Find your route

Set destination

Open Google Maps and tap to enter the place (ZIP code or street address) you wish to go to. As you type you’ll see recent searches and nearby amenities pop up as suggestions – tap one to select it if it’s relevant.

Pick route

If you’re traveling by car, the current quickest route will be shown in blue; alternative options are in gray. Tap on a gray part to switch to that route – traffic bottlenecks are highlighted in yellow and red, with estimated delays.

Select stop-off

Once selected, suitable stop-offs are shown on the map. Tap one and choose Add Stop – the directions will update to send you via your chosen diversion. When you leave, tap X and choose Remove Stop to continue.

Choose transport

The place will appear with an estimated journey time from your current location. Tap the white travel icon next to its name to view directions or choose an alternative form of travel, such as public transport, cycling or walking.

Follow route

If traveling from home and you have GPS, tap the blue arrow icon to follow directions – Google Maps offers turn-by-turn directions. Tap the More button to change view and navigation settings, or to mute the voiceover.

Follow manually

If you manually set a start location, Google Maps works differently: tap the two arrows to preview the route – this allows your passenger to manually follow it using the left and right arrows. Tap More to change view settings.

Refine choices

Tap the From box to choose a different starting point, and tap the three dots button next to this to choose Route Options, if you want to pick a preferred mode of public transport or avoid specific roads.

Take a diversion

To add a stop-off to your route when following the directions, tap the search button to look for a specific place or perform a general search for nearby gas stations, restaurants, stores, or coffee shops.

Public transport

Going by public transport? Select your departure time and Google Maps provides detailed instructions for all the buses, trams, trains and other public transport modes (including walking) you’ll need to follow.