How Do I Get Different Routes on Google Maps?
If you don’t like the route Google Maps has automatically chosen for you, you can easily change or alter the route. No matter why you want to change your route, you’ll find the options all in one place.
Another Way to Get Alternate Routes
If there’s a certain route you want to go, you can use the map within Google Maps to switch to it.
Using Alternate Route Options on Google Maps
There are four different route options you can choose from in the Google Maps settings: Avoid highways, Avoid tolls, Avoid ferries, and Prefer fuel-efficient routes. The Avoid highways option can be helpful if, for example, you’re carrying something in your car or just don’t want to go at high speeds. The Avoid tolls option has obvious perks, however, it may not always be possible to use if a toll road is the only way. If you don’t have this route option turned on, Google Maps will alert you when there are tolls along your route before you start. The Prefer fuel-efficient routes option will route your travel use the most fuel-efficient options available. If your route goes through a waterway crossing, turning on Avoid ferries can be helpful in case of road closures. At the bottom of the route options settings on iOS devices, you can also turn on Remember settings, which will keep these route settings on every time it calculates a new route.
Why Is Google Maps Not Showing Alternate Routes?
There could be a few reasons why turning on any of the avoidance options in Google Maps doesn’t change your route. First, an alternate route may not exist; the only way to get to your location may make it impossible to avoid, for example, a highway or a bridge. Or, the alternate route you want to take actually lengthens travel time significantly, so Google Maps doesn’t show it. You may also need to update the app in order for every feature to work properly. Look at the Google Maps app page on the iOS App Store or Android Google Play store to see if updates are available. Another option is to clear the cache stored from the app. You can do this in your mobile phone’s settings, going to Google Maps, and clearing the cache from there.
