Google Maps is a powerful tool for planning road trips, finding directions, and navigating unfamiliar areas. One of its most useful features is the ability to add stops to a route, giving you the freedom to break up your journey with sightseeing, food, rest stops, and more. In this guide, we’ll show you how to add stops on Google Maps and make the most of your next road trip.

Step 1: Open Google Maps

First, you’ll need to open the Google Maps app on your smartphone or tablet or access the website on your desktop. If you’re using the app, ensure you’ve signed in and your location services are turned on.

Step 2: Select your starting point and final destination

Next, enter your starting point and final destination in the search bars at the top of the screen. This will bring up a map with directions and a route outline. You can also adjust the route by dragging the blue line, adding more locations along the way.

Step 3: Add a stop

To add a stop along your route, click on the three vertical dots on the top right corner of your screen on Android or the bottom right corner on iOS. Then, select “Add stop”. Google Maps will automatically add the new destination to your route and adjust your directions to include it. You can repeat this process for up to nine stops in total.

Step 4: Edit your stops

Once you’ve added stops to your route, you can edit them as needed. To remove a stop, click on the stop and select “Remove stop”. To add a new stop, follow the steps above. You can also re-order your stops by clicking and dragging the destination to a new location in the route.

Step 5: Customize your stops

Google Maps also allows you to customize your stops with specific details. To do so, click on the stop you’d like to customize and select “Add a label”. Here you can add the name of the stop, such as “lunch at Joe’s Café” or “hike at National Park”. You can also change the color and icon of each stop by clicking on the corresponding buttons.

Step 6: Plan your route

Once you’ve added stops and customized them, it’s time to plan your route. Google Maps will calculate your estimated travel time, distance, and anticipated arrival time based on your route and the speed you’re traveling. You can also preview different routes to take, including scenic routes and highways.

In conclusion, making multiple stops on a road trip to explore new sights is always a good idea. With Google Maps, adding stops is an easy and straightforward process that doesn’t disrupt your route planning. Just follow these steps, and you can easily customize your route, make stops, and enjoy a hassle-free journey. Happy travels!