Change a route while you're navigating

If you're already following a route in Google Maps and want to go a different way, tap the route bar at the bottom of your screen — the one showing your current route and estimated arrival time. This opens a panel with alternative routes ranked by travel time.

Tap any alternative route to switch to it immediately. Google Maps will recalculate your turn-by-turn directions and start guiding you on the new path. If you don't see alternatives, it usually means Google Maps has already found the fastest option, or there aren't other viable routes to your destination.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the route bar at the bottom of the navigation screen to see alternative routes ranked by travel time.
  • You can change your destination entirely by tapping the destination field and entering a new address.
  • Avoid roads by opening route options, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Avoid tolls," "Avoid highways," or "Avoid ferries" before you start navigating.
  • Google Maps updates your route automatically when traffic conditions change, but you can manually switch routes anytime during navigation.

Change your destination mid-trip

If you want to go somewhere completely different, tap the destination field at the top of the navigation screen. This is the address or place name you entered before you started navigating. Delete the current destination and type in a new one.

Google Maps will calculate a fresh route to the new destination and ask you to confirm before switching. Your navigation will then restart with directions to the new place. This is useful if your plans change or you realize you need to stop somewhere else first.

Avoid specific road types before you navigate

Before you start navigating, you can tell Google Maps to skip certain kinds of roads. Open the app, enter your destination, and tap the three dots (or "Options" on some devices) above the blue "Start" button. You'll see checkboxes for "Avoid tolls," "Avoid highways," and "Avoid ferries."

Check the boxes for any road types you want to skip, then start navigating. Google Maps will calculate a route that avoids those roads entirely. If you change your mind mid-trip, tap the three dots again during navigation — the same options appear, and you can toggle them on or off to recalculate your route.

Add stops along your route

You can add multiple stops to a single trip without changing your final destination. While navigating, tap the three dots, then tap "Add stop." Enter the address or place name of where you want to stop. Google Maps will insert it into your route and adjust your directions.

You can add as many stops as you need. Google Maps will guide you to each one in order, then continue to your final destination. If you want to reorder your stops, tap the three dots and select "Edit route" — you can then drag stops up or down to change the sequence.

Let Google Maps choose the best route automatically

By default, Google Maps shows you the fastest route based on current traffic. If traffic conditions change while you're navigating, Google Maps may suggest a faster alternative — you'll see a notification at the top of the screen. Tap it to switch to the new route.

You don't have to accept every suggestion. If you prefer to stick with your current route, ignore the notification and keep going. Google Maps will continue to monitor traffic and alert you if a significantly faster option appears, but it won't force you to change.

Understand why your route changed

If your route suddenly changes without you tapping anything, Google Maps detected a major traffic jam or accident ahead and automatically rerouted you to save time. This happens when the delay on your current route would be substantial. You can always tap the route bar to see what Google Maps is doing and switch back to your original route if you prefer.

Sometimes the alternative route takes longer in time but shorter in distance, or vice versa. Google Maps prioritizes time by default, but you can see both figures for each route option before you decide to switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see multiple route options at once?

Yes. Tap the route bar at the bottom of your screen during navigation, and Google Maps shows you up to three alternative routes. Each one displays the travel time and distance. Tap any route to switch to it.

What if I want to avoid a specific street or area?

Google Maps doesn't have a feature to block individual streets, but you can avoid tolls, highways, and ferries before you navigate. If you need to avoid a specific area, add a stop nearby that forces the route around it, or manually turn onto a different street when you reach that area.

Does Google Maps remember my route preferences?

Yes. If you check "Avoid tolls" or "Avoid highways" before navigating, Google Maps remembers those settings for future trips. You can change them anytime in the route options menu before you start.

Can I save a custom route to use later?

Google Maps doesn't save custom routes, but you can save favorite places and create a list of stops. When you're ready to navigate, add those places as stops in order. You can also take a screenshot of your route or share it with someone else.

Why does Google Maps keep suggesting a different route?

Google Maps suggests alternatives when traffic changes significantly or when a faster route becomes available. If you don't want to switch, ignore the notification. The suggestions will continue as conditions change, but you're never forced to accept them.