Add stops one at a time before you start driving

Google Maps lets you add up to nine stops between your starting point and destination. On your phone or computer, search for your first destination, then tap or click the plus sign that appears below the search bar. Type in your next stop, and it will slot into the route. Repeat this for each stop you want to make. The stops will appear in the order you add them, and Google Maps will calculate the total distance and time for the whole trip.

The stops stay in the sequence you create them unless you manually rearrange them. This matters because Google Maps does not automatically find the shortest route through all your stops — it follows the order you set. If you want the most efficient path, you will need to drag your stops into a better sequence, which we cover in the next section.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add up to nine stops in Google Maps by tapping the plus sign below the destination search bar on your phone, or clicking it on your computer.
  • Stops appear in the order you add them, so Google Maps will not automatically rearrange them into the shortest route.
  • You can drag stops up or down in the list to change the order before you start driving.
  • Once you start navigation, you can still add stops by tapping the menu icon and selecting "Add stop," but rearranging becomes harder while moving.

Rearrange stops by dragging them into a new order

After you add your stops, look at the list on the left side of your screen (on a computer) or below the search bar (on your phone). Each stop has a small handle icon — three horizontal lines — next to it. Press and hold that handle, then drag the stop up or down to a new position in the list. Release it when it is where you want it. Google Maps will recalculate the route and show you the new total time and distance.

Rearranging before you leave is much easier than trying to do it while you are driving. If you realize mid-trip that your stops are in the wrong order, you can still change them, but it is safer to pull over first. The app will recalculate your route to the next stop as soon as you move one, so you may see the estimated arrival time jump around while you are reorganizing.

Add stops after you have started driving

If you forgot to add a stop before you left, you can add one while you are on the way. On your phone, tap the three-dot menu icon at the top right of the navigation screen and select "Add stop." Type in the location you want to visit. On a computer, this option appears in the same menu. The new stop will be added to your route, but it will go to the end of your list by default, so you may need to drag it to the correct position.

Adding stops while driving is possible, but it requires you to interact with your phone, which is unsafe. If you must add a stop, pull over first, add it, rearrange it if needed, and then resume driving. Some phones will dim the screen or restrict certain functions while you are moving to discourage this behavior.

Remove a stop you no longer need

To delete a stop from your route, find it in the list and swipe left on your phone or hover over it on your computer. An X or delete button will appear. Tap or click it, and the stop will be removed. Google Maps will when ready recalculate your route without that location. You can remove stops before you start driving or while you are on the way, though again, pulling over first is safer.

If you remove all your stops except the final destination, you will be left with a straightforward route from your current location to that destination. There is no limit to how many times you can add and remove stops during a trip.

Understand what happens when you reach a stop

When you arrive at a stop, Google Maps will notify you and ask if you want to continue to the next stop. On your phone, a blue button labeled "Continue" or "Next" will appear. Tap it to start navigation to your next destination. If you need to stay at that location longer, you can ignore the notification — the app will keep showing your current stop until you tell it to move on.

If you realize you do not need to visit a stop after all, you can delete it from the list even after you have arrived. This is useful if plans change or if a stop becomes unnecessary. The app will then navigate you directly to the next stop on your list.

Use the route overview to see all your stops at once

On your phone, tap the route bar at the bottom of the screen to see a full list of all your stops and the time between each one. On a computer, this information is already visible in the left panel. This view shows you the total trip time, the distance to each stop, and the order they will be visited. You can tap any stop in this list to jump to it, or use the handle icon to rearrange stops from here as well.

The route overview is helpful when you have many stops and want to check the sequence without looking at the map. It also shows you estimated arrival times at each stop, which can help you plan how long to spend at each location.

Know the limits and what happens if you exceed them

Google Maps allows a maximum of nine stops per route. If you try to add a tenth stop, the app will not let you — you will get an error message saying you have reached the limit. If you need to visit more than nine locations, you have two options: create a second route starting from your last stop, or use a different navigation app that supports more stops.

The nine-stop limit applies whether you are using Google Maps on your phone or computer. Some third-party navigation apps, like Waze or specialized delivery apps, allow more stops, but they work differently and may not be as familiar. For most everyday trips, nine stops is enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save a route with multiple stops and use it again later?

Google Maps does not have a built-in feature to save a multi-stop route for later use. However, you can take a screenshot of your route or write down the stops, then recreate the route the next time you need it. Some users bookmark individual locations and add them manually each time.

Does Google Maps find the shortest route through all my stops?

No. Google Maps follows the stops in the order you arrange them. It does not automatically optimize the sequence to save time or distance. You have to manually rearrange stops if you want a more efficient route. Some delivery apps do offer automatic optimization, but Google Maps does not.

What happens if I close the Google Maps app while I have multiple stops?

Your stops will be saved in the app. When you reopen Google Maps, your route with all stops will still be there, and you can resume navigation from where you left off. If you close the app and open it again much later, the route may be cleared, so recreate it if needed.

Can I add stops on Google Maps web version on my computer?

Yes. On the computer version of Google Maps, click the plus sign below the destination search bar to add stops, just like on your phone. You can add, remove, and rearrange stops the same way. The web version works identically to the mobile app for multi-stop routes.

Is there a way to add more than nine stops?

Google Maps caps routes at nine stops. If you need more, you can create a second route starting from your ninth stop, or use a different app designed for delivery or complex routing. For personal trips, breaking a long route into two shorter ones usually works fine.