How to Add Stages on Google Maps for Your Dream Road Trip
Planning Your Road Trip with Google Maps
For some time, you’ve been dreaming about an on-the-road trip, and the time has finally come to define the itinerary, establishing every stage in detail. For this small business, you’ve chosen to make use of Google Maps, the navigator you usually use to orient yourself during your little and large movements. Unfortunately, you haven’t yet managed to understand how to get this result in particular. Well, if things are like that, let me tell you that you’ve happened upon the right web page. In the next lines, I will show you how to add stages on Google Maps from smartphones and computers, to create a personalized itinerary and optimize your trip.
How to Add Stages on Google Maps
Both from the smartphone app and from the website, adding stages on Google Maps is extremely simple: after indicating a starting point and one of arrival, just take advantage of the option "Edit stages/Add stages" which allows you to insert further destinations along the path (up to a maximum of 10). Below, I will show you in detail how to "move" to achieve this.
How to Add Stages on Google Maps: Android
If you want to proceed from a smartphone or tablet Android, first start the app Google Maps on your device. If you do not have this app yet, proceed to download it directly from the Play Store, possibly helping yourself from my dedicated guide to this operation.
Once the Google Maps app on your device is started, tap on the text field above to type the name of your destination and press the corresponding result to see the road map. After that, press the key "Directions" located in the lower left corner, and define the starting point (you can also leave it as your location). Subsequently, select the icon of the car, train, pedestrian, or cyclist, depending on the way you want to face the route (e.g., by car, by public transport, on foot, or by bicycle).
Done this, to add a stop on Google Maps, begin by pressing on the three vertical dots placed next to the starting point and select "Edit stages" from the menu that appears. Alternatively, press the key "Add stages" present in the travel summary sheet, positioned at the bottom of the screen.
Now, enter the address or the name of the desired stage in the field "Choose destination" and continue like this until all the desired stages are added (up to a maximum of 10). Each stage will automatically assign a letter: The first additional stage will receive the letter A, the second the letter B, and so on. If you want to remove a stop, press the icon (X) next to the stage you want to delete.
If you need to reorder the stages, hold the icon holding = next to the stage you want to move and drag it to the desired position inside the list. Once you have arranged the stages as you prefer, be sure to check that the itinerary is correct and press "Done" to save the changes.
Now, you can expand the form located in the lower part of the screen simply by dragging it upwards. In this way, you can view the added stages in detail, together with the information on travel time between each stage and useful details about the traffic and driving directions. When you are ready to leave, press the button "Start" which is found at the bottom of the screen. In addition, you can share your path with others by clicking on the option "Share," which allows you to send the link via email or on social networks, or press "Save" to save it.
You can find more information on how to make an itinerary with Google Maps in my guide dedicated to the subject.
How to Add Stages on Google Maps: iPhone
If you are wondering how to add stages on Google Maps iPhone, know that the steps do not differ much from those we have just seen. First of all, start the app Google Maps on your iPhone or iPad. If you do not have this app yet, proceed to download it directly from the App Store, possibly helping yourself from my dedicated guide to this operation.
Subsequently, tap on the text field at the top of the screen, type the name of your destination, and press the corresponding result to select it. After that, press the key "Directions" located in the lower left corner, and indicate the starting point (you can also leave it as your location). Now, select the icon of the car, train, pedestrian, or cyclist, depending on the way you intend to face the route (e.g., by car, by public transport, on foot, or by bicycle).
Now, to add a stop on Google Maps iPhone, press on the three horizontal dots next to the starting point and select the item (+) "Edit stages" from the menu that appears. Alternatively, you can press the key "Add stages" present at the bottom of the screen.
Type the address or the name of the desired stage in the field "Choose destination" and continue like this until all the desired stages are added (up to a maximum of 10). Each stage will automatically assign a letter: The first additional stage will receive the letter A, the second the letter B, and so on. If you need to remove a stop, press the icon (X) placed in correspondence with the stage you want to eliminate.
To reorder the stages, hold the icon holding ≡ next to the stage you want to move and drag it with the finger to the desired position inside the list. Once you have arranged the stages as you prefer, check that the itinerary is correct and press "Done" to save the changes.
To access further details on the itinerary just made, press the button "Details" present in the card placed at the bottom of the screen. In this way, you can know in detail more information on the course, such as the travel time between one stop or the other or the traffic planned.
When you are ready to leave, press the key "Start" always present at the bottom of the screen. Also, you can share the path in stages just made by tapping on the sharing icon (the arrow that comes out of a square) present at the bottom right and choosing the desired option from the menu that appears, or press the button "Save" (placed next to that "Details") to save it.
You can find further indications on how to trace a path on Google Maps in my guide entirely dedicated to the subject.
How to Add Stages on Google Maps: Computer
Also from a computer, you can easily add stages on Google Maps: first, open the browser, visit the official site of the navigator, indicate the address departure or destination in the field of research present at the top left, and click on the button "Directions." Next, enter the first stop in the field displayed at the top, typing the name of the address. Now, click the icon of the car, train, pedestrian, or biker, depending on the way you intend to face the route (e.g., in the car, by public transport, on foot, or on motorcycles).
Once this is done, press the key (+) "Add destination" present right under the field of destination. So enter the address or the name of the stage you want to add. You can repeat this step up to a maximum of 10 stages. At each additional stage, a letter will be assigned: The first will be marked by letter A, the second by letter B, and so on. To eliminate a stop, position the mouse above and click on the (X) that appears to his right.
If you want to reorder the stages, however, just click on a voice and, holding down, drag her in the position you want, above or under the others. Once you have arranged all the stages and verified that the itinerary is correct, you can press on "Copy Link" to share your itinerary or press on "Send directions [your phone]" to receive the indications directly on your device.
How to Add More Than 10 Stages on Google Maps
As already explained, it is not possible to add more than 10 stages on Google Maps. In fact, once the tenth stage is inserted, a warning like "The maximum number of destinations has been reached" will appear. Therefore, in addition to the starting point and the arrival point, it is possible to insert only eight additional stages to your itinerary.
Table: Summary of Steps to Add Stages on Google Maps
| Device | Steps to Add Stages |
|---|---|
| Android | 1. Open Google Maps app. 2. Enter destination. 3. Press "Directions." 4. Select travel mode. 5. Press three vertical dots. 6. Select "Edit stages." 7. Enter additional destinations. 8. Reorder or remove stages. 9. Save changes. 10. Share or save itinerary. |
| iPhone | 1. Open Google Maps app. 2. Enter destination. 3. Press "Directions." 4. Select travel mode. 5. Press three horizontal dots. 6. Select "Edit stages." 7. Enter additional destinations. 8. Reorder or remove stages. 9. Save changes. 10. Share or save itinerary. |
| Computer | 1. Open Google Maps website. 2. Enter destination. 3. Press "Directions." 4. Select travel mode. 5. Press "+ Add destination." 6. Enter additional destinations. 7. Reorder or remove stages. 8. Save changes. 9. Share or save itinerary. |
FAQ Section
Q: Can I add more than 10 stages on Google Maps?
A: No, Google Maps allows a maximum of 10 stages, including the starting and ending points.
Q: How do I reorder the stages on Google Maps?
A: You can reorder the stages by holding the icon next to the stage you want to move and dragging it to the desired position.
Q: Can I share my itinerary with others?
A: Yes, you can share your itinerary by clicking on the "Share" option and sending the link via email or social networks.
Pro Tips
- Plan Ahead: Always plan your stages in advance to avoid any last-minute changes.
- Check Traffic: Use the traffic information provided by Google Maps to avoid delays.
- Save Your Itinerary: Save your itinerary to easily access it later or share it with friends and family.
Did You Know?
Google Maps was originally called "Earth Viewer" and was launched in 2005. It has since evolved into one of the most widely used navigation tools globally, providing real-time traffic updates, street views, and more.
Call to Action
Now that you know how to add stages on Google Maps, it’s time to plan your dream road trip! Share your favorite travel destinations in the comments below, explore more articles on optimizing your travel experience, or subscribe to our newsletter for more travel tips and tricks. Happy travels!
