How Do I Plot a Road Trip on Google Maps?

By Alice Nichols

Are you planning a road trip and wondering how to map out your route? Look no further than Google Maps.

This powerful tool can help you plan your journey, calculate the distance between locations, and even estimate how long it will take to reach your destination. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps of plotting a road trip on Google Maps.

Step 1: Open Google Maps

The first step is to open Google Maps in your browser. You can do this by typing “Google Maps” into your search engine or by going directly to maps.google.com.

Pro tip: If you have a Google account, sign in before starting so that you can save your map for later use.

Step 2: Click on Directions

Once you have opened Google Maps, click on the “Directions” button in the top left corner of the screen. This will bring up a new window where you can enter your starting point and destination.

Entering Your Starting Point and Destination

Step 3: Enter Your Starting Point

In the “Starting Point” field, enter the address or name of your starting location. This could be your home address, a hotel, or any other location from which you plan to begin your journey.

Step 4: Enter Your Destination

In the “Destination” field, enter the address or name of your final destination. This could be another city, state, or country that you want to visit.

Adding Waypoints

Step 5: Click on Add Destination

If you want to add additional destinations along the way (also known as waypoints), click on “Add destination” under the “Destination” field. This will allow you to add as many waypoints as necessary for your trip.

Step 6: Enter Your Waypoint Address

Enter the address or name of your waypoint in the new “Destination” field that appears. Repeat this step for each additional waypoint you want to add.

Adjusting Your Route

Step 7: Drag and Drop Your Route

If you want to adjust your route, you can do so by clicking and dragging the route line on the map. This will allow you to customize your journey and choose specific roads or highways that you want to take.

Viewing Your Trip Details

Step 8: View Your Trip Details

Once you have entered all of your destinations and adjusted your route, click on “Details” in the top left corner of the screen. This will bring up a window with detailed information about your trip, including the total distance, estimated travel time, and turn-by-turn directions.

Save Your Map for Later

Step 9: Save Your Map

If you have a Google account, click on “Save” in the top left corner of the screen to save your map for later use. This will allow you to access it from any device and make changes as needed.

Pro tip: You can also share your map with others by clicking on “Share” and sending them a link to your route.

In Conclusion

Google Maps is an invaluable tool for anyone planning a road trip. By following these simple steps, you can easily plot out your route, add waypoints along the way, adjust your journey as needed, and view detailed information about your trip.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning your next adventure today!