{"id":122541,"date":"2025-12-09T11:53:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T10:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/?p=122541"},"modified":"2026-01-13T09:51:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T08:51:25","slug":"route-optimization-google-maps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/","title":{"rendered":"Route Optimization with Google Maps: What Is Possible in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1735829915094{margin-top: 50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243; el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;10\/12&#8243;][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_row-2&#8243;][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;10\/12&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1765201754993{margin-top: 5px !important;}&#8221;]<a style=\"text-decoration: none; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 500;\" href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/blog\/\">Blog<\/a> &gt; <span style=\"color: #5d75e7; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 500;\">Route optimisation<\/span>\u00a0&gt; <span style=\"color: #a7a7a7; font-size: 18px;\">Route Optimization with Google Maps: What Is Possible in 2026<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<h1>Route Optimization with Google Maps: What Is Possible in 2026<\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n<p class=\"text-head\" style=\"color: #424762; font-size: 16px;\">Published on <span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">9 December 2025<\/span> <span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"> \u2022 Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 12<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-122557\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-1.jpg 1629w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-1-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-1-1024x542.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-1-768x406.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-1-1536x813.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-1-142x75.jpg 142w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-1-700x370.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221; width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_row-2&#8243;][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221; width=&#8221;2\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;8\/12&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Today, with the rise of deliveries and in-home services, properly organizing routes has become essential. Driving fewer kilometers, arriving on time to customers, and handling more requests each day all depend primarily on efficient route planning.<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, many professionals start with a tool they already know: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>Google Maps<\/u><\/strong><\/a>. Simple, free, and accessible, it provides a quick way to create a route. But is it truly suitable for professional use? Can we really talk about <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/what-is-route-optimisation\/\"><strong><u>route optimization<\/u><\/strong><\/a> with Google Maps?<\/p>\n<p>In this complete guide, updated for 2026, we will:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist-3\">\n<li><a href=\"#google-maps-for-route-optimization-what-the-tool-can-actually-do\"><u>explain what Google Maps can do (and cannot do),<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#step-by-step-guide-how-to-optimize-your-routes-with-google-maps\"><u>provide a step-by-step guide to optimizing a route with this tool,<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#the-limitations-of-google-maps-for-professional-use\"><u>show its limitations for professional use,<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#concrete-example-why-google-maps-is-sufficient-for-5-stops-but-not-for-25\"><u>illustrate potential gains with concrete examples,<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#google-maps-vs-optimization-software-the-2026-comparison\"><u>compare Google Maps with optimization software,<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#when-should-you-switch-to-optimization-software\"><u>answer the question: when should you switch to an optimization solution?<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"summary-block\">\n<p>&#x261d;&#xfe0f; <span style=\"font-size: 24px;\"><strong>Key takeaways<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li><strong>Google Maps remains suitable for small routes<\/strong>, up to 10 stops, with reliable navigation and very accurate traffic data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No automatic optimization in 2026<\/strong>: the order of stops must be organized manually, with no handling of business constraints (time windows, durations, capacities, etc.).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dedicated software becomes necessary once you reach around ten stops, if you have multiple vehicles, or if you are dealing with complex constraints.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"google-maps-for-route-optimization-what-the-tool-can-actually-do\"><span id=\"Google_Maps_for_Route_Optimization_What_the_Tool_Can_Actually_Do\">Google Maps for Route Optimization: What the Tool Can Actually Do<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s start with the positive: Google Maps remains one of the best navigation tools in the world. For a simple route, meaning a few addresses, one driver, and no constraints, the tool can be sufficient.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122569\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122569\" class=\"wp-image-122569\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-3.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic of the main features of Google Maps: navigation with traffic data, 10 stops, and fast calculation of the best route on the map.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-3.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-3-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-3-1024x416.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-3-768x312.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-3-1536x623.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-3-150x61.jpg 150w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-3-700x284.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122569\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Google Maps: the main features of the tool.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>What Google Maps does very well:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li><strong>Accurate navigation<\/strong> with real-time traffic data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Up to 9 stops<\/strong> in addition to the starting point.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fast calculation<\/strong> of the best route between two points.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Easy sharing<\/strong> of the itinerary with a driver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clear geographic view<\/strong> thanks to the map.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For a route with 5 to 10 stops, the tool can work perfectly well. But as soon as you move to a more professional volume, the limitations appear very quickly.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"step-by-step-guide-how-to-optimize-your-routes-with-google-maps\"><span id=\"Step-by-Step_Guide_How_to_Optimize_Your_Routes_with_Google_Maps\">Step-by-Step Guide: How to Optimize Your Routes with Google Maps<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Even though Google Maps is not an optimization tool, you can still get the most out of it with careful organization. Here is an 8-step practical guide.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122575\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122575\" class=\"wp-image-122575\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-4.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic showing the steps to optimize routes with Google Maps: preparing the address list, cleaning the addresses, grouping addresses by route, creating the multi-stop itinerary, etc.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"906\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-4.jpg 1990w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-4-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-4-1024x580.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-4-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-4-1536x870.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-4-132x75.jpg 132w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-4-700x396.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122575\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Step-by-step guide: how to optimize your routes with Google Maps.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"Step_1_Prepare_the_address_list\">Step 1: Prepare the address list<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Before even opening Google Maps:<\/p>\n<ol id=\"imglist-3\">\n<li>Gather all the addresses in a file.<\/li>\n<li>Check their accuracy (number, street, postal code).<\/li>\n<li>Note any constraints: opening hours, preferred time windows, service duration, useful comments.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Good to know: The more accurate your data is, the smoother your route will be.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Step_2_Clean_the_addresses\">Step 2: \u201cClean\u201d the addresses<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google Maps interprets addresses correctly, but they need to be complete and clear.<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>Use the full address rather than just a company name.<\/li>\n<li>Check Google Maps&#8217; suggestions to avoid incorrect location matching.<\/li>\n<li>Fix duplicates and typographical errors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"Step_3_Group_the_addresses_by_route\">Step 3: Group the addresses by route<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google Maps limits routes to a <strong>maximum of 10 stops<\/strong>. If you have:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>20 stops, you will need to prepare two routes of 10 points each.<\/li>\n<li>Several drivers, you will need to assign a geographic area to each one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span id=\"Step_4_Create_the_multi-stop_route_in_Google_Maps\">Step 4: Create the multi-stop route in Google Maps<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For example, from a computer:<\/p>\n<ol id=\"imglist-3\">\n<li>Open <strong>Google Maps<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>Directions<\/strong> icon.<\/li>\n<li>Enter your <strong>starting point<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Add your <strong>first destination address<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click the \u201c<strong>+ Add destination<\/strong>\u201d button to add a second address.<\/li>\n<li>Repeat until you reach 9 stops (in addition to the starting point).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The route appears instantly on the map.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122581\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122581\" class=\"wp-image-122581\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-11.jpg\" alt=\"The Google Maps interface displaying the different steps involved in creating a route with multiple stops, represented by blue circles numbered according to the order of the stops.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-11.jpg 1946w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-11-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-11-1024x601.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-11-768x451.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-11-1536x902.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-11-128x75.jpg 128w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-11-700x411.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122581\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creating a multi-stop route on Google Maps.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"Step_5_Reorder_the_stops\">Step 5: Reorder the stops<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google Maps does not reorganize your route automatically.<br \/>\nYou must therefore adjust the order manually:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>Hold an address and drag it up or down.<\/li>\n<li>Observe the impact on total time and distance.<\/li>\n<li>Try to follow a circular route logic or a zone-based sequence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is a bit \u201chands-on\u201d, but essential to avoid unnecessary detours.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122587\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122587\" class=\"wp-image-122587\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-12.jpg\" alt=\"The Google Maps interface showing the reordering of stops in a route in London.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-12.jpg 1946w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-12-300x90.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-12-1024x308.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-12-768x231.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-12-1536x463.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-12-150x45.jpg 150w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-12-700x211.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Reordering the stops on Google Maps.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"Step_6_Send_the_route_to_the_driver\">Step 6: Send the route to the driver<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Once the route is defined:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>Click on Copy link.<\/li>\n<li>Send it by SMS, WhatsApp, or email.<\/li>\n<li>The driver can open the route directly in the Google Maps app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&#x261d;&#xfe0f; Good to know: If you are completing the route yourself, you can simply click \u201cSend directions to your phone\u201d.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122593\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122593\" class=\"wp-image-122593\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-13.jpg\" alt=\"The Google Maps interface showing the sharing of a route in London.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"636\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-13.jpg 1946w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-13-300x119.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-13-1024x407.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-13-768x305.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-13-1536x610.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-13-150x60.jpg 150w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-13-700x278.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122593\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sharing a Google Maps route.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"Step_7_Adjust_during_the_day\">Step 7: Adjust during the day<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If something unexpected happens (for example: delay, cancellation, new address), the driver can:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>add a destination manually,<\/li>\n<li>skip a stop,<\/li>\n<li>restart navigation to the next stop.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This works as a quick fix, but it will never recalculate the full route.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Step_8_Evaluate_your_limits\">Step 8: Evaluate your limits<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After a few days, ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>Do you spend more than <strong>20 minutes<\/strong> preparing your routes?<\/li>\n<li>Do you often exceed <strong>10 stops<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>Do you manage <strong>multiple drivers<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have <strong>time windows<\/strong> or <strong>industry-specific constraints<\/strong> (multiple returns to the depot, load capacities, etc.)?<\/li>\n<li>Would you like to reduce your mileage and better meet your customers&#8217; expectations?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If the answer is yes, Google Maps has reached its limits for your activity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"summary-block\">\n<p>&#x261d;&#xfe0f; <strong>Good to know<\/strong>: Creating a route with 10 stops from the Google Maps mobile app is also very simple.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Here are the steps:<\/p>\n<ol id=\"imglist-3\">\n<li>Open the Google Maps app.<\/li>\n<li>Tap the \u201c<strong>Directions<\/strong>\u201d icon at the bottom right of the map.<\/li>\n<li>Select your starting point (by default, your current location, but you can enter another address).<\/li>\n<li>Add a first destination.<\/li>\n<li>Tap \u201c<strong>\u2026<\/strong>\u201d then \u201c<strong>Edit stops<\/strong>\u201d.<\/li>\n<li>Add your different stops until you reach the 10-stop limit.<\/li>\n<li>Reorder the stops by holding your finger on a line and dragging it to the desired position.<\/li>\n<li>Once the route is set, tap \u201c<strong>Done<\/strong>.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Start navigation by tapping \u201c<strong>Preview<\/strong>.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: These are the steps to follow on an iPhone. On Android, the name and placement of some buttons may vary slightly.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-limitations-of-google-maps-for-professional-use\"><span id=\"The_limitations_of_Google_Maps_for_professional_use\">The limitations of Google Maps for professional use<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Google Maps is an excellent tool for finding an address and navigating from point A to point B. For personal use, it works perfectly well.<br \/>\nHowever, as soon as we talk about professional activity, with dozens of clients, multiple vehicles, and time constraints, its limitations become clear very quickly.<br \/>\nHere are the main ones.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122599\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122599\" class=\"wp-image-122599\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-5.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic showing the limitations of route optimization with Google Maps: limited to 10 stops, no automatic optimization, and no management of business constraints.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-5.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-5-300x112.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-5-1024x381.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-5-768x286.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-5-1536x572.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-5-150x56.jpg 150w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-5-700x260.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122599\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The limitations of route optimization with Google Maps.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"1_Route_limited_to_10_stops\">1. Route limited to 10 stops<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This is often the first frustration for businesses: in Google Maps, you cannot add more than <strong>9 stops<\/strong> in addition to the starting point.<\/p>\n<p>In practical terms, this means that:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>a route with 15 to 20 customers must be <strong>split into several routes<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li>a driver has to switch between <strong>2 or 3 different links<\/strong> during the day,<\/li>\n<li>you lose <strong>track of the overall route<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li>you increase the risk of forgetting a stop or creating duplicates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For activities such as last-mile delivery, maintenance routes, or on-site collection, you quickly exceed these 10 stops. Google Maps&#8217; limit then forces you to improvise, which wastes time for both the planner and the driver.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"2_No_automatic_optimization_of_the_stop_order\">2. No automatic optimization of the stop order<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Even with only 10 stops, Google Maps simply proposes the route in the <strong>order in which you entered the addresses<\/strong>.<br \/>\nIt does not attempt to find the best way to sequence the stops.<\/p>\n<p>In practice, this means the tool does not help you reduce:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>the <strong>distance<\/strong> traveled,<\/li>\n<li>the total <strong>driving time<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li><strong>fuel costs<\/strong> and vehicle wear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In a business context, the <strong>order of stops<\/strong> is not a minor detail. A poorly organized route can easily add 10, 20, or even 30% more distance, which means additional time and costs.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122605\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122605\" class=\"wp-image-122605\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic showing that Google Maps does not optimize the order of stops. A map displays a route connecting points in the order entered by the user, without searching for the best path.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6-133x75.jpg 133w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-6-700x394.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122605\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Google Maps does not optimize the stop order of a route.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>As a result:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>you consume more fuel than necessary,<\/li>\n<li>drivers spend more time on the road than with customers,<\/li>\n<li>you can handle fewer requests in a single day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Without automatic optimization, every route depends on the planner&#8217;s \u201ccommon sense\u201d, with all the limitations that this implies.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"3_No_management_of_business-specific_constraints\">3. No management of business-specific constraints<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A professional route is not just a list of addresses. It involves constraints, sometimes very strict, that must be respected.<br \/>\nHowever, Google Maps is completely unable to manage:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>customer <strong>availability time windows<\/strong> (for example: 09:00\u201311:00 or 16:00\u201317:00),<\/li>\n<li>service or appointment <strong>durations<\/strong> (20 min, 45 min, 1h30\u2026),<\/li>\n<li>technician <strong>skills<\/strong> (e.g., certain tasks can only be performed by specific profiles),<\/li>\n<li>vehicle <strong>loading capacities<\/strong> (volume, weight, parcels, type of products),<\/li>\n<li><strong>multi-driver<\/strong> distribution across a service area,,<\/li>\n<li><strong>zones to avoid<\/strong> (hard-to-access city centers, restricted roads, toll roads, etc.),<\/li>\n<li><strong>customer priorities<\/strong> (urgent tasks, contractual SLAs with required visit frequencies\u2026).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_122611\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122611\" class=\"wp-image-122611\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-7.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic showing that Google Maps does not handle business constraints: customer availability time windows, technician skills, multi-driver distribution, customer priorities, etc.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"765\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-7.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-7-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-7-1024x489.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-7-768x367.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-7-1536x734.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-7-150x72.jpg 150w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-7-700x335.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122611\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Google Maps does not handle business constraints.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In Google Maps, all stops are essentially treated as \u201cequal.\u201d However, for a professional, this is simply not the case.<br \/>\nAs a result:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>you risk <strong>missing time windows<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li>some customers are served too early or too late,<\/li>\n<li>certain technicians end up overloaded while others have gaps in their schedule,<\/li>\n<li>vehicles may be underloaded (or overloaded).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Over the course of a day, this leads to delays, stress, calls to customer service, and sometimes penalties or lost clients.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"4_A_fully_manual_distribution_between_multiple_drivers\">4. A fully manual distribution between multiple drivers<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As soon as you have <strong>more than one vehicle<\/strong> in the field, the complexity increases. With Google Maps, to organize routes for 3, 5, or 10 drivers, you must:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>manually split the list of addresses for each person,<\/li>\n<li>try to create balanced groups based on intuition,<\/li>\n<li>create a separate route for each driver,<\/li>\n<li>manually send a different link to each one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There is <strong>no automatic calculation<\/strong> to:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>distribute the workload fairly among drivers,<\/li>\n<li>reduce the number of kilometers for each route,<\/li>\n<li>take into account each driver\u2019s start and end points for the day,<\/li>\n<li>adjust routes in case of absences or overload.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_122617\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122617\" class=\"wp-image-122617\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-9.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic showing how to organize routes for three drivers using Google Maps.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"762\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-9.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-9-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-9-1024x488.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-9-768x366.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-9-1536x732.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-9-150x71.jpg 150w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-9-700x333.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122617\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Organizing 3 routes on Google Maps.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>As a result:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>the person in charge of planning may spend <strong>30 minutes or even more than an hour<\/strong> each day \u201cpatching together\u201d routes,<\/li>\n<li>the distribution remains approximate: some drivers finish very late while others finish earlier,<\/li>\n<li>as soon as an unexpected event occurs, everything has to be revised manually.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On a weekly or monthly scale, this represents a significant amount of wasted time and rising costs.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"5_No_performance_indicators_to_help_you_improve\">5. No performance indicators to help you improve<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google Maps focuses on navigation, not on managing your operations.<br \/>\nThe tool does not provide:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>the <strong>total mileage<\/strong> of a route,<\/li>\n<li>the <strong>total time spent on the road<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li>the <strong>time spent with customers<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li>the <strong>potential savings<\/strong> if the route were better organized,<\/li>\n<li>the <strong>CO2 emissions<\/strong> associated with the trips,<\/li>\n<li>the on-time vs. late <strong>service rate<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li>comparisons between planned and completed routes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Without this information, it becomes very difficult to identify the most costly routes, measure the impact of organizational changes, or track your objectives (for example: reducing mileage by 15% in one year).<\/p>\n<p>In summary: with Google Maps, you can \u201crun\u201d your teams, but you cannot precisely manage your operations or implement a continuous improvement process.<\/p>\n<p>&#x261d;&#xfe0f; <strong>Good to know<\/strong> : <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mymaps.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>Google My Maps<\/u><\/a> is not an optimization solution<\/strong>.<br \/>\nLike many professionals, you may have discovered Google My Maps only recently. It is an extension of Google that allows you to create custom maps. The tool can indeed be useful for:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>importing a list of addresses,<\/li>\n<li>displaying points on a map,<\/li>\n<li>creating zones or grouping customers by color,<\/li>\n<li>sharing a map with a team.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But be careful: Google My Maps is not designed to optimize a route.<br \/>\nIt offers <strong>no automatic optimization<\/strong>, no smart reorganization of stops, and no management of professional constraints. The routes you create in My Maps are ultimately sent to Google Maps, which remains limited to 10 stops and subject to all the restrictions mentioned earlier in the article.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"concrete-example-why-google-maps-is-sufficient-for-5-stops-but-not-for-25\"><span id=\"Concrete_example_why_Google_Maps_is_sufficient_for_5_stops_but_not_for_25\">Concrete example: why Google Maps is sufficient for 5 stops but not for 25<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s take the case of a company that performs maintenance operations on elevators.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122623\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122623\" class=\"wp-image-122623\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-8.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic comparing maintenance routes: at the top, unbalanced routes planned with Google Maps, long and stressful; on the right, routes optimized with software, planned in under a minute, with fewer kilometers and no missed jobs.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1043\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-8.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-8-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-8-1024x667.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-8-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-8-1536x1001.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-8-115x75.jpg 115w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-8-700x456.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122623\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Planning three maintenance routes: Google Maps vs. Route Optimization Software.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>The situation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>3 technicians;<\/li>\n<li>22 daily maintenance operations;<\/li>\n<li>customer time windows to respect;<\/li>\n<li>required service frequencies;<\/li>\n<li>variable service durations;<\/li>\n<li>some customers located in remote areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Result with Google Maps<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>45 minutes of manual planning;<\/li>\n<li>unbalanced routes;<\/li>\n<li>delays on customer time windows;<\/li>\n<li>over 28 unnecessary kilometers;<\/li>\n<li>stress for technicians and the planner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Result with optimization software<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>automatic planning in under 1 minute;<\/li>\n<li>23% reduction in kilometers;<\/li>\n<li>18% increase in productivity;<\/li>\n<li>full compliance with time windows and required frequencies;<\/li>\n<li>no missed jobs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"google-maps-vs-optimization-software-the-2026-comparison\"><span id=\"Google_Maps_vs_Optimization_Software_The_2026_Comparison\">Google Maps vs. Optimization Software: The 2026 Comparison<\/span><\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221; el_class=&#8221;table-box&#8221;]\n<div class=\"table-box table-responsive\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #1549f7; color: #ffffff; font-weight: 600; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 5px 0 0 0;\">Features<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #1549f7; color: #ffffff; font-weight: 600; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 0 0 0 0;\">Google Maps<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #1549f7; color: #ffffff; font-weight: 600; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 0 5px 0 0;\">Route optimization software<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Number of stops supported<\/td>\n<td>10<\/td>\n<td>Unlimited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">GPS navigation<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Automatic optimization<\/td>\n<td>&#x274c;<\/td>\n<td>&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">Smart reordering<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x274c;<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Multi-driver<\/td>\n<td>&#x274c;<\/td>\n<td>&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">Time windows<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x274c;<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Service duration<\/td>\n<td>&#x274c;<\/td>\n<td>&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">Vehicle capacities<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x274c;<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>KPI and reporting<\/td>\n<td>&#x274c;<\/td>\n<td>&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">Handling unforeseen events<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x274c;<\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #f1f3ff;\">&#x2714;&#xfe0f;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Time savings on planning<\/td>\n<td>Low<\/td>\n<td>Very important<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]Google Maps remains excellent for <strong>navigation<\/strong>, but dedicated software becomes essential as soon as you are dealing with <strong>professional routes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&#x261d;&#xfe0f; Ready to get started? We invite you to check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/top-8-best-route-optimization-software-solutions\/\"><u>comparison of the best route optimization software<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/app.antsroute.com\/subscription\/creation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-122629 size-full\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-10.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-10-300x94.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-10-1024x319.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-10-768x240.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-10-1536x479.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-10-150x47.jpg 150w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-10-700x218.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"when-should-you-switch-to-optimization-software\"><span id=\"When_should_you_switch_to_optimization_software\">When should you switch to optimization software?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Google Maps can help when you are starting out, but there comes a point where its manual operation clearly shows its limits. In general, switching to optimization software becomes necessary when your activity grows and routes become too complex to manage intuitively.<br \/>\nThis happens in particular when:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li><strong>you exceed around fifteen stops per day<\/strong> and the 10-stop limit in Google Maps forces you to create several separate itineraries,<\/li>\n<li><strong>you have multiple drivers or technicians<\/strong> and you juggle several routes that need to be balanced every day,<\/li>\n<li><strong>your customers require time windows<\/strong>, which makes the order of visits even more difficult to organize manually,<\/li>\n<li><strong>you lose a lot of time preparing your routes<\/strong>, sometimes 30 minutes to 1 hour every morning,<\/li>\n<li><strong>you must absolutely respect the announced arrival times<\/strong> to improve customer satisfaction or comply with contractual commitments (SLA),<\/li>\n<li><strong>you are looking to reduce logistics costs<\/strong>, including fuel, unnecessary kilometers, or overtime,<\/li>\n<li><strong>you want to handle more requests each day<\/strong> without immediately hiring additional drivers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When these situations add up, and often just <strong>two or three of these criteria are enough<\/strong>, Google Maps is no longer suitable. Optimization software then allows you to move to a more professional way of working: shorter routes, better workload distribution, constraint management, automation, and above all, considerable time savings in planning.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_122635\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-122635\" class=\"wp-image-122635\" style=\"border-radius: 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-14.jpg\" alt=\"Interface of the route optimization software showing four delivery routes on a map.\" width=\"1600\" height=\"858\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-14.jpg 1946w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-14-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-14-1024x549.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-14-768x412.jpg 768w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-14-1536x824.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-14-140x75.jpg 140w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-14-700x376.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 700px, (max-width:1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-122635\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">AntsRoute route optimization software.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We invite you to see for yourself the potential benefits of using route optimization software. Enjoy a <a href=\"https:\/\/app.antsroute.com\/subscription\/creation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>7-day free trial of AntsRoute<\/u><\/a>, one of the leading tools.<\/p>\n<p>&#x27a1;&#xfe0f; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/lea-brice-antsroute\/demonstration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>Book a demo<\/u><\/a><\/strong>.<br \/>\n&#x27a1;&#xfe0f; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/pricing\/\"><u>Discover pricing<\/u><\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>To conclude, here is an FAQ gathering the most common questions professionals ask when using Google Maps to organize their routes. It will help you clarify any remaining uncertainties and choose the tool best suited to your activity.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221; width=&#8221;2\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1733738490354{margin-top: -50px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=&#8221;summary-block&#8221; width=&#8221;8\/12&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1765200316735{margin-top: 15px !important;}&#8221;]\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 0px !important;\"><span id=\"FAQ_route_optimization_with_Google_Maps\">FAQ: route optimization with Google Maps<\/span><\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title=&#8221;Can Google Maps automatically optimize a route?&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;]No. Google Maps is excellent for calculating a route, integrating real-time traffic, or offering different transport modes, but it cannot optimize the order of stops. If you need to visit multiple addresses, the app will simply follow the order in which you entered them, without trying to find the fastest or shortest sequence.[\/vc_toggle][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#00041f&#8221;][vc_toggle title=&#8221;How many stops can Google Maps handle?&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;]Google Maps can handle up to 10 stops maximum, including the starting point and the final destination. For delivery, maintenance, or field service businesses, this limit quickly becomes restrictive. Beyond that, you need to use a specialized tool or split your route into several segments.[\/vc_toggle][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#00041f&#8221;][vc_toggle title=&#8221;Can Google Maps handle multiple drivers?&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;]No. The app does not offer any feature for automatically distributing routes among several drivers. Each itinerary must be created manually, driver by driver. If you need to assign dozens of addresses to multiple vehicles, dedicated planning software becomes essential.[\/vc_toggle][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#00041f&#8221;][vc_toggle title=&#8221;Can I send an optimized route to Google Maps?&#8221; css=&#8221;&#8221;]Yes, and this is actually the ideal workflow:<\/p>\n<ul id=\"imglist\">\n<li>You optimize the route in dedicated software (to manage constraints, priorities, time windows, etc.).<\/li>\n<li>You export the final itinerary to Google Maps for GPS navigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_toggle][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;8\/12&#8243;][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; accent_color=&#8221;#00041f&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<p class=\"text-head\" style=\"color: #424762;\">WRITTEN BY<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-85398\" style=\"border-radius: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"70\" height=\"70\" srcset=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute-146x146.jpg 146w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute-75x75.jpg 75w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/marie-henrion-antsroute.jpg 416w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 70px, 70px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-head\"><span style=\"font-size: 25px;\"><strong>Marie Henrion<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nAt AntsRoute, Marie has been the marketing manager since 2018. With a focus on last-mile logistics, she produces content that simplifies complex topics such as route optimization, the ecological transition, and customer satisfaction.<\/p>\n<div id=\"cta\"><a class=\"button-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mariehenrion54\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in<\/a><\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243; el_class=&#8221;vc_hidden-xs Extra Small Screen vc_hidden-sm Small Screen&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=&#8221;padding-block&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1705329750413{background-color: #00041f !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<p class=\"h2-footer\" style=\"text-align: center; color: #ffffff;\">Optimise your Routes with AntsRoute.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-head\" style=\"text-align: center; color: #bfc0c6;\">Free 7-day trial | No credit card required<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]\n<div id=\"cta\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn-grad\" style=\"align-self: center;\" href=\"https:\/\/app.antsroute.com\/subscription\/creation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Get started<\/strong> \u2013 It&#8217;s free<\/a> <a class=\"button-2-white\" style=\"align-self: center;\" href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/lea-brice-antsroute\/demonstration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Book a demo<\/a><\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div><div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_wrap_right no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Contenu<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Google_Maps_for_Route_Optimization_What_the_Tool_Can_Actually_Do\">Google Maps for Route Optimization: What the Tool Can Actually Do<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step-by-Step_Guide_How_to_Optimize_Your_Routes_with_Google_Maps\">Step-by-Step Guide: How to Optimize Your Routes with Google Maps<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step_1_Prepare_the_address_list\">Step 1: Prepare the address list<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step_2_Clean_the_addresses\">Step 2: \u201cClean\u201d the addresses<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step_3_Group_the_addresses_by_route\">Step 3: Group the addresses by route<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step_4_Create_the_multi-stop_route_in_Google_Maps\">Step 4: Create the multi-stop route in Google Maps<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step_5_Reorder_the_stops\">Step 5: Reorder the stops<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step_6_Send_the_route_to_the_driver\">Step 6: Send the route to the driver<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step_7_Adjust_during_the_day\">Step 7: Adjust during the day<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Step_8_Evaluate_your_limits\">Step 8: Evaluate your limits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#The_limitations_of_Google_Maps_for_professional_use\">The limitations of Google Maps for professional use<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#1_Route_limited_to_10_stops\">1. Route limited to 10 stops<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#2_No_automatic_optimization_of_the_stop_order\">2. No automatic optimization of the stop order<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3_No_management_of_business-specific_constraints\">3. No management of business-specific constraints<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#4_A_fully_manual_distribution_between_multiple_drivers\">4. A fully manual distribution between multiple drivers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#5_No_performance_indicators_to_help_you_improve\">5. No performance indicators to help you improve<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Concrete_example_why_Google_Maps_is_sufficient_for_5_stops_but_not_for_25\">Concrete example: why Google Maps is sufficient for 5 stops but not for 25<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Google_Maps_vs_Optimization_Software_The_2026_Comparison\">Google Maps vs. Optimization Software: The 2026 Comparison<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#When_should_you_switch_to_optimization_software\">When should you switch to optimization software?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#FAQ_route_optimization_with_Google_Maps\">FAQ: route optimization with Google Maps<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how to optimize your routes with Google Maps in 2026: a step-by-step guide, tool limitations, and useful features to improve your trips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":122563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22963,22799,22800,6282],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-122541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-delivery","category-field-service","category-solutions"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to optimize your routes with Google Maps: the 2026 guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how to optimize your routes with Google Maps in 2026: a step-by-step guide, tool limitations, and useful features to improve your trips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"How to optimize your routes with Google Maps: the 2026 guide\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Discover how to optimize your routes with Google Maps in 2026: a step-by-step guide, tool limitations, and useful features to improve your trips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-2.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AntswayCom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AntswayCom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marie Henrion\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to optimize your routes with Google Maps: the 2026 guide","description":"Discover how to optimize your routes with Google Maps in 2026: a step-by-step guide, tool limitations, and useful features to improve your trips.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/","twitter_card":"summary","twitter_title":"How to optimize your routes with Google Maps: the 2026 guide","twitter_description":"Discover how to optimize your routes with Google Maps in 2026: a step-by-step guide, tool limitations, and useful features to improve your trips.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-2.jpg","twitter_creator":"@AntswayCom","twitter_site":"@AntswayCom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Marie Henrion","Est. reading time":"16 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/","name":"AntsRoute","description":"ANTSROUTE - Logiciel d&#039;optimisation de tourn\u00e9es | Planifier &amp; Suivre | Route Optimization Software | Plan &amp; Track","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Route-optimization-google-maps-2.jpg","width":850,"height":535},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/","name":"How to optimize your routes with Google Maps: the 2026 guide","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2025-12-09T10:53:57+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-13T08:51:25+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/#\/schema\/person\/38db92fb0f886fb05dd3dd4453c4d202"},"description":"Discover how to optimize your routes with Google Maps in 2026: a step-by-step guide, tool limitations, and useful features to improve your trips.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/solutions\/route-optimization-google-maps\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"AntsRoute","item":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Route Optimization with Google Maps: What Is Possible in 2026"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/antsroute.com\/#\/schema\/person\/38db92fb0f886fb05dd3dd4453c4d202","name":"Marie Henrion","description":"Chez AntsRoute, Marie est responsable marketing depuis 2018. 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