Planning a long road trip can be an exciting but daunting task. With so many different routes, stops, and destinations to consider, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Fortunately, Google Maps offers a number of useful tools and features to make planning your next road trip easier than ever before.
Step 1: Determine Your Route
The first step in planning a long road trip on Google Maps is to determine your route. To do this, simply enter your starting point and destination into the search bar and click on the “Directions” button. Google Maps will then generate a number of different route options for you to choose from.
Pro Tip: Use the “Add Destination” feature to add stops along the way. This will allow you to see how much time each stop will add to your overall journey and help you plan out your itinerary accordingly.
Step 2: Customize Your Route
Once you have a basic route in mind, it’s time to start customizing it based on your specific needs and preferences. You can do this by using the “Options” button located at the top left-hand corner of the map.
Here are some of the different options you may want to consider when customizing your route:
- Avoid Tolls: This option will help you avoid toll roads along your route.
- Avoid Highways: If you prefer a more scenic route with less traffic, selecting this option may be a good idea.
- Avoid Ferries: If you’re traveling with pets or other animals that may not be comfortable on boats, this option can help you avoid ferries along your route.
Step 3: Save Your Route
Once you have customized your route to suit your needs, it’s important to save it so you can easily access it later on. To do this, click on the “Save” button located at the bottom of the left-hand panel.
Pro Tip: Create a custom map by clicking “Create Map” in order to add points of interest, accommodation options and other relevant information on your map.
Step 4: Share Your Route
If you’re traveling with others or simply want to share your route with friends and family, Google Maps makes it easy to do so. Simply click on the “Share” button located in the left-hand panel and choose how you want to share your route (e.g., via email or social media).
Step 5: Use Google Maps Offline
One of the biggest concerns when planning a road trip is losing access to GPS or mobile data service. However, Google Maps allows users to download maps for offline use. This feature is especially useful if you’re traveling through areas with limited cell service or if you don’t want to rack up data charges while on the road.
To download a map for offline use, simply click on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner and select “Offline Maps.” From there, follow the prompts to download your desired map area.
Conclusion
Planning a long road trip can be a lot of work, but using Google Maps can make it much easier. With its customizable routes, easy-to-use interface, and helpful features like offline maps and sharing options, Google Maps is an invaluable tool for anyone looking to hit the open road. So start planning your next adventure today!