specific points of interest like gas stations, restaurants, or landmarks.

• Designing walking, running, or cycling routes that follow trails or scenic paths.

• Sharing detailed routes with friends, clients, or event participants.

By drawing your own route, you gain flexibility beyond the default navigation, tailoring the path to your exact needs.

How to Draw a Route on Google Maps: Step-by-Step

1. Use Google My Maps for Full Customization

For drawing precise routes beyond simple directions, Google My Maps is the ideal tool. Unlike the standard Google Maps interface, My Maps lets you manually draw lines, add layers, and customize routes freely.

• Access Google My Maps: Go to Google My Maps and sign in with your Google account.

• Create a New Map: Click on “Create a new map.”

• Draw Your Route: Use the “Draw a line” tool found in the toolbar. You can choose to draw driving, walking, or biking routes.

• Add Points and Waypoints: Click on the map to add points along your route. You can drag these points later to adjust the path.

• Label and Style Your Route: Add names, descriptions, and change colors or line thickness to differentiate routes or layers.

• Save and Share: Once done, save your map. You can share it via a link, embed it on websites, or export it for GPS devices.

This method is especially useful for planning complex routes, such as delivery paths or event routes, where you need full control over every turn and stop.

2. Customize Routes in Standard Google Maps

If you prefer using the regular Google Maps interface, you can still customize routes with multiple stops and avoidances:

• Open Google Maps and enter your starting point and destination.

• Click “Directions” to generate the default route.

• To add stops, click the “+ Add stop” button below the destination field and enter additional locations.

• For route options, click the three-dot menu next to the destination input and select “Route options.”

• Here, you can choose to avoid tolls, highways, or ferries.

• You can also drag the route line on the map to manually adjust the path, forcing Google Maps to recalculate the route along your preferred roads.

This approach is ideal for quick multi-stop planning or when you want to avoid certain roads without manually drawing the entire route.

Advanced Custom Route Options

1. Optimize Stops for Efficiency

When planning routes with multiple stops, Google Maps offers an “Optimize stops” feature. This automatically rearranges your stops to minimize travel time and distance, ideal for delivery drivers or travelers with many destinations.

• After adding all stops, click the three-dot menu and select “Optimize stops.”

• Review the optimized order and make any necessary manual adjustments.

2. Elevation and Terrain Considerations

For activities like running, cycling, or hiking, elevation plays a significant role. Tools like the Route Drawing Tool from Maps.ie integrate with Google Maps to provide elevation profiles as you draw your route. This helps assess terrain difficulty and plan energy expenditure accordingly.

Tips for Drawing Routes Effectively

• Use Satellite or Terrain View: Switch map views to better understand the landscape and road types.

• Add Custom Points of Interest: Incorporate gas stations, rest stops, or landmarks to enhance your route.

• Save Routes for Reuse: Save your custom maps in Google My Maps for easy access and sharing.

• Export for GPS: Export your routes in GPX or KML formats for use with GPS devices.

• Label Key Points: Add notes or photos to important spots along your route for reference.

Practical Applications of Custom Routes

• Business Logistics: Delivery companies can plan efficient routes with multiple stops, avoiding traffic hotspots or tolls.

• Event Planning: Organizers can create walking tours or charity runs with precise paths and elevation data.

• Personal Travel: Road trippers can customize scenic routes, avoid highways, and include favorite stops.

• Fitness Tracking: Runners and cyclists can map training routes with elevation profiles to tailor workouts.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Journey with Custom Routes

Drawing and customizing routes on Google Maps empowers you to plan smarter, travel safer, and navigate with confidence. Whether you’re managing complex delivery schedules, planning a multi-stop vacation, or designing a running trail, these tools offer the flexibility you need.

For businesses like medical waste transporters or paper shredding services, integrating route planning with operational software like Octopus SaaS can further enhance efficiency by combining route optimization with real-time tracking and compliance management.

Ready to streamline your route planning and operational workflows? Explore Octopus SaaS today to discover how our platform can help you optimize routes, manage customers, and elevate your service delivery—all from one powerful dashboard.

Start planning smarter routes now with Octopus SaaS — your partner in efficient, compliant, and hassle-free route management.

FAQs

1. How do I draw a custom route on Google Maps?

To draw a custom route, use Google My Maps. Create a new map, select the “Draw a line” tool, and click on the map to add points along your route. You can adjust, label, and save your route for sharing or future use.

2. Can I add multiple stops to my route in Google Maps?

Yes, in standard Google Maps, you can add multiple stops by clicking “+ Add stop” after entering your starting point and destination. This allows you to plan complex trips or deliveries with several locations.

3. How do I avoid tolls or highways when planning a route?

After generating directions, click the three-dot menu next to the destination field and select “Route options.” Here, you can choose to avoid tolls, highways, or ferries for your journey.

4. Can I manually adjust the route on Google Maps?

Yes, you can drag the route line on the map to change your path. Google Maps will recalculate the route based on your adjustments, letting you customize your journey further.

5. What is Google My Maps and how is it different from regular Google Maps?

Google My Maps is a tool that lets you create, draw, and customize routes freely. Unlike standard Google Maps, it allows you to manually draw lines, add layers, and label points for full route customization.

6. How can I share a custom route with others?

After saving your custom route in Google My Maps, you can share it via a link, embed it on a website, or export it in GPX or KML format for use with GPS devices.

7. Is there a way to optimize multiple stops for the fastest route?

Yes, after adding all your stops, use the “Optimize stops” feature in Google Maps to automatically arrange the stops for the shortest travel time and distance.

8. Can I see elevation or terrain information when planning a route?

For elevation and terrain data, use tools like Octopussaas Route Drawing Tool, which integrates with Google Maps and provides elevation profiles as you draw your route.

9. Why should I draw a custom route instead of using the default directions?

Drawing a custom route gives you control to add specific stops, avoid certain roads, and design scenic or efficient paths tailored to your needs, which the default directions may not provide.

10. How can businesses benefit from custom route planning on Google Maps?

Businesses can use custom routes to optimize deliveries, plan efficient service routes, and integrate with operational software for real-time tracking and compliance, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.