Ever tried to plan a complex road trip and ended up screaming at your phone because the blue line kept resetting? You aren't alone. Most of us just want to hit the coffee shop, the gas station, and that weird roadside attraction featuring a giant ball of twine before hitting the hotel. Knowing how to add multiple stops on Google Maps is basically a survival skill in 2026. It’s not just about getting from A to B; it's about the chaos in between.
Google updated the interface recently, and while it's "cleaner," some of the features feel like they're playing hide-and-seek. If you’re staring at a single destination and wondering where the "plus" sign went, take a breath. It’s still there. Sorta.
The basic way to add multiple stops on Google Maps
Let's get the standard stuff out of the way first. You open the app. You type in your final destination—let's say it's a cabin in Big Sur. Once that route pops up, look at the top right. Those three little vertical dots? That's your gateway to sanity.
Tap them.
Select "Add stop." A new line appears. You can type in "Starbucks" or a specific address. The cool part is that you can actually click and drag the three lines next to the stop names to reorder them. If you realized you should probably get gas before you hit the mountain pass, just slide the gas station to the top. Google Maps automatically recalculates the ETA.
It’s worth noting that you're capped. You get ten stops. Including your starting point, that’s nine diversions. If you’re planning a 20-stop cross-country odyssey, Google Maps is going to fail you. You'll need to break it into "Leg 1" and "Leg 2." Honestly, it’s a weird limitation for a company with "infinite" data, but here we are.
Drag-and-drop on desktop vs mobile
Desktop is actually way easier for this. On a laptop, you just right-click anywhere on the map and hit "Add a destination." Or, you can literally grab the blue route line with your cursor and yank it toward a town you want to pass through.
Mobile doesn't let you "yank" the line. You have to be intentional. You have to search.
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Why your stops keep disappearing
This is the biggest gripe people have. You've spent twenty minutes meticulously mapping out a brewery tour. Then, you accidentally swipe the app closed or take a phone call, and—poof. Gone.
Google Maps doesn't natively "save" a multi-stop route as a single file very well in the mobile app. To prevent this heartache, use the Share directions to your phone feature if you're on a computer, or better yet, use the "Add to Home Screen" trick on Android.
If you are mid-route and need to add a stop on the fly, don't cancel your navigation. Use the magnifying glass icon while you're already in "Drive" mode. It lets you search for "Gas stations" or "Restaurants" along your current path. When you pick one, it asks "Add stop?" If you say yes, it sticks it in as a temporary detour without nuking your final destination.
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The CarPlay and Android Auto headache
If you're using a car display, things get clunky. You often can't add complex multi-stop routes directly on the car's touchscreen while moving—safety stuff, obviously. The pro tip here is to set up the entire route on your phone before you plug it into the USB port.
Advanced routing and the "Search Along Route" trick
Most people think you have to know exactly where you're going before you start. Not true. The "Search Along Route" function is the secret sauce for how to add multiple stops on Google Maps when you’re hungry but don't know what’s coming up in 50 miles.
- Start your navigation.
- Tap the magnifying glass.
- Select a category (like "Coffee").
- Look at the map. It will show you how many minutes each stop adds to your total trip.
This is huge. If one Taco Bell adds 2 minutes and another adds 15 because it's off the highway, you can make an informed choice for your stomach and your schedule.
Limitations of the 10-stop rule
I mentioned the 10-stop limit. It's annoying. For professional delivery drivers or hardcore road-trippers, this is usually the dealbreaker. If you hit that limit, your only real option is to save the locations to a "Want to Go" list (the little bookmark icon). Then, you have to manually pull them up as you finish each leg.
Using My Maps for the "Master Plan"
If you're an overachiever, stop using the standard Google Maps app for planning. Use Google My Maps (a separate web-based tool).
My Maps lets you create layers. You can color-code your stops. You can add descriptions and even custom icons. Once you build it on your desktop, you can open the regular Google Maps app on your phone, go to "Saved," then "Maps," and your custom masterpiece will overlay on the screen. It doesn't navigate stop-to-stop as smoothly as the main app, but for visualizing a 30-stop trip through the desert, nothing beats it.
Actionable steps for your next trip
To get the most out of your routing and avoid a navigation meltdown, follow this sequence:
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- Build on Desktop first: It's significantly faster to type and drag stops on a big screen. Send the final link to your phone via text or email.
- Check the "Arrive By" feature: If you have four stops and need to be at the final one by 7:00 PM, Google Maps on desktop lets you set a "Depart at" or "Arrive by" time to estimate traffic patterns.
- Download Offline Maps: If your multiple stops take you through national parks or rural areas, your phone will lose signal. If you lose signal, you can't add or change stops. Download the entire region for offline use before you leave the driveway.
- Use the "Share Trip Progress" button: Since you're hitting multiple spots, your ETA will constantly shift. Use the "Share trip progress" feature to send a live link to whoever is waiting for you at the end. It updates as you linger too long at that giant ball of twine.
By mastering these layers of the app, you stop being a slave to the blue line and start actually controlling your drive. Stop searching, start navigating.