Choose an Alternative Route When Planning
When you’re planning to head out and want to see the best route available to your destination, Google Maps on iPhone will display it for you automatically. But perhaps you want to see if there are other routes available first.
Tap the Directions icon and enter your starting location and ending destination in the corresponding boxes at the top of Google Maps. You’ll see the best route display on the map with a solid blue line. If additional routes are available, you’ll see these in gray along with the travel time for each. Tap the alternate route you want to use and its details and travel time will update at the bottom for you to view. This route will then display with a solid blue line on the map.
To see the written directions, you can tap Steps at the bottom. But if you’re ready to make the trip, you can tap Start to begin the navigation.
Choose an Alternative Route While Navigating
If your travel is already underway and you want to see if there’s an alternate route to your destination, Google Maps on iPhone offers a helpful feature. Pull over to a safe location and follow the steps below. You do not have to exit your current route navigation first.
Tap the Alternate Route icon at the bottom of the screen. This is depicted by two black arrows inside of a circle. The map will then display showing other available routes in gray with your current route in solid blue. You’ll also see the travel time for each alternative route. Tap one of the other routes that you want to use, and your navigation, directions, and travel time will automatically update.
You can view the step-by-step directions before taking the alternative route by swiping up from the bottom and tapping Directions. You can also tap Preview Route to see it on the map.
Keep in mind that there may not always be an alternate route to your chosen destination. And if there is, it may have a similar or even much longer travel time and ETA as your current route. If this is the case, consider sending a custom route to Google Maps on your iPhone before you head out on the highway!
