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Google Maps Route Planning: What You Need To Know

Jan., 11 2023
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We always look for methods to simplify situations as our environment becomes more complex. We plan a routing map with various destinations at one of these periods. Google Maps is just one of the many route-planning alternatives available. The Google Maps route planner will be used, and advice and tips will be provided.

You may add addresses, find directions, and even multiple addresses using this tool. This article will discuss how to use this service for route planning and instruct the reader as to when this tool is most pertinent or useful.

Google Maps is a popular mapping and navigation tool that can be used to find directions, view maps, and make travel plans. The Google Maps app also has a route planning feature that can be used to plan out multi-stop trips. 

To use the Google Maps route planner, simply enter your starting location and destination, then add any additional stops along the way. The route planner will then generate the best route to take, based on your provided preferences. 

If you need help planning your next trip, be sure to give the Google Maps route planner a try!

Table of Contents:

 

Does Google Maps have a route optimizer?
We spend our days (and occasionally our nights) educating people about route optimization and its critical role in the success of delivery companies.

Yes, but doesn't Google Maps do that? is one of the most typical follow-up queries.
This blog article will explain when it makes sense to use Google Maps to design a route with several stops and when you'll probably need an alternative, such as uRoute.

 

How does Google map routing work?
Providing you're in a region of the world where it has enough map data, Google's technology will certainly nail discovering the best route for you to take if you ever want to locate the shortest route between locations A and B.

For straightforward routing circumstances, Google Maps is one of the greatest route planning tools accessible. It is easy to use, quick, and free for all technical ability levels.

What happens when you ask Google Maps "what is the best way to get from A to B?" in brief this:

  1. Before placing two markers on the map, Google rapidly geocodes (defines the latitude and longitude coordinates) the two addresses you provided.
  2. Next, Google will highlight each potential road section that connects your two points.
  3. It rates those road segments according to the shortest distance, the size of connected road segments, and the volume of traffic at that particular hour of the day.
  4. It gives you the top-scoring option along with a few runner-up options.

 

Can Google Maps plan a route with multiple stops?
You may presume that Google Maps not only presented you with a very good route from point A to point B, but also with an incredibly precise Estimated Time of Arrival. There is additional intricacy to its algorithm, which we'll leave for the advanced class (ETA). When Google released the Android mobile operating system, it started collecting real-time location and traffic data from users, which improved the accuracy of its ETA estimates beyond anything we had previously known.

In conclusion, if you're trying to find the fastest route between two stops, you should almost surely utilize Google Maps as your route planner. We are no longer discussing the route from A to B, but rather A to B to C to D and so on, until we have discussed every stop on your route if you are planning a complete route with more than two stops. The more points we provide in the route plan, the less useful Google Maps is for the issue.

The following general requirements must be met before you can use Google Maps to plan routes:

  • Routes have ten or fewer stops
  • In a particular location, you just need to plan for one driver.
  • You have no restrictions on your journeys (i.e. a delivery time window, vehicle load capacity limit, etc.)
  • You can manually decide on an effective sequence for them by eyeballing it (i.e. your destinations are quite far apart)
  • The routes involve transit, walking, or cycling

 

Does Google Earth have a route planner?

Yes, Google Earth has a route planner feature that allows you to create a custom route and see it displayed on the map. To use the route planner, follow these steps:


Open Google Earth on your computer.

Click on the "Add Placemark" icon, which looks like a small flag, and then click on the map to add a starting point for your route.

Repeat the process to add more placemarks for each stop along your route.
Once you have added all of the placemarks for your route, click on the "Add Path" icon, which looks like a pencil.

Click on the starting placemark to begin drawing the route, and then click on each of the other placemarks in the order you want to visit them.

When you have finished drawing the route, it will be displayed on the map with a line connecting all of the placemarks.

You can also use the route planner to see the distance and the estimated time it will take to travel between each of the stops on your route.

 

Are there any apps on the market where I can draw my route?

Yes, there are several apps that allow you to create custom delivery routes and optimize them for efficient and cost-effective delivery. Here are a few options:

  • Routific
  • RoadWarrior
  • OptimoRoute
  • MyRoute
  • uRoute

These are just a few examples, and there are many other apps on the market that offer similar features. You may want to do some research and compare a few different options to find the one that best meets your needs.

 

How many stops can Google Maps handle?
Google Maps allows you to add multiple stops to your route, but there is no strict limit on the number of stops that it can handle. However, it's important to keep in mind that adding too many stops to your route may make it more difficult to plan and navigate, and it may also increase the total time it takes to complete the trip. 

In general, it's best to keep the number of stops to a reasonable level, depending on the length of your trip and the amount of time you have available. If you need to make a large number of stops, you may want to consider breaking your trip into smaller legs and creating separate routes for each leg.

 

What is the best route planning GPS?
There are many GPS devices and software programs that can be used for route planning, and the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Some popular options include:

  1. Google Maps: This is a free, web-based mapping service that provides route planning and navigation features for both driving and walking. It is available on both desktop and mobile devices, and it allows you to add multiple stops to your route and see real-time traffic updates.
  2. Waze: This is a free, community-based navigation app that provides real-time traffic updates and alerts for accidents, construction, and other events that may affect your route. It also allows you to add multiple stops to your route and choose from different route options based on factors like distance, estimated time, and cost (for toll roads).
  3. Garmin: This is a company that produces a wide range of GPS devices for cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Many of their devices include route planning and navigation features, as well as real-time traffic updates and alerts for hazards on the road.
  4. TomTom: This is another company that makes GPS devices for vehicles, including models with route planning and navigation features. They also offer a mobile app that provides similar features for smartphones and tablets.

Ultimately, the best route planning GPS for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, as well as your budget. It may be helpful to do some research and read reviews to find a GPS device or software program that meets your needs and fits your budget.

 

Can you modify a Google Maps route?
Yes, you can modify a route in Google Maps by adding or removing stops, or by dragging the route to a different road or street. Here's how to modify a route in Google Maps:

  1. Open Google Maps on your computer or mobile device.
  2. Enter your starting point and destination into the search bar, and then click on the "Directions" button.
  3. Click on the route to select it, and then click on the "Edit" button, which looks like a pencil.
  4. To add a stop to your route, click on the "Add stop" button and then enter the location you want to add. You can repeat this process to add multiple stops to your route.
  5. To remove a stop from your route, click on the stop you want to remove and then click on the "Remove" button.
  6. To modify the route itself, click on a point along the route and then drag it to a different road or street. Google Maps will automatically recalculate the route to include the changes you made.

You can also use the "Avoid" feature in Google Maps to avoid certain types of roads or areas along your route, such as toll roads or highways. To use this feature, click on the "Options" button and then select the "Avoid" option to see a list of items you can avoid.

 

How to Use Google Maps to Improve Your Route Planning?
Several companies with limited delivery fleets use Google Maps Route Planner. Just keep in mind that you cannot simultaneously design numerous routes. Your routes must be planned in batches.

  1. Assign Region Assignment : Cluster stops into driver regions if you have more than one driver. This can be accomplished by giving your drivers postal codes or by segmenting the city into zones or neighbourhoods (north, south, east, west).
  2. List stops in order : Try to list each destination in the region in the order that you wish to complete it. Using a spreadsheet or Google Maps, you can do this. 
  3. Build routes in batches of 10 : Find the fastest route between each location using Google Maps. You must complete this in groups of ten.
  4. Dispatch routes to drivers : You may send a route through email or SMS using Google Maps.

Google Maps is a powerful tool for delivery route planning. With its help, you can optimize your delivery routes to save time and money. uRoute is an even more powerful tool that can simplify your route planning and route optimization processes. Try their Professional Plan premium features to experience it. Email our sales champion for a Demo Session at sales@uroute.co.

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