How to Map a Driving Route With Multiple Stops

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If you’re planning a road trip or simply want to organize the perfect day exploring the city, mapping a driving route with multiple stops is essential. One of the most popular tools for this task remains Google Maps.

When creating a map in Google Maps, you can add up to nine stops (excluding your starting point) on both the website and the mobile app. If your itinerary requires more than nine stops, consider using a specialized alternative such as Maptive.

Below you’ll find clear, step-by-step instructions for building multi-stop routes in both Google Maps and Maptive.

How to Map a Driving Route with Multiple Stops

Use the Google Maps Website to Add Multiple Stops

Begin by opening your browser and going to https://www.google.com/maps. Click the “Directions” button located to the right of the search bar.

Google Maps automatically detects your device’s current location as the starting point. To choose a different origin, simply enter the address in the “Choose a starting point” field. Next, type the address of your first stop in the field below and press “Enter.”

To add another stop, click the “+” button beneath your first destination. A new field will appear where you can enter the next address. You may repeat this process up to nine times. Should you need additional stops, you will have to create a new map or switch to another service.

You can easily reorder stops by dragging any destination up or down the list using the circular handles on the left. Once your route is complete, click “Send directions to your phone” to forward the itinerary via email or text message. If the Google Maps app is installed, the directions open directly in the mobile application.

Google Maps displays the total estimated drive time for your route. Unlike Maptive, however, it does not provide drive-time polygons—a feature that visually indicates how far you can travel within a given time frame from any point on the map. This can be especially helpful when planning how long to spend at each stop.

Use the Google Maps App to Add Multiple Stops

The process on the mobile app is nearly identical to the website experience.

Open the Google Maps app and tap the blue “Go” button in the bottom-right corner. As with the web version, your device’s location is set as the default starting point. Enter a different origin in the blue “Your location” field if needed.

Type your first destination, then tap the three dots in the top-right corner and select “Add Stop” to include additional locations. Reorder stops by dragging them using the stacked lines on the left side of each entry. When finished, tap “Done” to finalize your route.

Use Maptive to Add Multiple Stops

Maptive’s online multi-stop route planner supports up to 25 locations and as many as 73 stops, making it ideal for complex itineraries.

Start by selecting your origin—either your current location, an existing map marker (via the “Add to Route” option), or by manually entering an address. Click the “+” icon in the location window to add each subsequent stop. Continue until all desired destinations are included.

Alternatively, upload an Excel file containing your starting point and all stop addresses for bulk import.

Once the data is loaded, Maptive automatically generates a driving route. Drag and drop locations to adjust their sequence. Click “Get Directions” to preview the route, then choose from various routing options or let the tool optimize the order for maximum efficiency.

When satisfied, export the finished route as an Excel spreadsheet or print it directly from the platform.

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