How to Change Route on Google Maps: A Complete Guide

Google Maps is one of the most widely used navigation tools in the world, but its route customization options aren't always obvious. Whether you're trying to avoid a traffic jam, skip a toll road, or add a stop along the way, knowing how to change your route gives you real control over your journey.

Why You Might Need to Change a Route

Google Maps automatically calculates what it considers the fastest route based on real-time traffic data, road types, and distance. But the "fastest" route isn't always the right one for every driver. Common reasons to change a route include:

• Avoiding tolls, highways, or ferries
• Adding waypoints or pit stops
• Manually dragging to a preferred road
• Switching between multiple suggested routes
• Responding to unexpected road closures mid-trip

Understanding which method fits your situation matters, because Google Maps offers several distinct ways to modify a route — and they work differently depending on whether you're planning ahead or already navigating.

Method 1: Choose an Alternate Route Before You Start

When you enter a destination and tap Directions, Google Maps typically shows two to three route options before you begin navigating. Each route displays an estimated time and distance.

To select an alternate route:

1. Enter your destination and tap Directions
2. Review the route options displayed on the map
3. Tap any grayed-out route line to highlight it
4. Review the estimated time, distance, and any notes (such as "Tolls" or "Fastest route")
5. Tap Start to begin with your chosen route

This is the simplest way to change your route and works identically on both Android and iOS versions of Google Maps.

Method 2: Set Route Preferences (Avoid Tolls, Highways, or Ferries)

If you consistently want to avoid certain road types, Google Maps lets you set preferences that apply automatically to every route calculation.

Before starting navigation:

1. Enter a destination and tap Directions
2. Tap the three-dot menu (Android) or the three-dot icon at the top right (iOS)
3. Select Route options
4. Toggle on Avoid tolls, Avoid highways, or Avoid ferries as needed

For persistent preferences across all trips:

1. Open Google Maps and tap your profile icon
2. Go to Settings > Navigation settings
3. Under Route options, enable your preferred avoidances

Keep in mind that these avoidance settings can sometimes produce significantly longer routes, particularly in areas where highways are the primary infrastructure.

Method 3: Drag the Route to Change It Manually 🗺️

One of the most flexible — and underused — features is the ability to drag a route line to force it through a specific road or area.

1. After entering a destination, view the suggested route on the map
2. Press and hold on any point along the blue route line
3. Drag the pin to the road or area you want to include
4. Google Maps will recalculate the route through that point

This method works particularly well when you know a local shortcut or want to route through a specific neighborhood. It does require a bit of precision on smaller screens, and the feature behaves slightly differently based on your app version and device screen size.

Note: This drag-to-change feature is primarily available when planning a route, not always reliably during active turn-by-turn navigation.

Method 4: Add Stops Along Your Route

Adding a waypoint is technically a form of route modification — and it's useful for multi-stop trips.

1. Start a route or enter your destination
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner
3. Select Add stop
4. Enter the address or place name for your stop
5. Reorder stops by dragging them if needed

You can add multiple stops, which is useful for road trips or errand runs. Google Maps will calculate the most efficient order, though you can manually rearrange stops to suit your preference.

Method 5: Change Route During Active Navigation

If you're already driving and want to switch routes or avoid something ahead:

1. Tap the search bar or pull up the navigation panel
2. Look for an alternate routes option if traffic conditions have changed — Google Maps may proactively suggest a faster route with a banner prompt
3. To avoid something immediately ahead, tap More (three dots) then Avoid tolls or Avoid highways mid-trip

Google Maps also offers a Re-route function that triggers automatically when it detects faster options. You can accept or dismiss these suggestions as they appear on screen.

Key Variables That Affect Your Experience

The route-changing process is consistent in principle, but several factors shape how smoothly it works in practice:

The Difference Between Planning and Active Navigation

It's worth separating two distinct scenarios, because the available tools differ:

When planning (before you leave): You have access to all methods — alternate route selection, route preferences, drag editing, and stop additions. This is where you have the most control.

During active navigation: Your options are more limited. You can accept suggested reroutes, avoid road types, and add stops, but manual drag editing is generally not supported mid-trip.

Knowing which phase of navigation you're in determines which tools are actually available to you. 🧭

Understanding Route Recalculation

Google Maps recalculates automatically if you deviate from the suggested route — which means even ignoring the app's directions is a form of route changing. If you take a different turn, the app will find a new path to your destination within seconds, assuming a data connection is available.

This recalculation uses the same algorithm that built the original route: distance, traffic conditions, road type, and any avoidance preferences you've set. The quality of that recalculation depends heavily on how current the traffic data is and how many alternative roads exist in your area.

How useful those options turn out to be in your specific region, on your device, and for your typical travel patterns is something only your real-world use will reveal. ✔️