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Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone

Sep 28, 2022 09:47 PM
Sep 28, 2022 09:52 PM
Map interface displaying directions and locations on a smartphone.

One thing Apple Maps always lacked was the ability to add stops along a route while planning a trip. Navigation would help you travel from the beginning location to the final destination, and the only places you could add between that were pit stops like banks and ATMs, coffee shops, convenience stores, eateries, fast food, gas stations, and parking lots. That all changes in Apple Maps' latest update.

With iOS 16, you finally have tools for multi-stop trip planning, so you can create multiple stops along your route when planning out your trip — and they can be for any location, not just pit stops. It's much more efficient than getting separate sets of directions for each leg of the trip. It's even easier now to make changes to routed trips during navigation.

Get Directions for Your First Location

Locate the first stop along the route that you plan on taking, then ask for directions to it like you would on iOS 15 and older. It's easier to add the first planned stop first since Maps will make it the second stop after your starting point.

Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Map screenshot showing driving directions from one location to another with estimated travel time.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Map screenshot showing driving directions from one location to another with estimated travel time.

You could choose your final destination or any other spot you want to add to your trip, but you may need to reorder the route (see step 4 below) after adding a third location. Otherwise, Maps may not show any directions.

For example, if your final destination is 1,500 miles away, then you add a stop that's close to your current location, Maps will likely tell you that directions are not available between all of the chosen areas. Reordering the trip should help in that case.

Map showing driving directions and locations in the northeastern United States.
Map showing directions from Thaysville, MD to Apple Valley and Howard Wing Brewery.
Map showing driving directions and locations in the northeastern United States.
Map showing directions from Thaysville, MD to Apple Valley and Howard Wing Brewery.

Change the Starting Point if Necessary

Your starting point will default to your current location, but you can tap "My Location" to search for and select a different starting point. You could also add another stop to be your starting point, delete "My Location," and then move the actual starting point to the top of the list — more on some of that in a bit.

Directions displayed on a mobile map application.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Map showing driving directions from Columbus, GA to Destin, FL.
Directions displayed on a mobile map application.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Map showing driving directions from Columbus, GA to Destin, FL.

Add Stops Along Your Route

To add a stop to any point on the route, whether between or outside your current planned locations, tap "Add Stop" from the list, then search for and select the wanted location.

Directions displayed on a smartphone map application.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Map displaying driving directions from Columbus, Ohio to Indiana Dunes National Park.
Directions displayed on a smartphone map application.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Map displaying driving directions from Columbus, Ohio to Indiana Dunes National Park.

If you're trying to find a pit stop like a FedEx, Mediterranean restaurant, or park, you can search by those terms and select the location you want from the map. When you choose a place, hit "Add Stop" from its details card or "Add" from the list view. Alternatively, you can tap a location on the map without using the search tool, then tap "Add Stop" from its details.

Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Map overview displaying Mecca Restaurant with contact information and navigation options.
Map view showing locations with navigation details and an expanded list of places.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Map overview displaying Mecca Restaurant with contact information and navigation options.
Map view showing locations with navigation details and an expanded list of places.

You can add up to 13 stops along your route for a total of up to 15 locations when counting your starting and ending point. When you add five or more total locations, Maps will combine the middle stops into a section that says "[#] stops." Tapping that will expand all the hidden destinations.

Tapping the collapse button (the pill-shaped pull handle) or swiping the window down a tad will take you back to the minimized view.

Directions from Columbus, OH to a destination, showing travel time and route on a map.
Directions from Columbus, OH to various locations with estimated travel time.
Directions from Columbus, OH to a destination, showing travel time and route on a map.
Directions from Columbus, OH to various locations with estimated travel time.

Reorder the Stops if Necessary

If you need to change the order of the stops, including the starting and ending points, tap and hold the three bars to the right of the location, then drag and drop it to a new spot on the list.

List of directions with highlighted location.
Directions list with various locations and points of interest.
Directions list featuring various locations and points of interest.
List of directions with highlighted location.
Directions list with various locations and points of interest.
Directions list featuring various locations and points of interest.

Delete Stops if Necessary

When you no longer want to visit a stop along your route, it's easy to delete it from your planned trip. From the ordered list, find the stop you want to ditch. Then, short-swipe it left and hit "Delete," long-swipe it left until it disappears off-screen, or long-press it and choose "Delete" from the quick actions.

Directions list with various locations and establishments.
Directions list with locations and route options.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Directions list with various locations and establishments.
Directions list with locations and route options.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone

Swap Out Stops if Necessary

Instead of deleting stops you don't want to visit and adding new stops, you can simply tap a place, then find and select a new location from the search tool.

Directions list featuring multiple locations, with a highlighted entry for "Zufrin, Colorado."
Search bar displaying 'Georgetown, CO' with an arrow pointing to the selection.
Directions list with multiple locations and estimated travel time.
Directions list featuring multiple locations, with a highlighted entry for "Zufrin, Colorado."
Search bar displaying 'Georgetown, CO' with an arrow pointing to the selection.
Directions list with multiple locations and estimated travel time.

Start Your Planned Trip

When ready, you can start your trip. You can tap "Avoid" and choose to keep tolls and highways out of your directions, or "Now" to set a leaving or arrival time which helps give a more accurate total time for the trip based on traffic patterns throughout the day. Finally, tap the "GO" button next to the route you want to take if you see multiple options.

Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Date and time selection interface for September 2023.
Directions with estimated travel time and location details.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Date and time selection interface for September 2023.
Directions with estimated travel time and location details.

Delete Stops During Navigation if Necessary

When you no longer want to visit a stop along your route after navigation starts, tap the route card at the bottom, then tap the minus (–) sign next to the place you want to delete.

Navigation map indicating route details and directions.
List of next travel stops with emphasis on 'Micaela Restaurant' marked for attention.
List of parks and restaurants in Apple Park.
Navigation map indicating route details and directions.
List of next travel stops with emphasis on 'Micaela Restaurant' marked for attention.
List of parks and restaurants in Apple Park.

Add Stops During Navigation if Necessary

Like before, you can still add stops after driving directions have started. Tap the route card at the bottom, then hit the "Add Stop" button. As on iOS 15 and older, you can choose from any of the categories — banks and ATMs, coffee shops, convenience stores, eateries, fast food, gas stations, or parking lots — to find and select a stop. But now, you can also search for and pick a specific spot not in any of those categories.

Whatever you choose as a stop will be the next destination on the route. You can't reorder stops during navigation, so only add stops this way when you know it'll be the next stop on your trip.

Next stop options for a travel app, including Badlands National Park, Canyon Valley National Park, Sun Lake Cliffs, Apple Park, and an Add Stop feature.
Add stop options in a mobile app, including food, gas stations, coffee shops, and convenience stores.
Restaurant list with delivery times, highlighting "Sushi Maki."
Next stop options for a travel app, including Badlands National Park, Canyon Valley National Park, Sun Lake Cliffs, Apple Park, and an Add Stop feature.
Add stop options in a mobile app, including food, gas stations, coffee shops, and convenience stores.
Restaurant list with delivery times, highlighting "Sushi Maki."

You can also ask Siri to add a stop. Tap the plus (+) icon on the correct spot it finds, then "Add Stop" when the location's card appears in Maps.

Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Navigation interface showing directions to Shoregate Town Center with distance details.
Your Complete Guide to Planning Multi-Stop Trips in Apple Maps on Your iPhone
Navigation interface showing directions to Shoregate Town Center with distance details.

Cover photo by Daniel Hipskind/Gadget Hacks; screenshots by Justin Meyers/Gadget Hacks

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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