Getting lost on a run is a great way to screw up a good workout. Trust me, I know — there is nothing like coming around a corner and finding a dead end, a river without a bridge, or a highway that just isn’t crossable. As a professional running coach, I’ve learned that all these situations can be avoided if I use a route planning app to map out my course before I set out.
Having a reliable and easy-to-use running route creator is the key to creating safe, interesting new routes, whether you’re looking for a new 5k road route in your neighborhood or a trail in a city you’re unfamiliar with. Knowing the details of your course, including the distance, elevation profile, and surface type, can help you be as prepared as possible for whatever might come your way. Using an app designed for runners is imperative so you don't find yourself running along a busy highway or somewhere else unsafe. Most apps also allow you to share the route with others to let someone know where you plan to run.
Below are some of the most popular options for creating new routes. As a runner and a coach, I have not only personally tried all of the following apps to create new courses, but I also recommend some of the best ones to the athletes I coach. All the listed apps are available in the App Store for iPhones (iOS) and the Google Play Store on Android devices.
Strava
If you are already a runner, there is a good chance that you already use Strava. Their a built-in route builder is easy to use and gives you access to heat maps, allowing you to see existing routes where others are running the most often. This is an excellent tool if you are traveling somewhere new and want to find the most popular running routes.
One of the great features of Strava’s route planner is the ability to create your route, or just tell the app how far you want to run and on what surface. Strava will then give you different route options based on your input.
As the route builder is a premium-only feature, you do have to sign up for a Strava membership to access it. The current price for a yearly subscription is $99.99 per year, making it the most expensive option on the list. Although expensive, it comes with many other features to help justify the cost, including built-in training plans. If you are looking for a route builder and a run tracker with complete statistics, Strava is likely the app you are looking for.
Komoot
Komoot is a route-planning app that started with mountain biking and cycle routes but has since evolved into a running route planner as well. One of the best features of Komoot is that routes can be uploaded directly to the most popular sports watch brands. This way, you don’t need to keep checking your phone to see your route, although this feature does require a premium subscription.
Komoot’s maps are highly detailed, with extensive information about each route. It even gives a breakdown of the different running surfaces, and how much of each type there is. Komoot also gives fitness level and technical ability rankings, so you can decide if a trail is too advanced for your skill level.
While it does require a subscription service to unlock most of the features, at $59.99 per year, it is not the most expensive option, especially considering the features included in the app.
Garmin Connect
Garmin Connect is the application that Garmin watches sync to, and built right into it is a fairly intuitive route builder. Since it is incorporated into the app, any routes created are uploaded as a GPX file straight to your Garmin watch without downloading and installing files. The simplicity of uploading maps and the ease of creating new routes make this one of the most popular route creators (and my favorite).
One of the best features is that there’s no monthly or yearly charge to use Garmin Connect. If you own a Garmin watch, the app (and all its features) are free to use.
The one knock that Garmin Connect gets against it is that its route builder is pretty hidden in the app, so much so that many Garmin users don’t even know it exists. To find it, open the Connect app, click More, and then Training and Planning. From there, select Courses, and then to create a new course, click on the “+” in the top right corner. It will then allow you to create an on or off-road course using custom plotting or selecting a single starting point and letting Connect do the rest. It will then save your newly created route, at which point Connect can upload it straight to your Garmin watch.
Footpath
Footpath is widely considered one of the easiest route makers to use. The app allows you to drag your finger in the area you want to run, and it will automatically highlight the best route via trails and roads. It also lets you download maps you’ve created for offline use to use in areas with little or no cell service. If you have an Apple Watch, you can not only access your routes via an app, but it will also give you turn-by-turn directions. Maps can also be uploaded to most other brands of fitness watches as well.
You can try Footpath out for free with some basic features, but you need a Footpath Elite account to export routes to your device. Plans are $30.99 per year, which gets you a lot of extra features, including topographical maps and the ability to save unlimited routes. If you are looking for a quick, simple way to find a new running route, Footpath could be the perfect app for you.
AllTrails
AllTrails is different because it gives you user-uploaded pictures of the trails and user reviews. This lets you know exactly what is in store for you at any trail, rather than just telling you how long the trail is. There are existing trails of all kinds, from National and Provincial parks to small, unmaintained trails.
To unlock all the features available in AllTrails does require a subscription to their premium service, AllTrails+. With AllTrails+, you get all sorts of extra features, including more detailed maps, no ads, 3D flyovers of the trail, and the ability to save and even print maps. At $35.99 per year, it is one of the cheaper options on the list, especially considering its features.
MapMyRun
MapMyRun is the official app of Under Armour shoes, which can sync with some of their shoes via Bluetooth. It also features a route builder, although routes can only be created using a web browser and then uploaded to your phone. The route creator is simple and easy to use, with features like a quick out and back selector or the ability to have it auto-select the closest road to the points you pick. One of the other great features is easily printing maps directly from the route creator, complete with an elevation chart.
There is a yearly charge for MapMyRun MVP, their premium service. It is priced at $37.99 per year, and while it is more affordable than others, it doesn’t have as many features as some other route creators. Adding the ability to create routes on the app would be a welcome feature in the future.
PlotARoute
PlotARoute takes a simpler approach to creating routes than some of the more technical apps. There are a few different ways to find a new route on PlotARoute. As with most route creators, a point-and-click option allows you to create the entire route step by step. Another option is to tell it how far you want to run, and it will create a custom route for you. The third option is choosing waypoints, at which point PlotARoute will create a route between them all.
While some features are available for free, most of the features are only available to premium users. A subscription costs $36.99 per year, but the price is well justified considering how many extra features it comes with. The ability to create routes quickly and with limited input makes the subscription price worthwhile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different route types?
There are various kinds of running routes, each with its own distinct characteristics. The most popular types of running routes include:
Loop — A loop route is a route that begins and ends in the same spot and takes a different way back, meaning you never have to retrace your steps. Running around the block would be considered a loop.
Out and Back — An out-and-back route is one where you run to the halfway point, then turn around and retrace your steps back to where you began.
Lollipop — A lollipop is similar to an out-and-back, except that before turning around and heading back to the start, you add a loop of some kind first.
Point to Point — A point-to-point route is a bit less common, as it requires you to return to the starting point by some means other than running. Some famous races, such as the Boston Marathon, are a point-to-point course.
Figure-8 — A figure-8 loop is essentially two looped routes joined together.
What is a good running route?
As every runner has their own preferences, the definition of a good running route can vary. Nonetheless, a good route would keep you in safe areas on surfaces you find suitable for running and cover the distance you intend to run during the workout. It will also generally have a starting point and end point that is easily accessible and convenient.
What are the benefits of running?
Running provides many advantages, such as losing weight, enhancing cardiovascular health, boosting lung capacity, and strengthening bones. It also lowers the likelihood of developing chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Running also contributes to better mental health by reducing stress and anxiety levels and improving the quality of your sleep.
What are the best running routes in my area?
When it comes to finding the best running routes, Strava and AllTrails are the top contenders. Strava's heat maps offer a comprehensive view of the most frequently used routes in a given area. AllTrails, on the other hand, provides user reviews and ratings for each route, making it easier to find the best ones.
What is the best way to plan a running route?
The best way to plan a new route depends on the runner. Some runners are very particular about where they run and need to know all the details and directions before they start. In contrast, other runners prefer simple directions as they are more concerned with the mileage covered than anything else.
These two types of runners are likely to create routes very differently. The detail-oriented runner prefers an app like Komoot, while the other runner prefers Footpath's speed and simplicity. It comes down to personal preference, so trying a few different apps to see which works best for you is a good idea.
Can you plan a running route on Google Maps?
Creating a running route on Google Maps is completely viable, but it isn’t necessarily the best tool for the job. Since it wasn’t designed to create running routes, it can fall a little short in that area. While it will give you the overall mileage of a route you create, it doesn’t provide much more information for a runner, such as elevation profiles or surface types. It can also sometimes give some unsafe directions to runners, even when you tell it you are a pedestrian instead of a car. Google Maps also does not support exporting files to running watches of any brand.
How To Use Google Maps Trip Planner (2024)
7 Best Free Route Planners in 2024
