How to Make a Custom Route in Google Maps

If you’re planning to take a road trip somewhere, google maps can figure out the fastest way there in a cinch! If you want to take the longer, more scenic route though, you’ll have to take a few extra steps.So if you want to create a custom route from point to point on google maps, here’s what you can do!

Music:
Rainforest - Vendredi [Audio Library Release]

[sizzledrizzle]

It should be as simple as drawing your route with your finger

[caskwith]

Adding in destinations works but shaping the route doesn't work, when you send it to your phone it just reverts to it's default settings.

[christopherbunbury]

It's helpful, but this feature should be on the smartphone version too.

[SinnerSince]

This whole thing does NOT work when sent to a smartphone. Known bug. I spent an hour creating a custom map, sent it to friends, and Google automatically changes my custom map to one that goes the shortest way. Why they won't fix this is beyond me.

[MrErViLi]

I love how at :11 it shows Waze, not google maps. And, just as the video shows at 1:50, you can't send custom maps to your phone, it's shows a yellow triangle that plainly states "dragging does not effect sent route. You can create an intricate custom route on your PC but when you send it to your phone, it goes back to the default route google chooses.

[Icedkaylatte]

As someone who prefers backroads and tries to avoid any interstates or heavy traffic, I’m so upset there’s not a backroads app

[feistyterrier]

The original Map Blast and MapQuest from over 20 years ago would allow you to completely draw your own map on the computer, and then you could print it out. This was with back roads and other roadways as long as it registered on the map. I'm really surprised MapQuest and map blast have never made their own do-it-yourself route program app

[jrquest]

There are a million videos / tutorials of creating and sending a route to your phone. How do you actually USE it? There's no start button to allow navigation along the route. Without being able to navigate, I don't see any value in this "feature". Maybe if you're walking or biking and can manually follow along the steps, but not driving solo.

[claudettebridges]

FYI it does not keep the custom directions when you send it to your phone. it will default to the one that google already has set up.

[Barni]

Google maps is a hot garbage. I planned a route sent to my phone and voila the app reverted all the changes I made. I can't believe that the most popular map can't f*cking do simple things like route planning.

[blanc]

Maps will still take you where IT wants you to go! We all know how to plug in destinations already! WE WANT TO CHOOSE THE ROUTE WE WANT TO GO, SAVE IT, AND DELETE ALL THE OTHER BS. Back to old time reading a map and writing down the route I guess.

[elmoonfire]

@1:42 "Dragging does not affect sent route"

[dwainmcbain]

I was able to create a custom route and sent it by text and email as described however the text never came through and the email route didn't include my changes just the added destination point not the other routing preferences I added myself. If it worked as described it would be such a game changer for me as a truck driver I can plan everything on the desktop and store the route, then recall it on my phone when I need it! That would be awesome!! Too bad it doesn't work that way for me. Ive trying trouble shooting by ensuring notifications are on and all but I'm buffalo'd

[ZBwing]

basically no one has created a way of me doing what i want to do yet. Adding additional destinations can be very messy. As soon as this is shared to a phone google will constantly try and reroute you to its preferred route. All i want to do is create my route and transfer it to my phone. You'd think this would be a simple thing to do, but its not! If anyone knows of an app to do this, please share.

[KMAN]

One Correction is that you cannot add "as many destinations as you want". There is a maximum of 10 "destinations" in any route.

[Billie_Marie_]

I hate Google maps! It constantly changes my route no matter what I do. I was hoping to find answers 🤣

[BrendanRoss]

Yeah - sadly once sent to my phone the route defaults to what Maos thinks is best - it doesn't save my changes...

[rogh.]

This technique did not work for me. The custom route I made & sent to my phone did not work. The link should have sent my custom route, but instead it sent the shortest route. Also, on a smart phone you can not alter the white dots. All you can do is add stops. If you add Stops to your route, you have to interact with you phone and tell it to proceed or continue...as it thinks you actually want to stop there. If riding a motorcycle like I was, this means stopping and fumbling with your phone to proceed. Fail.

[TheJWCRSA]

I have tried this but I found issues here... Once the planned route is set out correctly the option is taken to send this to my smart phone in the form of an SMS. It is then used in my car with Android Car play. To use it in the car I have to connect the phone to the infotainment system via usb, the phone is wifi connected and location is enabled. However the moment I activate the route and start to drive, Google Maps ignores my planned map and decides to constantly take the route it decides ... any suggestions?

[Rob-boyn]

This video does NOT show how to plan a route, send it to your phone, and have it open on your car's Nav system (Ford Sync 3) for my car the way you planned it. Like tons of others have written, Google maps defaults to what IT thinks is the way to get from A to B or wherever.