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Plan, optimise and share a route

Build a multi-stop route, optimise or lock its stop order, share directions and save it as a favourite.

Use Route Planner to build a route with up to 25 stops, find a faster stop order, create a round trip or share directions. Save routes under Favourites when you need to load them again.

Before you start

Route Planner must be available for your account. Have the full address for each stop. Decide whether the route must follow a fixed order or can be optimised for speed.

Decide whether the saved route is for you only or should be shared. Team sub-accounts can view a shared favourite, but only the account that created it can change the sharing setting.

Route Planner provides directions and estimates; it does not assign the route to a vehicle or confirm that a driver followed it.

Steps

  1. Open Map, then open Route Planner.
Route Planner panel showing stop fields and route planning controls.
Route Planner panel showing stop fields and route planning controls.
  1. On the route tab, search for the first address. Check that the matched location is correct on the map, then add it as a stop.
  2. Search for each remaining address and check its matched location before adding it, up to 25 stops in total.
  3. Drag the stops into a required order, or select Fastest when at least three stops can be rearranged. Lock any stop that must remain in its current position before optimising.
  4. Turn on Roundtrip when the route should return to its first stop. Remove any stop that is not part of the journey.
  5. Select Show whole route, then check the route, distance and estimated duration. Confirm that it starts and ends in the expected places and visits each stop in an acceptable order.
Route Planner showing three ordered example stops and a distance and duration summary.
Route Planner showing three ordered example stops and a distance and duration summary.

Share the route

  1. Open Share after every stop has resolved to a location.
  2. Select Google Maps to open the route in a new browser tab, or select Email route, enter the recipient and select Send.
  3. Check the opened or emailed route before relying on it. The receiving service can recalculate directions using its own current map and traffic data.

Save the route as a favourite

  1. Select Save favourite, enter a unique and recognisable name, then save it.
  2. To make the route available to team sub-accounts, open Favourites and enable sharing for the route.
  3. Select the saved route under Favourites and confirm that the expected stops, locked positions and Roundtrip setting load on the map.
  4. Use the favourite controls to rename, update or delete a route you own. Shared favourites created by another account are read-only.

What happens next

The route remains under Favourites so you can load it again without rebuilding the stop list. Shared favourites remain visible to team sub-accounts until the owner changes sharing or deletes them.

Opening a route in Google Maps or sending it by email shares directions for that route. It does not share live vehicle positions or create a Track My Ride live-map link.

Troubleshooting

  • An address cannot be found: Add more address details or try a nearby place name, then check the resolved point before continuing.
  • Fastest is unavailable: Add and resolve at least three stops. Unlock positions that can be rearranged.
  • The optimised order is unsuitable: Drag stops back into the required order or lock required positions before selecting Fastest again.
  • The shared route is different: Confirm every stop and its order before sharing. Google Maps can recalculate the route using current map or traffic data.
  • Email sharing does not send: Wait for the route names, distance and duration to finish updating, then check the recipient address and try again.
  • A favourite name already exists: Choose another name or update the existing favourite when prompted.