How To Plan A Route With Multiple Stops In Apple Maps

Apple users have access to a powerful maps app called Apple Maps Route Planner. For years, people switched their smartphones to Google Maps or downloaded Waze because Apple’s route planner app wasn’t feature-rich or accurate.

Fast-forward to iOS 16 and 17, and there are a lot of new features being released in the Apple Maps app, including:

1. Offline GPS usage (a feature that Android users have enjoyed for a long time)
2. Real-time charging options for EVs instead of just gas station locations
3. In-house navigation app options to keep the top one-third of the screen useable

If you use Apple devices, it’s time to give the new route planner a try.

What is the Apple Maps Route Planner?

Apple Maps has its own route planner built into it that allows you to create a multi-stop route. The app works similarly to most other map applications, allowing you to:

• Choose a final destination
• Add stops in between the route
• Follow driving directions to each location (or other forms of transportation)

Delivery drivers can open Maps, plug in their delivery location, and plan routes ahead of time. Taking this approach can reduce travel times by choosing the best route based on time, potential weather issues, and more.

Is there a way to plan a route on Apple Maps?

Apple makes it intuitive for users to plan for an upcoming trip or delivery route. If you want to begin using the app for yourself, follow the steps below to create a single-destination route.

How to plan your route step-by-step 

The user experience and weather warnings on the route planner are some of the main reasons to give it a try. 

To help you understand how route planning works in Apple Maps, let's look at a recent trip I planned.

During my travels from a family’s house, I decided that I wanted to stop off in Asheville, NC for some delicious coffee and mountain views.

After all, what’s better than stopping for some coffee before heading home after a long car ride?

To plan this trip, let’s start by setting our preferences.

Step 1: Preferences

First things first, you’ll want to decide on the mode of transportation that you can take. Unfortunately, a train or bike would take too long for this trip. So, let’s choose drive. But in the app, you’ll find that while the default transportation mode is “Drive,” you can switch this to:

• Walk
• Transit
• Cycle
• Rideshare

When setting your preferences and choosing your transport mode, you’ll also see weather warnings, if any exist. It looks like during our trip, there’s potential for local flooding near the French Broad River.

Weather warnings like these can help you avoid potentially dangerous roadways.

With that in mind, let’s now choose a date and time for our trip. Next to the mode of transport button, tap “Now” and set a date and time for your trip using a nifty calculator

Alt text: iPhone screenshot with text: “Step 1b: Date and time preferences”

Finally, you’ll want to click on “Avoid” and toggle the following based on your preference:

• Avoid Tolls
• Avoid Highways

If you’re cycling, you can opt to avoid hills and busy roads. Transit transportation options can be checked off based on:

• Bus
• Subway & Light Rail
• Commuter Rail
• Ferry

Mac options will vary slightly from these because we are using the Maps app on a phone. However, the options are very easy to adjust on all devices.

Step 2: Create your route

You can now create a route by entering the desired location in the “Search Maps” field. You can use voice control for this entry, but let’s type in “coffee shops” and search for some near Asheville.

Next:

• Click the location
• Tap the “car” icon or your respective icon
• Adjust your starting destination, or “My Location,” if you want to start your trip right now
• Select the route that you prefer
• Click the “Go” button

You’ll notice next to the “Go” button, there’s a severe weather warning in Hendersonville, too. Luckily, the area doesn’t flood and would be a perfect stop off location for some coffee and snacks.

Once you tap “Go,” Apple Maps route planner will take care of the rest for you and help you reach your destination. Of course, you’ll want to add in your own points of interest and find exciting places along your route to stop.

How do I plan a route with multiple stops on Apple Maps?

You’ve created a simple plan, but you get into your car and realize you’ll need gas along the way. Apple makes it easy to “Add Stop” to your plan. Simply go to “Directions” and click “Add Stop.”

Type in “gas stations,” and click on one that is on the way to the coffee shop. Tap “Add.”

Now, you’ll notice that the stop was added at the end of your trip, but you can easily tap, hold, and drag the stops around to create a route that makes more sense to you.

In this case, we’ll need gas before reaching the coffee shop.

Once you have a logical plan in place, you can hit “Go” and begin your journey.

How Apple Maps has changed 

Apple Maps was, for lack of a better word, abandoned or at least struggled to compete with Google Maps until 2020, when a complete overhaul was released. Updates have been progressively released and include changes like:

• Details for locations for pools, parks, and more
• Look Around, which aims to mimic Street View, although this is only available in select locations
• GPS offline mode on the iPhone (when compatible)
• Real-time charging options for EV owners
• Business photo additions
• Detailed business information

Maps continues to add features and is on par with Google Maps for the first time in a long time.

When to use Apple Maps vs. Google Maps

The Apple Maps route planner and Google Maps route planner are your two main options for accurate directions on your phone if you’re looking for a free app. Of course, route optimization for businesses isn’t really the intention of these platforms. But both are great options for general navigation.

So, when should you use Apple or Google for maps?

• Privacy - Apple takes a privacy-centric approach
• UI - Apple’s interface is generally better and easier to read
• Accuracy - Google seems to have the edge here
• Traffic - Google is generally better

Apple’s advancements in recent years have helped it move closer to Google Maps, but try both out for yourself to see which one you prefer. Both solutions will help you get to your destination and allow you to begin planning a trip.

Using Apple Maps for delivery routes - pros and cons

Apple Maps is a great tool for navigation, and many businesses use it to plan their delivery routes. While there are advantages to taking this approach, there are some drawbacks that need to be considered.

Pros

• Convenient. Apple Maps is free and easy to use on iOS devices.
• Flexible planning. Adding multiple stops to a route is simple and straightforward.
• Live traffic and weather updates. Drivers will know what to expect while on their route.

Cons

• It’s not designed for delivery route planning. 
• There’s no simple way to optimize your routes.

The difference between route planning and route optimization

For some businesses, Apple Maps can be a convenient tool for planning delivery routes. But what about optimization?

There’s a difference between route planning and optimization.

• Route planning is all about finding the shortest route to your destination.
• Optimization is all about finding the shortest and most cost-efficient route.

Optimization factors in:

• The number and location of the stops on your route
• Time windows for deliveries
• Real-world needs
• Constraints

In other words, an optimized route will get you where you need to go as quickly as possible and in a way that makes sense to delivery drivers.

Finding the most efficient route will help:

• Lower costs
• Reduce wear and tear on your vehicles
• Improve profitability

Apple Maps is excellent for navigation but can’t optimize your routes. It’s designed only to find the shortest route to your destination. 

While we love free tools at Routific, we also know that planning and optimizing routes shouldn’t be a hassle. 

Routific can do all of the heavy lifting for you. Our optimization algorithms can improve route efficiency by up to 15% or more.

Greater efficiency leads to savings on things like fuel. For example, with the help of Routific, Terra Firma Farm is saving 35% on fuel costs.

The great news is that Routific is free to try for 7 days, so you can take our tool for a test drive to see how much your routes can be improved.