Get directions & show routes

You can get directions for driving, public transit, walking, or biking on Google Maps. If there are multiple routes, the best route to your destination is blue, and other routes are gray. Some directions in Google Maps are in development and may have limited availability.

Important: Stay alert when you use directions on Google Maps. Always be aware of your surroundings to ensure the safety of yourself and others. When in doubt, follow actual traffic regulations and confirm signage from the road or path that you're on.

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app Maps.
  2. Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
  3. In the bottom left, tap Directions Directions.
  4. Choose one of the following:
  5. To get the list of driving, walking, or biking directions, on the bottom left, tap Steps Steps.

Tip:

Get directions for scooters and motorcycles

Tip: This feature is not available in all locations.

To get simple steps while you ride a motorcycle or scooter, switch to two-wheeler directions.

You'll be routed away from roads where two-wheelers aren't allowed. You may be directed towards shortcuts along narrower side roads.

  1. Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
  2. In the bottom footer, tap Directions Directions.
  3. Tap Two-Wheeler Two-wheeler and then Start.

Tip:

Before you start your trip, you can get your next turns up close. To get a close up of each turn:

  1. In the bottom footer, tap Steps.
  2. Tap an individual step.

To get more info or add a stop:

  1. Tap anywhere on the map.
  2. Tap a landmark.
  3. Tap Add stop.

Add multiple destinations

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app Maps.
  2. Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
  3. In the bottom left, tap Directions Directions.
  4. In the top right, tap More More and then Add stop.
  5. When you are finished, tap Done.

Tip:

Customize your route

Avoid tolls and highways

Turn eco-friendly routing on or off

Google Maps displays fuel-efficiency estimates on some routes. The more fuel-efficient the route, the lower your car's fuel usage and CO2 emissions.

By default, Maps factors fuel-efficiency into the routes that it chooses for you. Most of the time, the fastest route is also the most fuel-efficient one.

When you turn this feature off, you'll always get the fastest route. Maps will stop factoring in fuel-efficiency for route recommendations. However, you'll still see fuel-efficiency estimates.

Tips:

  • This setting might not yet be available to everyone.
  • Fuel-efficiency estimates apply to vehicles that run on gas or diesel only.

How Google Maps calculates fuel-efficiency

Google Maps calculates fuel-efficiency using information from the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This calculation includes factors that affect your fuel usage and CO2 emissions, such as:

  • Average fuel consumption for vehicles in your region
  • Steepness of hills on your route
  • Stop-and-go traffic patterns
  • Types of roads (such as local roads or highways)

Maps displays the most fuel-efficient route when it has roughly the same arrival time as the fastest route. In cases where fuel savings are too small or increase driving time significantly, Maps shows relative fuel savings between routes to help you compare.

Read more about eco-friendly routing technology (PDF).

Change your starting point or destination

By default, your starting point is your location. To change where you start and where you're going, follow the steps below. Note: You can't start navigation if you don't use your current location, but you can still get a preview of the route.

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app Maps.
  2. Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
  3. In the bottom left, tap Directions Directions.
    • To edit your starting point, go to the box at the top of the screen and tap Your location.
    • To edit your destination, tap what's listed in the "to" box.
  4. Tap Preview.

Adjust your time of departure

If you miss a train or arrive early as you follow a transit journey on Google Maps, you can now select alternate departures to adjust the trip in the moment.

Important:When you select a new time, your current and future transit times automatically update based on your new departure time.

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app Maps.
  2. Search for your destination or tap it on the map.
  3. In the bottom left, tap Directions Directions.
  4. Tap Transit Transit.
  5. At the top, enter your starting location.
  6. Confirm your departure date and time, then tap the route you want. Your route details will open.
  7. Under your departure station name, you'll find up to 2 later departure times, if available. For example, you might find "Also at 1:30 PM & 2:15 PM."
  8. To expand your departure options, on the left, tap the arrow. Maps shows you other departure times, if available.
    • If you don't find a time you want, tap More departures and review all available departure times and trip details. Use the back arrow to return to departure times and make your selection.
  9. Tap the departure time you want.

Other ways to use directions

Pin your favorite trips

If you use Google Maps to get directions for trips you make frequently, like going from home to work, using the Go tab Go can help you get those directions quickly and show your estimated time of arrival.

By pinning a favorite trip, it will appear at the bottom of your screen when you tap the Go tab.

Tip: You can only pin driving and transit trips.

  1. Open Google maps Maps on your device.
  2. At the bottom of the app, select Go Go.
  3. A bar will appear on the bottom of your screen, swipe up to get the list of suggested trips.
  4. On the right-hand side, tap Pin .

Share directions

Send directions to your phone or tablet

To send directions to your phone or tablet, follow the steps below.

  1. On your computer, open Google Maps and make sure you're signed in.
  2. Get directions. To change your route, drag the route line.
  3. Click Send directions to your phone.
  4. Choose a phone, tablet, email, or text.

Tip: If you have more than one destination, you can't send directions to your phone or tablet .

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