How to Save Your Custom Google Maps Routes: A Step-by-Step Guide

Planning a road trip, a scenic bike ride, or a multi-stop delivery route? Google Maps is an invaluable tool for mapping out your journeys. But what if you want to save those meticulously planned routes for later? Whether you’re revisiting a favorite adventure or need the exact itinerary for a future trip, saving your custom Google Maps routes can save you time and hassle. This guide provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to do just that, on both desktop and mobile devices.

Why Save Your Google Maps Routes?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s consider why you’d want to save a route:

• Reusability: Easily access and repeat routes you’ve enjoyed before without needing to recreate them.
• Sharing: Share your planned routes with friends, family, or colleagues.
• Preparation: Keep track of multi-stop journeys, ensuring you don’t miss any location.
• Offline Access: (Partially) While you can’t save the full route with live updates, you can save the places along a route for offline use.
• Time Savings: No need to manually re-enter destinations each time you need the same route.

How to Save a Google Maps Route on Desktop

Saving routes on your desktop is straightforward and allows you to work on a bigger screen.

1. Open Google Maps: Navigate to Google Maps in your web browser.
2. Set Your Route:
   • Enter your starting point in the “Choose starting point” field.
   • Enter your destination in the “Choose destination” field.
   • Add additional stops by clicking on the “+” button below your destination. You can drag and drop these stops to reorder them.
   • Choose your mode of transportation (car, public transport, bike, walk) at the top.
3. Access Route Sharing: Once your route is plotted, click the “Share” button (it looks like a curved arrow) which is usually located on the left sidebar, just below the route details.
4. Copy the Link: In the “Share” pop-up, you’ll see a link. Click “Copy link”. This URL contains all your route information.
5. Save the Link: You can now save this link anywhere you need it. Paste it into a document, email, note app, or any other place you prefer to store it.

Note: Google Maps on desktop doesn’t have an explicit “save” button. It relies on shareable links. So, the key is to save the generated URL for future use.

How to Save a Google Maps Route on Mobile (Android & iOS)

Saving routes on the mobile app is similar to the desktop experience, with minor interface differences.

1. Open the Google Maps App: Launch the Google Maps app on your Android or iOS device.
2. Set Your Route:
   • Tap on the search bar and enter your starting point.
   • Tap on the “Directions” button.
   • Enter your destination in the “Choose destination” field.
   • Add additional stops by tapping the three dots in the top right corner and selecting “Add stop”. You can drag stops to reorder them.
   • Choose your mode of transportation at the top.
3. Tap the Share Button: Once your route is calculated, tap the three dots in the top right corner of the screen. Then select “Share directions”.
4. Copy or Share the Link:
   • You’ll see options to share via messaging apps, email, and other methods. Select “Copy” to copy the URL to your device’s clipboard. You can then paste this link to your desired location.
5. Save the Link: Paste the copied link into your notes app, email, a messaging app chat, or anywhere you need it.

Note: Like the desktop version, the mobile app primarily uses shareable links for saving routes.

Important Considerations

• Live Data: The saved links will update with current traffic conditions and changes to the map data. However, they do not provide true, editable saved routes like waypoints or custom layers.
• Limited Offline Use: While you can download offline maps for areas, the saved routes require an internet connection to access the most up-to-date information. You can save places along a route as a list for offline access, though that’s not the same as the entire route.
• Account Sign-in: You don’t need to be signed in to create the route but having a Google account helps if you wish to share your route with other Google accounts or save a list of places along a route.

Alternative Methods for Saving Routes

While saving links is the main method, consider these alternatives:

• Create a Custom Google Map: This allows you to save placemarks, drawing shapes, and more onto a map. It’s not the same as a navigation route but can be valuable for planning complex trips.
• Third-party Apps: Various route-planning apps offer specific saving functionalities. Consider exploring apps designed for your specific needs (like cycling or hiking).

Conclusion

Saving your Google Maps routes is as simple as copying and pasting a generated link. Whether you’re on desktop or mobile, this method makes accessing your favorite or crucial routes easy and convenient. By understanding this simple technique, you can maximize the power of Google Maps for trip planning, commuting, and much more. So, go ahead and start saving those planned adventures and optimize your journeys today!