You can change your route in Google Maps before you leave or while you're driving
Google Maps shows you one suggested route by default, but you can swap it for a different one at any time. Before you start driving, tap or click on an alternate route to see how much longer it will take. Once you're on the road, you can still change routes — the app will recalculate and guide you to your destination the new way.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a phone or computer, and whether you've already started navigation. In most cases, you'll tap or click a single element on your screen to see your options, then select the route you want.
Key Takeaways
- On your phone, tap the route bar at the bottom of the screen before you start driving to see two or three alternate routes ranked by time.
- On a computer, click the three-dot menu next to your destination and select "See route options" to view alternatives.
- You can change routes mid-trip by tapping the route bar again, and Google Maps will recalculate when ready.
- Google Maps ranks routes by speed, but you can also choose based on tolls, highways, or other preferences in your settings.
- If you want to avoid certain roads or areas permanently, use the "Avoid roads" feature in the app's settings rather than changing routes each time.
How to change your route before you start driving on a phone
Open Google Maps and enter your destination. Once the map shows your starting point and where you're going, you'll see a blue route line and a gray bar at the bottom of the screen with the trip time and distance. Tap that gray bar — it will expand to show you two or three alternate routes, each with its own travel time.
Each route appears as a separate option with the estimated arrival time listed. Tap whichever route you prefer. The map will highlight that route in blue, and the gray bar will collapse. You're now set to follow that route when you tap "Start" or "Go" to begin navigation.
How to change your route before you start driving on a computer
Go to Google Maps in your web browser and search for your destination. The map will show a blue route and a sidebar on the left with your trip details. Look for the three-dot menu icon (sometimes called a "more options" menu) next to your destination name or in the route details area.
Click that menu and select "See route options." Google Maps will display two or three alternate routes on the map, each labeled with travel time. Click the route you want to use. It will turn blue, and the sidebar will update to show that route's details. When you're ready to navigate, you can share the route to your phone or straightforward reference it on your computer.
How to change your route while you're already driving
If you've already started navigation and want to switch routes, the process is the same on a phone: tap the route bar at the bottom of the screen (it now shows your current route and remaining time). The alternate routes will appear. Tap the one you want, and Google Maps will when ready recalculate and guide you onto the new path.
On a computer, you cannot change routes while actively navigating because Google Maps navigation on a desktop is limited. If you're following directions on your phone and want to change routes, use your phone's route bar as described above. If you're using a computer to plan a trip and want to switch routes before sharing it to your phone, use the three-dot menu again.
Why Google Maps shows you different routes
Google Maps ranks routes primarily by estimated travel time, so the first route shown is usually the fastest. However, the app also considers real-time traffic, road conditions, and your saved preferences. If you've told Google Maps to avoid highways, tolls, or ferries, it will rank routes accordingly — a route that avoids those features might appear even if it takes longer.
Sometimes a slower route is worth choosing because it avoids heavy traffic, construction, or roads you straightforward don't want to drive. Google Maps updates its time estimates as traffic changes, so a route that looked slower five minutes ago might now be faster. You can change routes as many times as you want before or during your trip.
How to set permanent route preferences
If you always want to avoid certain types of roads, you can set that in your Google Maps settings rather than changing routes manually each time. On your phone, open Google Maps, tap your profile picture in the top right, select "Settings," then "Navigation settings." You'll see checkboxes for "Avoid tolls," "Avoid highways," and "Avoid ferries." Check whichever you want to avoid, and Google Maps will factor those into all future route suggestions.
On a computer, go to Google Maps, click the three-line menu in the top left, select "Settings," then "Navigation settings." The same options appear. Once you've set your preferences, Google Maps will automatically rank routes to match them — you won't have to manually change routes to avoid tolls or highways anymore.
What to do if you don't see alternate routes
Sometimes Google Maps shows only one route, especially on rural roads or when there truly is only one practical way to reach your destination. This is normal and not a problem — the app will still navigate you correctly. The single route shown is the one Google Maps has determined will get you there most efficiently given current conditions.
If you're in an area with multiple roads but only one route appears, try zooming out on the map to see the bigger picture, or wait a few seconds for the app to finish loading. If alternate routes still don't show, it usually means Google Maps has determined that one route is significantly faster or safer than any other option. You can still change your route manually by tapping the route bar and waiting for alternatives to load, but the app may recalculate back to its original suggestion if that route is genuinely the best option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my route if I've already passed a turn?
Yes. Google Maps will recalculate from your current location whenever you select a new route, even if you've missed a turn or gone off course. The app continuously tracks where you are and will guide you back to your destination using the route you chose.
Will changing routes affect my arrival time?
It depends on traffic and the route itself. Google Maps shows the estimated arrival time for each route before you select it, so you can compare. If you change routes mid-trip, the app updates your arrival time based on current traffic conditions on the new route.
What's the difference between the routes Google Maps shows me?
Routes differ by which roads they use, not by destination — they all go to the same place. The main differences are travel time, tolls, highway use, and traffic conditions. Google Maps ranks them by speed, but you might choose a slower route to avoid tolls or highways.
Can I save a specific route to use again later?
Google Maps doesn't have a "save this route" feature, but you can save your destination as a place. Search for the destination, tap the star icon to save it, and next time you search for it, Google Maps will remember it and show you routes to that location again.
Does changing routes use more data?
Changing routes uses a small amount of data because Google Maps recalculates and updates the map. If you're on a limited data plan, switching routes frequently won't cause problems, but keeping navigation running continuously uses more data than planning your route once before you leave.