Get directions and show routes - Computer (2024)

You can get directions for driving, public transport, walking, ride sharing, cycling, flights or motorcycling on Google Maps. If there are multiple routes, the best route to your destination is blue, all other routes are grey. 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 computer, open Google Maps.
  2. Click Directions Get directions and show routes - Computer (1).
  3. Click points on the map, type an address or add a place name.
  4. Choose your mode of transportation.

Tip: To choose another route in any transportation mode, select it on the map. Each route shows the estimated travel time on the map.

Google Maps transportation modes

You can get directions for different modes of transportation in Google Maps. Learn about the differences in features and availability between each mode:

Driving: Get directions and show routes - Computer (2)

  • Driving Get directions and show routes - Computer (3) routes are designed for use by cars and may navigate to car-only roads. When riding motorised bicycles or motorcycles under 125cc, use the 'Avoid tolls and motorways' route option.
  • If you want to change a driving route, click and hold a spot on the route and drag it to a new spot on the map.

Public transport: Get directions and show routes - Computer (4)

  • Not all cities have public transport directions in Google Maps. Before you can get public transport directions, your local transport operator needs to add their route info to Google Maps.

Walking: Get directions and show routes - Computer (5)

Ride: Get directions and show routes - Computer (6)

  • If you want directions in an area with ride or taxi services, you can compare ride services with public transport and walking directions. Find out how to request a ride.

Cycling: Get directions and show routes - Computer (7)

  • When you ride your bicycle, you can use cycling Get directions and show routes - Computer (8) routes if they’re available in your country/region.

Flight:Get directions and show routes - Computer (9)

  • Directions to multiple destinations, or waypoints, aren’t available for public transport or flight searches.
  • Learn more about how to search for flights.

Motorcycle: Get directions and show routes - Computer (10)

  • Learn how to get directions for motorcycles.

Add multiple destinations

You can get directions to multiple destinations for all modes of transportation except public transport or flight.

  1. On your computer, open Google Maps.
  2. Click Directions Get directions and show routes - Computer (11).
  3. Add a starting point and a destination.
  4. On the left, below the destinations that you entered, click Add Get directions and show routes - Computer (12).
  5. To add a stop, choose another destination.
    • You can add up to nine stops.
  6. Click on a route to getthe directions.

Tip: You can search for places along your route.

To change the order of your stops:

  1. Find the destination that you want to move.
  2. Drag the destination.

Preview directions in Street View

Important: To get directions in Street View, click Directions Get directions and show routes - Computer (13). Then,enter starting and ending destinations.

  1. On your computer, under the route you want, click Details.
  2. To get more detailed directions, click Expand Get directions and show routes - Computer (14).
  3. Point to a step in the directions. If Street View is available, you get a preview photo.
  4. To get Street View for the step that you want, click the photo.
    • To get Street View for other steps in the route, in the bottom-left box, click Previous step or Next step.
    • To exit the preview, at the top right, click Close Get directions and show routes - Computer (15).

Customise your route

Avoid tolls and motorways

  1. On your computer, open Google Maps.
  2. Click Directions Get directions and show routes - Computer (16).
  3. Click points on the map, type an address or add a place name.
  4. Choose Options.
  5. Tick the box next to 'Tolls' or 'Motorways'.

Change the time that you leave or arrive

You can change your travel date or time to find the best route before you leave, based on estimated traffic and public transport schedules. This only works for routes with one destination.

  1. On your computer, open Google Maps.
  2. Get directions.
  3. After you getyour directions, click Leave now.
  4. To change your travel dates or times, select Depart at or Arrive by.

Understand how we rank transport options

When you enter a destination in Google Maps, we show you how to get there using different travel modes, like driving, cycling or walking.

Sometimes, the transport options that we show you are ranked according to a combination of objective factors designed to help you find relevant and useful information. These factors can include duration, distance, price, your mode preference or the relevance of a mode to your query. Generally, the most important factors are your mode preference, trip durations and sometimes price.

Where available, we also show you other mobility services like public transport, scooter or bicycle rentals and vehicle ride services. These mobility services are provided by third parties who have made their transport data publicly available or who have a partner agreement with us. Any partnerships or business relationships that we may have with any transport service providers do not influence the ranking of these services.

Related resources

  • Get traffic or search for places along the way
  • Plan your commute or trip

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