trip planner map with multiple stops

• Scenic Drives
• Road Trip Planner

Road Trip Planning Made Easy

Create custom day trips, weekend getaways, and cross country adventures worldwide

Powerful features for planning your epic road trips (and the shorter adventures in between)

Unlimited stops.

Add unlimited stops and sub-stops. Combine your own stops with our pre-planned routes and recommended places of interest.

Smart Scheduling

By the minute, hour, or overnight, set preferences for each stop. Export your trip to your own Calendar.

Set Vehicle Type

Car, RV, camper trailer, truck, motorcycle, pulling a boat? Get a realistic estimate of driving time. Adjust travel speed by percentages for each unique situation.

Divide Trips Into Days

Divide your trips into manageable driving days based on your custom settings by time or distance. And of course you can customize each day differently.

Route Preferences

Configure route preferences such as avoiding highways or tolls for each day or any segment of your trip.

Use Any Device

Plan trips from your desktop computer, iPad, Android tablet, and mobile phone with the same easy-to-use interface. No app to download or software to install.

Automated To Do List guides you through the road trip planning process.

Manage Your Budget

Track expenditures before you go and along the way. See a summary of expenses for entrance fees, activities, restaurants, and lodging, etc.

Gas Calculator

See the estimated fuel cost for your vehicle type.

EV Charging

Find EV charging stations along your route. Get reminders to recharge. Use Charging Ranges to display icons on the map where your vehicle will require recharging.

Export Options

We support Google Earth (KML), Garmin Communicator, BaseCamp and MapSource (GPX), Co-Pilot Live (TRP), Microsoft Streets and Trips, TomTom itineraries (ITN), TomTom Places of Interest (OV2), Comma Separated Files (CSV), and Tab Separated Files (TSV).

Directions on paper come in handy. Print your road trip with turn-by-turn maps and full directions, divided into your day-by-day itinerary.

Is This Really Free?

Yes! It is free to use our Scenic Drive Itineraries and Road Trip Planner. Please consider purchasing your National Park or National Forest passes on myscenicdrives.com.

Why Do I Need An Account?

A free account is only required for the Road Trip Planner, enabling you to create, edit, and save your trips. Your account is secure. We never share your information.

Do I Need to Download An App or Install Software?

No app or software is needed. myscenicdrives.com works in any browser. Simply go to myscenicdrives.com

More Resources

Documentation, myscenicdrives.com, how it works.

• © Roadtrippers
• © Mapbox
• © OpenStreetMap
• Improve this map

How-To Geek

How to plan a road trip with multiple destinations in google maps.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

5 Things I Never Back Up to the Cloud

7 signs an online seller is running a scam, today's nyt connections hints and answer for june 24 (#379), quick links, add multiple stops using the website, add multiple stops using the mobile app.

Whether you're planning a day out on the town, or want to orchestrate the perfect road trip across the country, Google Maps allows you to add up to nine stops, excluding your starting point, when you make directions from both the website and the Maps app. Here's how you do it.

First, open up your browser and head on over to Google Maps.  Click the "Directions" button to the right of the search bar.

By default, Maps will use your device's location for the starting point. If you want this to be a different location, enter it now.

Next, enter the location of your first destination into the field provided, and then hit Enter. Alternatively, you can click any location on the map to get the same results.

Make sure you have either the driving or walking option selected, as Maps only lets you make multiple destinations with these two travel modes.

To add another destination, all you have to do is click either the "+" or the space below your first destination, and then start typing a new location. You can repeat this to add up to nine total stops. If you have more stops than is allowed, you may need to make another map from where you left off.

If at any point you decide you want to change up the order of your destinations, just drag any location up or down on the list using the circles on the left.

And once you've created your map in your web browser, you can click the "Send directions to your phone" link to send it to your mobile device by email or text message. Assuming you've got the Google Maps app installed, you can open it right up.

If you want to optimize your travel, you can also turn a multi-stop Google Maps trip into a round-trip .

Related: How to Find Public Restrooms Near You with Google Maps

You can use the Google Apps mobile app (free for iPhone , iPad , and  Android ) to create a map with multiple destinations in much the same way.

Related: How to Download Google Maps Data for Offline Navigation on Android or iPhone

Fire up the Google Maps app on your mobile device, and then tap the blue "Go" button on the bottom right of your screen.

By default, Maps uses your device's location for the starting point. If you want this to be a different location, enter it now.

Start typing in your first destination or tap a location on the map below to start your journey.

Next, open the menu (the three dots at the top right), and then tap the "Add Stop" command.

Enter the location of your next stop, or tap anywhere on the map to add the next destination.

To change the order of your destinations, just drag any of the locations up or down the list using the "Hamburger" (three stacked lines) on the left.

When you've added all the stops to your trip, go ahead and tap "Done" so you can start your journey.

Related: How to View and Delete Your Google Maps History on Android and iPhone

• Google Maps

• Plan a Road Trip
• Plan a Flight
• Find an Airport
• Where to Stay
• All Questions

Road trip planner

Starting City

Destination City

Or switch to flying

Planning a road trip?

Get advice from people who have done the same trip.

The Trippy road trip planner automatically calculates the optimal itinerary including stops recommended by Trippy members, favorite restaurants and hotels, local attractions and things to do based on what people who live in the area have suggested, and more.

Once you have a quick trip planned, you can customize every detail, adding or removing stops, or changing what time you leave in the morning or how long you stay at each stop. Then you can save your custom trip and share it with friends and family.

Let us know if you have requests for more features you'd like to see in the trip planner!

You'll never travel without our trip planner again

Travel planning at its best. build, organize, and map your custom itineraries in a free travel app designed for vacations & road trips, powered by our trip planner.

Your itinerary and your map in one view

No more switching between different apps, tabs, and tools to keep track of your travel plans.

What travelers are raving about

Features to replace all your other tools, add places from guides with 1 click, collaborate with friends in real time, import flight and hotel reservations, expense tracking and splitting, checklists for anything, get personalized suggestions, plan like a pro.

Unlock premium features like offline access, unlimited attachments, flight deals, export to Google maps, and much more

Offline access

Unlimited attachments, optimize your route.

4.9 on App Store, 4.7 on Google Play

Discover your next favorite destination

Get inspired from guides around the world — with expert tips and recommendations from the Wanderlog community. See all Wanderlog travel guides.

Have tips of your own? Write a guide to share with other travelers like you!

Ready to plan your trip in half the time?

For every kind of trip and every destination, the best road trip planner, the best vacation planner, the best group itinerary planner.

Now you can build multi-stop road trips on Google Maps for iOS

Jul 29, 2016

[[read-time]] min read

With many people looking to sneak one more getaway into their summer plans, we’ve launched multi-stop directions for Google Maps on iOS (already available on Android). Here’s how it works: Just open the app, enter a destination, tap the corner menu, and then tap “Add stop”. To rearrange the order of your stops, tap and hold the stop you want to move and drag it to the position you want. Once you’ve added all your stops, tap “Done” and your multi-stop route is complete. When you enter navigation mode you’ll have the same seamless driving experience you’re used to, whether you’re going from errand to errand or hitting scenic spots along Route 66.

Related stories

Use these 5 AI-powered tools to plan your summer travel

Mapping human activity at sea with AI

8 new accessibility updates across Lookout, Google Maps and more

5 AI-powered tools to help you get outside more

New ways to power up your electric vehicle adventures with Google Maps

Find more sustainable ways to get around, with new Maps and Search updates

Let’s stay in touch. Get the latest news from Google in your inbox.

How to Plan Route With Multiple Stops on Google Maps

Google Maps is one of the most reliable tools out there. Whether we want to look for new restaurants, navigate to a new city, or search for a nearby gas station, Maps is always there to rescue us. However, not many people know that they can even add multiple stops in Google Maps while planning a route. In this article, we will exactly show you how to do that.

Table of Contents

How Multiple Stops Work in Google Maps

The working principle of Google Maps is quite simple. Just add multiple destinations and it will automatically create the best route for you. It supports up to 9 stops, excluding your current location or starting point. Moreover, based on the order of your destination, it will show you the routes and travel times. And the best part is it even lets you add a new stop in the middle of your trip.

But keep in mind that for an efficient trip, it’s important to rearrange the stops based on your priority. Don’t just blindly add destinations in any order, as this might increase travel time and cause inconvenience.

Tip: Do you own a Galaxy Watch? You can now use Maps right on your smartwatch .

How to Add Multiple Stops in Google Maps

Adding multiple destinations in your Google Maps app is quite easy and only requires a few steps. Here’s how it works:

1. Open Google Maps on your iPhone or Android phone and then tap on the Direction icon (right arrow inside the box) in the bottom right corner.

2. From there choose your starting location and destination location.

Note: Google will pick your current location as your Start Location. However, you can adjust that location to something else accordingly.

3. Once done, tap on the Kebab Menu (three-dots icon) and select the Add stop option.

4. After that, tap on the Add stop bar and enter the address in the Choose destination box.

You can also add a stop from the map. Simply tap on the POI (Point of Interest) icon and hit the Add stop button.

Reminder: You can add up to nine stops only.

5. Then rearrange the stops using the drag icon and the X icon to remove the stop.

6. Once that part is over, tap Done to finish the setup process.

7. After that, select the mode of transportation and then hit the Start button.

Note: Multiple stops in Google Maps don’t support public transportation like buses, metro, or trains.

That’s all. It will now begin navigating directions with multiple stops.

How to Remove a Stop from an Ongoing Route

If you’ve already started a trip and later decide to skip a particular stop, you don’t need to exit your navigation to remove the stop from Google Maps. Here’s how to do it:

1. Tap on the bottom bar and select the Directions option.

2. Now click on the X icon (Cross icon) to remove any stop from an ongoing route.

In case you want to remove the next stop, simply tap on the bottom bar and select the Remove next stop option. This is one of the quickest ways to remove a stop in Maps unless you’re removing the stop at a specific number or position.

Tip: You can create a handy list of places to visit in Google Maps . That will make it easy to plan your journey and begin navigation on the fly. Just one of the places that you already added to the list.

How to Add a New Stop to an Ongoing Route

You may want to add more stops to your route while you’re on a trip. Thankfully, Google Maps allows you to easily add a new stop to your ongoing route without closing the navigation. Here’s a step-by-step process:

1. Tap on the Search icon in the top right corner or bottom bar and select the Search along route option to enter the address .

2. Now all you need to do is tap on the Add stop button.

Alternatively, you can also select the places or POI (Points of Interest) icon from the map itself and hit the Add stop button.

Tip: How to Check Air Quality Index and Wildfires on Google Maps

That’s it. The new location will be added to your stop list.

But the only caveat is that Google Maps doesn’t allow users to rearrange the stops in the middle of the navigation. Therefore, any new stops you add will be in the top order by default. To reorder stops in Google Maps, follow the below steps:

1. Go back to the Route Editing Screen and then tap the Direction Panel .

2. After that, use the drag icon to rearrange the stops accordingly.

3. Once you’re done rearranging the stops, tap the Done button and start your navigation again.

Optimize Route in Google Maps

While you’re planning a route with multiple stops in Google Maps, there are numerous ways to optimize your trip. Here are some notable ones:

1. Share your trip progress with others. This allows them to view your routes, recent location, battery status, and mode of transportation.

2. Enable the Show Traffic on Maps feature to avoid congested routes and make better navigation decisions.

3. Enable or disable voice assistant according to your convenience.

4. You can also choose to exclude highways, tolls, and ferries from your route.

5. Switch to night mode to minimize the battery consumption on your phone (valid on phones featuring an OLED panel).

Adding Multiple Stops on Google Maps

Still, using an old-school method to navigate from one place to another? Now make your traveling more organized by adding multiple stops in Google Maps. And when required, rearrange the stops based on your priority. We hope the above guide was helpful and will assist you in making your journey smoother.

Before you leave, you can also learn the major difference between Google Maps and Google Maps Go .

With 3 years of expertise in Windows, Steam, Android, Samsung TV, and Google Chrome, Rahul specializes in offering insightful solutions to address your everyday technology-related challenges.

You may also like

2 ways to download ‘view once’ photos and..., can someone see what i search on google..., these apple watch models will get the watchos..., will your ipad model get ipados 18 update..., how to create polls on discord channel, 6 fixes for samsung tv or monitor stuck..., a guide to using phone link on windows..., what is secret mode in samsung internet and..., you can share location using this siri shortcut..., this siri shortcut for iphone can help when....

How To Route With Multiple Stops On Google Maps

Google Maps is the world's favorite mapping and navigation app for a good reason. It's free, easy to use and reliable. But what if you need to do more than get from A to B, and plan a route with multiple addresses — say for a road trip? Google Maps can do multi-stop route plans as well!

In this tutorial, we'll show you:

• Step-by-step instructions for how to use Google Maps to plan a route with multiple addresses, up to 10 stops. 
• For routes longer than 10 stops, we'll also show you how to use Google’s My Maps. 

Neither Google Maps nor My Maps does any kind of route optimization , so if you have a lot of stops you should know that you probably won’t get the most efficient route this way. If efficiency matters to you, you probably want to consider route optimization software . 

If you need to plan a delivery route, you’ll probably need a slightly more advanced approach to using Google route planner — our recommended method is laid out in our Google Route Planner for Deliveries post. 

Tutorial: How to use Google Maps as a multi stop route planner

Here’s how to use Google Maps to create a route with multiple locations. You CAN plan a route using the Google Maps app on your Android or iOS smartphone, but we recommend route planning on your desktop instead. On the desktop it’s easy to see your whole route at once, whereas on a phone it’s easy to lose track, accidentally click the wrong thing, and have to start all over again. 

So, open up your browser and let’s dive right in!

1: Go to google.com/maps

Simply open your browser and type google.com/maps in the address bar.

2: Enter a starting address

Start typing the address you want to visit as your first destination into the “Search Google Maps” bar. Google will pop up a list of suggestions. If you see the one you want, click it. If not, keep typing until you see the right destination — just check that you’re in the right city!

Alternatively, you can click anywhere on the map to set your first stop.

3: Click on Directions

Now that you have your first address set, click on the “Directions” button to open the route panel.

4: Add another address

You’ll notice that Google uses this step to set your starting point, rather than your next destination. If your route is going to be starting from home, or wherever your current location is, just click in the box to confirm “your location”, and your route will be created instantly. 

If your route will be starting somewhere else, add that address and enter – and again, Google will automatically create a route between the two places for you. At this stage, when there are just two destinations, there’s a very good chance you’ve also got the fastest route. Point to point navigation with estimated travel time and live traffic updates is where Google Maps really shines.

5: Click “Add destination”

Click on the “Add destination” button. A new box will appear ready for you to enter your next address. 

Now is a good time to check that you’ve chosen the right transport mode. If you’re traveling by car, make sure the car icon is highlighted in blue. If you’re planning a walk or bike ride, choose those modes instead. The public transit mode unfortunately doesn’t allow you to add multiple destinations. 

6: Keep adding destinations

Now just keep adding destinations until you’re done, or until you hit the limit of 10 stops. (If you need to plan a route longer than 10 stops, have a look at our advanced instructions further down this page). 

That’s great, right? You have a route! Except, you’ll notice that this route looks like a mess of tangled spaghetti. Google has kept your addresses in exactly the same order you entered them, which is not the same as the most efficient order. In the next step, you’ll see how to create a shorter, more sensible route. 

7: Rearrange your stops

If you hover your mouse over one of your addresses, you’ll see an icon with six dots and a “Drag to reorder” note. Click and hold on the dots to drag any address to a new place in the list. 

You can choose any order that makes sense to you. We’ve chosen to start with the address furthest to the west, and then finish in the east. You’ll notice that our re-ordered route is a lot simpler and avoids a long detour that goes over two bridges. The result is that instead of spending 2hr 42mins on the road, we’re only spending 1hr 37 mins — we’ve saved more than an hour! The difference won’t always be so dramatic, but you can definitely save a lot of time this way. 

8: Send your route to a phone

Now it’s easy to send these directions to your mobile device so you can get on the road to your final destination! Click on “Send directions to your phone” and choose an option from the popup menu so you can get directions.

9: Open the route on your phone

Now click the notification that will appear on your phone screen, and your route will pop up ready to navigate! 

If you’re already at your starting point, the blue button will say “Start” and you can start your trip anytime. If you’re somewhere else, it will say “Preview” until you’re in position to go.

How to share a Google Maps route with someone else

To share a Google Maps route with someone else, you need to do it from your phone. Just click the ⋯ “kebab” menu at the top right hand corner of your screen and then choose “Share directions” in the popup menu.

How to plan multi-stop routes with Google My Maps

Google’s My Maps is an interesting free alternative to Google Maps route planner. It’s best for when you’re planning a road trip  or traveling to a new destination and you want to plan activities or visits ahead of time. You can pin up to 2,000 locations, and add extra information like notes, custom icons and colors. This makes it great for mapping attractions or pit stops when you’re planning a road trip. 

The disadvantages are that My Maps is not great at actual route planning, and you definitely won't get optimized routes. You also still have to work in groups of 10 locations at a time, and it doesn’t give live driving directions. But it’s still worth knowing how to do it!

1: Open My Maps

There are two ways to open My Maps:

• Open My Maps directly from this link
• Find it from Google Maps by clicking on the ‘hamburger’ menu icon ☰, then Your Places > Maps > Create a New Map.

2: Add stops

Once you have your map set up, just click in the search bar, start typing the name of the place you want, and select it from the pop-up list to add it to your map. You can also click on any existing place on the map to add it.

You can add up to 2,000 separate places to each map you create in My Maps. That makes it a great choice if your route is going to exceed the Google Maps limit of 10 stops.

3: Start drawing a route

Now it’s time to plan some routes! One of the neat things about My Maps is the ability to create separate driving, walking and cycling routes on the same map, so to illustrate we’re going to start with a cycling route. Click on the “Draw a line” icon at the top of your screen, and then choose the type of route you want to create. Click on your starting point, then on the next place you want to go, and My Maps will draw the route for you.

4: Add places to your route

Notice on the left hand side of your screen that My Maps has created a new layer containing your route. Click “Add destination” to keep adding stops along your route.  If you’ve chosen a cycling route, you’ll see cycle paths highlighted in green. 

5: Create a new route using a different mode

Now we follow exactly the same steps to create a driving route. In the picture below you’ll see we have two completed routes in two different layers, one for cycling and one for driving.

6: View route details

Unlike Google Maps, My Maps doesn’t display time and distance information right on the route. To see this, click the three dots next to your layer name and choose “Step-by-step directions”. That will pop up a detailed breakdown of your route, with a time and distance estimate at the top. 

If things start getting complicated, you can hide or show layers using the checkboxes next to their names. 

There’s no need to save these routes, by the way – they've been saved automatically, and you can come back to your map anytime. 

7: Share your map

Sharing your map is easy. Once you’ve set up all your places, just click on “Share”, choose the level of sharing you want and copy the resulting URL. “Anyone with this link can view” is the easiest (but don’t put your home or your kids’ school on this map!) Now you can share it with anyone via email or text.

8: View your map on your phone

To use the map on your own phone, just open Google Maps and click on “Saved” at the bottom of your screen. Now click on “Maps” and finally on the map you’ve just created. You’ll see all the stops you’ve saved and the routes you’ve created. 

9: Navigate your route

Unfortunately, this is where things get tricky. There’s no My Maps mobile app, so if you’ve created a route in My Maps you can’t just open it and start navigating in the same way you’d use a Google Maps route. There’s an easy workaround, though. When you get to your starting point, just open your map, click on the next point you want to visit, then click on Directions — and your route will be mapped out for you with all the usual Google Maps features. Just repeat this step at every stop.

10: (Advanced) Customize your Google route planner

In the example above we created two layers, one for each different mode of transport. You can do a lot more with layers, though. For example, you could create a layer with the places you want to visit each day, or group different kinds of places together in layers. You can easily drag and drop places between up to 10 layers to help keep your plans organized.

My Maps also gives you the ability to add more information to your places, including color codes and notes. 

To add extra information to a place, just click on it and then on one of the icons along the bottom. Here we’ve added a custom icon and color to identify this as a place to eat, and also created a layer that contains all the parks we want to visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an app for mapping a route.

With Google Maps you can map a route with up to 10 stops for free. If you need a longer route or have specific needs — for example if you want to map a hiking, running or cycling route, a delivery route or a trucking route, you will probably need a more specialized app.

Can I plan a route with unlimited stops in Google Maps?

The longest route you can plan in Google Maps is 10 stops. If you need a larger number of stops, your best bet is to use a free trial of a route planning app like Routific.

Related articles

Liked this article? See below for more recommended reading!

Google Maps Route Planner For Deliveries

3 Ways To Plan A Delivery Route With Excel (With FREE Template)

Need a Multi-Stop Route Planner? Here Are The 6 Best

Start A Free Trial Now

No Credit Card Required

• Route Planning

11 Best Free Route Planners with Unlimited Stops in 2024

• On Apr 11, 2024

From delivery services to GPS to fitness trackers, technology is transforming how we live. This shift is vital for businesses, especially in e-commerce and retail, where fast and efficient deliveries are key.  Studie s show over 90% of consumers expect 2-3 day delivery, with some wanting it same-day. But faster deliveries come at a cost: and with a record $2.3 trillion in spend in 2023, US logistics costs have hit an all-time high .

The answer? Route optimization! By planning the most efficient routes, businesses can save money and be more sustainable. Luckily, there are several free route planning tools available. Keep reading to discover the 11 best free options for your business.

Table of Contents

1. Here WeGo – Alternative to Google Maps with Unlimited Stops

HERE WeGo is a free route planner and navigation app that offers a variety of features designed to make travel easier and more convenient. 

One of the most useful features of HERE WeGo is its ability to download maps for offline use. This is especially helpful when traveling in areas with limited internet connectivity. Users can download entire cities or regions, and the app will continue to provide directions and other features even without an internet connection.

In 2023, HereWeGo unveiled a fresh new design, emphasizing clearer navigation and ease of use, with features like simple walking directions, public transit information for over 1,900 cities, and turn-by-turn voice guidance for driving, enhancing the overall user experience. Last year’s new features and functionalities included:

• A customizable map view empowering users to tailor their maps by displaying traffic, city, and topographic features according to their preferences.
• A new functionality allowed users to toggle the display of a progress bar, providing a comprehensive overview of traffic, stops, estimated travel time, and arrival time.
• A convenient hotel booking feature, allowing users to book accommodations directly through the app via Booking.com partnership, streamlining the booking process.
• Highway rest stop amenities enabled drivers to locate available facilities along their route, particularly beneficial for electric vehicle drivers seeking charging points.

In 2024, HereWeGo is adding a number of improvements and new features to the platform:

• Intermodal Journey Planning: The app now includes intermodal journey planning, enabling users to view the total travel time by car, including walking to the vehicle and from the parking spot to the final destination. The app also remembers the parking location to provide an accurate estimated time of arrival.
• Offline Map Downloads: Users now have the option to download maps for offline navigation of entire regions, countries, or continents. This feature ensures reliable routing even without an internet connection, making it ideal for travel to avoid data roaming charges.
• New Road Signs Indication: Finally coming out of beta, this feature tells users about important road signs as they approach, so they can see road sign icons with remaining distance indicated on the screen.
• Future Transportation Modes and On-the-Go Services : HERE WeGo plans to introduce more transportation modes such as biking and car-sharing in the near future, along with additional on-the-go services like parking. 
• A web version of the app featuring 3D maps is also expected to launch in 2024.

Here WeGo offers turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance, making it easy to follow directions while driving, cycling, or walking. It includes pretty accurate traffic information, though it lacks the ability to actively modify an assigned route when the app detects that there is congestion on the way. 

Because of this and the limited options it offers for route optimization, users may need to manually adjust their route to achieve the most efficient path.

• Unlimited stops
• Download maps for offline use
• Detailed public transit options, including bus and train schedules
• Real-time traffic updates
• Customizable route options
• Safety features, including speed limit warnings, lane guidance, and alerts for sharp turns and railroad crossings
• Limited voice guidance
• Incomplete point of interest database
• Slow loading times
• Limited route optimization options

Is This Tool Right for You?

It’s a solid alternative to Google Maps, particularly for users who prioritize privacy and need unlimited stops.

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android

2. Maptive – Best for Professionals

Maptive is the best free route optimizer for professionals of every kind. Maptive offers many advanced options that simpler route optimizers like Google Maps don’t offer, such as:

• Up to 73 stops
• Optimizes your stops to find the shortest route
• Offers a suite of tools like distance calculators, radius tools, and more.
• Map location data in bulk to show all your customers, store locations, and more.
• Overlay multiple routes
• Customize route colors and marker appearance
• Share maps publicly or securely

Maptive offers a free 10-day trial that gives you a chance to try out all of their tools and features for free. 

In 2024, Maptive plans to release the version 5 of their mapping software, including: 

• A new and improved user interface that makes the platform not just sleeker, but also more user-friendly.
• All new drive time polygons with improved isochrones to generate even more accurate drive time estimates.
• New CRM integrations to seamlessly connect with platforms like Salesforce, Pipedrive, Hubspot, Keap, and Zoho.
• AI-driven territory generation tools to simplify and streamline territory plotting.
• Advanced map layering and customization to give users more control.
• Built-in map charts to facilitate deeper insights into your data.

The new Maptive version will be a complete rebuild from the ground up using OpenGL which will allow for better performance and better data visualization capabilities.

Maptive is easier to use than many tools on this list as it allows you to easily add multiple stops by clicking on the map or by typing in addresses. The Maptive interface is intuitive to use and offers lots of built-in guides.

• Optimizes your stops for a more efficient route
• Import or copy-paste location data in bulk
• Lots of customization options
• Lots of value-adding tools and features for businesses
• Layer multiple routes
• Lots of sharing options
• Cloud-based
• Works on all devices
• Not 100% free – Made for business professionals
• It takes time to learn how to use it
• Web-based (no apps available)

Maptive is perfect for businesses of all sizes that need to optimize delivery routes with multiple stops (think delivery companies, field service technicians).

Available on: Web-based

Try Maptive Now

3. google maps – best for simple routes.

By far, the most common route planner app is Google Maps. Virtually everyone uses this tool to get from one place to another, but not many are aware that it’s capable of planning routes with multiple stops.

Google Maps advertises that they’re able to plan routes with up to ten spots. However, there’s a trick you can use to create routes with up to 25 stops. Google Maps’ user-friendly interface and familiarity make it an excellent choice for a wide range of businesses.

Google is so revolutionary when mapping that many other providers have built their tools using Google’s API. So, it’s clear the company is doing something right when it comes to its mapping tool.

In 2023, Google Maps added a few new features driven by AI integrations, including Immersive View, which can help users plan their trips ahead of time whether driving, walking, or cycling. Immersive view gives users visual turn-by-turn directions and can help avoid getting stuck in congestion thanks to simulated traffic and weather conditions. 

At CES 2024, they also announced a new battery notifications feature for EV vehicles directly in Google Maps. This new integration will make life much easier for EV drivers using Android Auto. It will allow them to see estimated battery levels upon arrival at their destination and even flag charging stops along the way. Other improvements and new features for 2024 include:

• New default map style: A fresh map style with an updated color palette and enhanced usability. Starting March 21, 2024, apps using map IDs can preview and opt-in to the new style, which will become the default on March 18, 2025.
• Redesigned interfaces: Key interfaces, including the directions search experience, have been revamped to reduce clutter and bring important elements within easier reach.
• Precise business entrances: In the near future, Google Maps will show precisely where the main entrances to businesses and points of interest are located, improving user navigation. 
• Glanceable Directions feature: This feature displays real-time navigation info on the lock screen, allowing users to track their journey without constantly unlocking their phone.
• AI-powered features: AI-powered features such as dish identification in restaurant photos, menu information, and a cleaner interface design.
• Enhanced recommendations : Google Maps will include recommendation lists curated by publishers like Lonely Planet and The New York Times, as well as algorithmically generated lists of trending and popular places.

The biggest downside of Google Maps is you can’t optimize the order of your stops. Google will calculate your route in the order you enter your stops. For a truly optimized route, you’ll need to list your stops in the most efficient order, which isn’t always easy to figure out.

• User-friendly
• Most people already know how to use it
• Google Street View helps you see what your destinations look like
• Industry-leading technology
• Can only add 10 stops (25 with a workaround)
• You can’t optimize the order of your stops.

Great general-purpose tool for anyone needing basic navigation with traffic updates (good for personal errands or deliveries with few stops).

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android 3. Waze – Best for Personal Trips

4. Waze – Best for Personal Trips

If you’re looking for an app with excellent directions and a great user experience, it’s hard to beat Waze. The company was purchased by Google back in 2013, so you might expect it to be reasonably similar to the Maps app. However, Waze offers some innovative features that truly make it unique.

What sets Waze apart is that it collects real-time data from other users. This allows it to provide you with live traffic updates, adjusted routes, and shortcuts. The app also integrates with Spotify, which lets you receive directions while listening to music.

While Waze’s community feature is a nice perk, it’s only effective on routes that other users are traveling. If you’re in a more remote area, you won’t have access to the same amount of real-time data.  And if you are on a route with many other users, the number of icons on the screen can block your directions.

Last year, Waze was expected to launch quite a few new features in the near future, including warnings regarding roads with an increased likelihood of accidents, support for Android Auto Coolwalk, and additional toll road controls. In November 2023, Crash History Alerts was indeed launched as its newest safety feature, notifying users of crash-prone roads along their trips. 

However, Google–Waze’s parent company–has continued to consolidate the app into its own mapping products and users have noticed that throughout 2023 Waze actually removed some core functionalities, especially across iOS devices. New features and functionalities launching in 2024 include:

• Enhanced user safety features : A host of six new features that improve user safety and convenience during navigation. They include assistance navigating roundabouts, alerts for upcoming speed limit changes, warnings about road hazards like speed bumps and sharp turns, and integration with Flash to provide detailed parking information and reservations.
• Route insights: Waze now offers users helpful information about their favorite routes, including live traffic updates and delays. This enables users to compare their usual routes with alternatives and select which option they prefer.
• First responder alerts: In an effort to prioritize the safety of first responders, Waze notifies drivers when an ambulance or fire truck is stopped along their route. This feature is currently available in the US, Canada, Mexico, and France, with more countries expected soon.
• Redesigned reporting feature: Waze has revamped its reporting feature on both Android and iOS platforms to enhance usability. However, certain options, such as reporting roadkill, were removed in the process.

The biggest downside of Waze is that you can’t add multiple stops to your route. However, its great directions and fun interface still make it worthy of being included on this list. You can always use it in conjunction with another logistics tool for routes with more than one stop.

• Makes directions fun
• Real-time updates via community data
• Integrates with Spotify
• Add friends and share directions
• You can only add 1 stop in addition to your final destination
• Lacks data in more remote areas
• Includes ads that can be distracting

Ideal for drivers who want real-time traffic updates and crowd-sourced navigation (especially good for deliveries in congested areas).

5. Apple Maps – Best for Apple Users

Not to be outdone by Google, Apple came out with its own mapping app included on all iOS devices. It offers many of the same features as Google Maps but does lag behind in a few areas.

Where it excels is its map design. The maps look great, and they include a 3D view and buildings. Apple users will also appreciate that maps and directions are synced between all Apple devices. So, you can instantly move directions from your iPad to your iPhone.

With the iOS 17 update, Apple Maps added Offline Maps, allowing users to download maps for use when a Wi-Fi or cellular signal is not available, and EV routing improvements, including “the ability to select a preferred charging network when getting directions for your electric vehicle”. And for all outdoors enthusiasts, Apple Maps has also added thousands of park trails across the U.S. “with place cards that include detailed information like trail length and type, difficulty, and elevation gain”.

New product features and updates specific to Apple Maps in 2024 include:

• Custom Routes: Expected with iOS 18 in September 2024, this new feature will allow users to pick specific roads for their routes.
• Topographic Maps on Multiple Platforms : Originally introduced on the Apple Watch in watchOS 10, topographic maps will become available on the iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro. These maps offer detailed information crucial for hiking and outdoor activities, including trails, contour lines, elevation data, and points of interest. Anticipated for release with iOS 18, macOS 15, and visionOS 2 in 2024.
• User Reporting : Though limited compared to Waze as of early 2024, Apple Maps now includes user reporting for accidents and hazards, with potential for expansion.
• Expansion of Mapping Efforts : Apple is continuing vehicle-based data collection in countries like Malaysia, aiming to enhance its map database and introduce features like Look Around.

The biggest downfall of Apple maps is that it only allows you to add two stops. So, busy delivery drivers likely won’t be able to get much use out of this tool. Users have also complained about inaccurate information, which is a big concern for businesses.

The app is only available on Apple devices, so PC and Android users will have to look elsewhere for their route-planning software.

• Works similarly to Google Maps
• 3D maps and building views
• You can only add 2 stops
• Inaccurate information
• Only available on Apple devices

Apple Maps is a solid all-around choice for people looking for simple navigation with traffic updates. It’s great for running personal errands or handling deliveries with minimal stops.

Available on: Mac, iOS

6. TruckRouter  – Best for Truck Drivers & Fleets

TruckRouter is a free route-planning tool designed specifically for the trucking industry. If you’re a trucker, fleet manager, or dispatch professional looking for a solution to meet your needs, this is likely the one.

TruckRouter differs from other route optimization apps because it offers truck-specific routes. Trucks aren’t always able to travel everywhere due to height and weight restrictions, and the tool factors that in when it’s creating its routes.

TruckRouter also alerts drivers to low clearances, provides information on toll roads and costs, and offers a trip cost calculator to estimate your expenses.

The only downside is that the tool is web-based, meaning there aren’t downloadable apps for iOS and Android mobile devices.

• Designed for the trucking industry
• Truck specific routes
• Alerts truckers of low clearances and road elevation
• It helps you estimate expenses
• No mobile apps are available
• Only allows up to 5 stops

Specifically designed for truck drivers with features like height clearances and weight restrictions, it is essential for trucking companies and logistics.

7. SalesRabbit   – Best for Sales Teams

SalesRabbit is a lead generation and team management solution for businesses. They also offer a free multi-stop route planner.

This tool features turn-by-turn directions, and multiple stops per route and lets you plot your leads on an interactive map. As you would expect, it works seamlessly with SalesRabbit’s other solutions, so this is ideal for anyone already using their software.

Sales Rabbit’s tool also offers appointment setting services. You can filter your appointments by status, set scheduled reminders, and get directions.

To use this route planner, you’ll need to sign up for Sales Rabbit Lite, which is a free version of their sales management software. 

In October 2023, Sales Rabbit announced improvements to Proposals, Scheduler, Importer, and Lead Cards. Proposals now integrates with solar design tools and financing options, Scheduler is in early access and can sync with calendars, and Lead Cards have been improved with multi-disposition tracking, owner display, and a DGAI toggle.

While they have not announced what they have planned for the rest of 2024, in January SalesRabbit released the Amplify app for SalesRabbit Gamification users , which includes battles, competitions, achievements, social surround activities, and dashboards to boost motivation and productivity.

• Perfect for salespeople
• Works seamlessly with SalesRabbit
• Offers appointment scheduling feature
• A limited number of stops available for each route
• No desktop functionality

SalesRabbit is a tool built specifically for sales teams to plan efficient routes for visiting clients or prospects.

Available on: iOS, Android

8. Speedy Route – Best for Simple Sales Routes

Speedy Route is an excellent route optimizer for delivery routes, salespeople, and anyone who needs to plan complicated trips. There are a few features that make Speed Route superior to many other options.

First, it will automatically reorder your stops to create the quickest and most efficient route possible. It also supports timeboxing, which accommodates situations where you can only arrive at a location before or after a specific time.

After your route is calculated, Speedy Route’s drag-and-drop feature makes it easy for you to tweak your stops’ order and make adjustments as needed. Once you’re happy with your route, you can export your directions to a spreadsheet.

While there are many great things about this tool, there are a few negatives. The free version only allows you to enter ten stops, and the interface isn’t as sleek as some of the other options. Finally, because it’s a web-based solution, they don’t offer any downloadable apps.

• Simple to use
• Reorder your stops to create the most efficient route
• Offers time boxing to accommodate specific arrival times
• Easy to make adjustments to your route
• Can only add 10 locations
• Poor interface
• Downloadable apps not available

Tailored to meet the needs of sales teams, SpeedyRoutel is designed for planning efficient routes for visiting clients or prospects. 

9. Circuit – Good Alternative for Professionals

Circuit provides route optimization software with several advanced features that professionals will love. They offer a free version for those on a tight budget and a paid subscription service ideal for large businesses with more complex needs.

There are many features that make this an excellent tool. First, it allows you to set time constraints on locations if you need to arrive within a certain timeframe. You can also prioritize locations that require you to be there ASAP to ensure they’re first on your route.

Once you set your parameters, Circuit will rearrange your stops based on your parameters to create your optimal route. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play, so you can take your directions with you wherever you go.

You can find all Circuit product updates as they happen, here’s every new feature from last year:

• A new function to compare estimated and actual route durations.
• The ability to set a custom cost per delivery, a maximum number of stops per driver, and to create custom delivery zones, so you can hand a clear plan to your teams on the ground. Users can also create read-only team member roles, to ensure data privacy and allow for information to be accessed or hidden based on their job functions.
• Integration with Circuit’s API, which was not available in earlier versions. Now users can integrate their existing systems with the Circuit for Teams API for end-to-end automation of delivery operations, including data import and optimization & distribution of routes and drivers.
• Stop markers on the maps have been simplified.
• New delivery analytics reports allow users to take a deeper dive into their data to analyze delivery costs and performance metrics, and to gain valuable insights across a number of factors: from the most common reason for failed deliveries to monitoring the percentage of late stops to tracking the average cost per delivery over time.

One of the only downsides to Circuit’s free route planner app is that it only lets you add ten stops which likely won’t be enough for many businesses.

• Assign time constraints to certain locations
• Prioritize the stops you need to get to first
• Optimizes your stops to create the best route
• It only allows you to add 10 stops

Circuit is a great tool for businesses, big or small, seeking to streamline delivery routes with 10 stops or less.

10. Mappr – Best for Delivery Routes

Formerly known as Flightmap, Mappr is an impressive online route planner that’s perfect for sales and delivery professionals. What’s unique about this tool is that it optimizes routes based on your vehicle’s size, speed, and volume. This makes it perfect for companies with different vehicle types.

This delivery route planner app is free for up to 200 stops per month per vehicle for two vehicles. While that might seem like a lot, if you’re delivering every business day, it works out to about 18 stops per day split between two vehicles. While not a ton, that’s still more than most apps.

For an extra charge, Mappr integrates with Tookan, a popular delivery management solution. So, if you’re already using that service, this might be a good choice for you.

Mappr also offers a number of sharing options, including exporting to a spreadsheet, sending your map in an email, or using a shareable link.

• Optimizes routes based on vehicle type.
• Integrates with Tookan
• Plenty of sharing options
• Only about 9 stops per day per vehicle, which won’t be enough for most businesses
• No downloadable app

Ideal for delivery services that need to optimize routes with frequent stops and tight delivery windows.

11. Komoot   – Best for Outdoor Activities

Komoot is a popular route planner and navigation app that’s designed specifically for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and running. 

It allows users to plan their route based on their preferred activity and fitness level and offers a variety of map types, including topographical and satellite maps, that people can use to customize their route based on factors like distance, elevation, and surface type.

Though voice guidance and offline maps are paid features, Komoot’s free version offers turn-by-turn navigation that makes it easy to follow directions while on the go while also giving users access to its large database of popular hiking and biking trails, scenic views, and other outdoor attractions.

And for outdoor enthusiasts who want to plan excursions that go beyond day trips, Komoot also allows users to plan multi-day tours, complete with overnight accommodations and points of interest along the way.

In 2023, Komoot made a lot of updates and released new features that make the app even more powerful and user-friendly:

• Route planner enhancements improved their map display which makes their interface much cleaner, significantly improving overall readability and clarity. 
• Advanced surface analysis lets users gain deeper insights into their route’s terrain, including detailed information about surface types, waypoints, and elevation changes.
• Precise distance and elevation data help users better gauge their physical effort.
• The new “Suggest” functionality can recommend suitable routes based on chosen sport, desired distance or duration, and even public transport accessibility.
• The new “Round Trip” option lets users create circular routes, which ideal for exploring new areas without getting lost.
• The app’s offline functionality was also improved to make sure users can access maps and navigation even in areas with limited or no internet connectivity.

Komoot has announced a lot of new exciting features and updates for 2024:

• Group Tours Feature : Launched on March 27th, 2024, this new feature enables users to easily plan and share social adventures with others. Group simplifies the organization and navigation of rides for friends and groups.
• Partnership with HomeToGo : Komoot announced a strategic partnership with vacation rental platform HomeToGo in early April 2024. This collaboration is expected to facilitate travelers in planning outdoor activities and finding suitable accommodations along their routes.
• Incremental Improvements to Mobile App : Komoot regularly updates its iOS and Android apps to address bugs, enhance performance, and introduce new features. The latest versions, rolled out in early 2024, focused on delivering a smoother user experience. 

Though first-time users will find themselves facing a bit of a learning curve, the app has gained a strong community of users who share their favorite routes, making it easy to discover new places and activities. However, it’s worth noting that users have reported ongoing frustration with Komoot’s routing algorithms occasionally favoring gravel paths over paved roads for road cycling routes, a concern that persists into 2024.

One of Komoot’s particularly useful and community-oriented features includes tracking activity data, including distance, elevation, and speed and can sync with other fitness tracking apps like Garmin, Strava, and Apple Health.

• Customizable routes
• Turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance
• Large database of points of interest
• Plan multi-day tours
• A strong community of users
• Premium features require a subscription
• Learning curve

Focuses on outdoor navigation, great for cyclists, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Available on: PC, Mac, iOS, Android 

Where Free Solutions Fall Short

Free route planning tools are great for small businesses on a budget, but you’ll likely realize that you’ll need a more robust solution once you start to grow.

Here are a few drawbacks of free solutions:

• Most only let you add 10 – 20 stops
• Not all of them optimize the order of your stops
• You can only plan one route at a time

If you have a large fleet that makes many stops per day, these limitations will greatly reduce your efficiency. If you have the budget, we highly recommend looking into an affordable paid tool like Maptive .

Plan Routes Quicker and Easier with Maptive

Maptive is a mapping software platform that includes a sophisticated route planner and optimizer. It’s built using Google Maps API, which gives you access to their industry-leading technology, along with many additional features that the free Google maps tool doesn’t provide.

Here’s why Maptive is the superior choice for route planning:

• Add an unlimited number of stops to your routes
• Automatically reorder your stops to create the most efficient route
• Plan multiple routes at once
• Upload all your locations within seconds from a spreadsheet
• Maptive is cloud-based so that drivers can access their routes from anywhere on any device.

Try Maptive Today

Sign up for a free trial of Maptive to start creating better routes for yourself and your team.

Brad Crisp is the CEO at Maptive.com, based in Denver, CO and born in San Francisco, CA. He has extensive experience in Business Mapping, GIS, Data Visualization, Mapping Data Analytics and all forms of software development. His career includes Software Development and Venture Capital dating back to 1998 at businesses like Maptive, GlobalMojo (now Giving Assistant), KPG Ventures, Loopnet, NextCard, and Banking.

Learn More About Our Features

Find out why Maptive is the most powerful mapping tool on the market.

Read Testimonials

See what Maptive users have to say about our software.

Start Your Free, No Risk, 10 Day Trial

No credit card required. No surprises. Just Results.

Related Articles

• Business Intelligence
• Entrepreneurs

Best Franchises to Own in California

• Location Analysis

Why Location Is Important for Restaurants?

• Data Science

What is a GIS Consultant & How to Become One

Privacy overview.

Stopping Point Calculator

Plan a road trip with stops.

Travelmath helps you figure out where to stop when planning a long road trip from one location to another. The best stopping point for an overnight hotel stay or a break from driving often depends on how far or how long you want to drive before pausing to rest. You can find the closest city to your stopping point to look for hotels, or explore other cities and towns along the route. Use this as a road trip planner when you're driving cross-country or mapping a route with multiple stops.

You can also calculate the halfway point between cities, the total driving distance or driving time , or get a budget for your next road trip.

Home  ·  About  ·  Terms  ·  Privacy

Key Products

• Route Optimization API

Optimize routing, task allocation and dispatch

• Directions and Distance Matrix API

Calculate accurate ETAs, distances and directions

• Navigation API & SDKs

Provide turn-by-turn navigation instructions

• Live Tracking API & SDKs

Track and manage assets in real time

• All Products

Product Demos

See NextBillion.ai APIs & SDKs In action

• Integrations

Easily integrate our products with your tools

Platform Overview

Learn about how Nextbillion.ai's platform is designed

Routing Customizations

Learn about NextBillion.ai's routing & map customizations capabilities

Supply Chain & Logistics

Get regulation-compliant truck routes

• Fleet Management

Solve fleet tracking, routing and navigation

• Last-Mile Delivery

Maximize fleet utilization with optimal routes

• On-Demand Delivery

Real-time ETA calculation

• Middle Mile Delivery

Real-time ETA Calculation

• Ride Hailing

Optimized routes for cab services

• Non-Emergency Medical Transport

Optimize routing and dispatch

Field Workforce

• Field Services

Automate field service scheduling

• Waste Collection

Efficient route planning with road restrictions

BY BUSINESS TYPE

Logistics technology providers

Fleet owners

BY LOGISTICS TYPE

Long haul trucking

Middle-mile logistics

Last-mile delivery

Urban mobility

Field services

Non-emergency transportation

See NextBillion.ai APIs & SDKs in Action

• Case Studies

Discover what customers are building in real time with NextBillion.ai

Get in-depth and detailed insights

• Product Updates

Latest product releases and enhancements

Navigate the spatial world with engaging and informative content

NextBillion.ai vs. Google Cloud Fleet Routing

Experience a more powerful optimization and scheduling platform, better optimized routes, advanced integration capabilities and flexible pricing with NextBillion.ai.

• API Documentation

Comprehensive API guides and references

Interactive API examples

Integrate tools you use to run your business

• Technical Blogs

Deep-dive into the technical details

Get quick answers to common queries

FEATURED TECHNICAL BLOG

How to Implement Route Optimization API using Python

Learn how to implement route optimization for vehicle fleet management using python in this comprehensive tutorial.

ROUTE OPTIMIZATION API

API Reference

DISTANCE MATRIX API

Navigation api & sdk.

Android SDK

Flutter SDK

Documentation

Integration

NEXTBILLION.AI

Partner with us

Our story, vision and mission

Meet our tribe

Latest scoop on product updates, partnerships and more

Come join us - see open positions

Reach out to us for any product- or media-related queries

For support queries, write to us at

To partner with us, contact us at

For all media-related queries, reach out to us at

For all career-related queries, reach out to us at

• Request a Demo

Table of Contents

Google Maps Trip Planner: How to use it in 2024?

Rishabh singh.

• June 20, 2024

Arranging a dream vacation is exciting, but it can also be very stressful. You can follow travel guides, borrow other people’s itineraries, or—my personal favorite—use Google Maps Trip Planner to create the vacation of your dreams to give yourself peace of mind. 

The Google app and web interface can be utilized to:

• Add destinations.
• Pin locations with color coding
• Obtain directions to several locations.
• Organize the ideal vacation.

By reading this article, you’ll learn how to use the Google Maps Trip Planner in a way that will change the way you plan your trips. From basic setup to advanced tips and tricks, I’ll make sure you know how to find the best routes, avoid potential problems, and make the most of your time. 

How to Plan a Road Trip on Google Maps?

Planning a road trip can be fun, and Google Maps has many useful tools to help you do it quickly. By taking things one step at a time, you can ensure that your road trip is well-planned and fun. 

Now for the exciting part: making travel plans. This is how I go about it:

Step 1: Generate a new custom map

You’ll have a ton of options when maps open up. Give your map a name first. When you select “ Untitled Map ,” a dialog box containing the map’s name and description will appear.

I’m organizing a three-day trip to Gangotri in India for this example. We’ll refer to this map as “ Road Trip to Gangotri .”

You can add your locations to your map once you’ve given it a name.

Step 2: Include and personalize your places

The exciting part is about to begin: adding every location you want to see while traveling. I’m going to assume that you already have a list of locations, but if you don’t, use this opportunity to learn about the city and compile a list of attractions.

Making a list will greatly facilitate and expedite the planning process.

Google Maps uses “pins” to represent your locations. Use the search bar to find the location of interest before you begin adding pins.

Let’s begin with one of Mussories’s most well-known landmarks: Lachhiwala Nature Park.

When you search for a location, maps will enlarge it and give you the option to “ Add to Map .” You can add the point of interest to your map layer by clicking or tapping this button.

You can alter each point of interest’s color and icon to help you keep your pins more arranged.

A paint can icon will appear when you hover over the address. To access your customization choices, click it. You can select from a variety of icons on Google Maps, such as those for monuments, museums, gardens, and more.

Thanks to these icons, understanding each destination is a bit simpler. Additionally, that may facilitate the following step.

Step 3: Divide your journey into several layers or categories

After setting that up, I can begin arranging my daily points of interest.

You are free to include any categories (or layers) in your trip plan as long as they are relevant.

If you’re organizing a road trip itinerary, for instance, you might decide to divide your journey into cities and include attractions in each one. Perhaps you would like to create categories for foods or particular interests. You can tailor Google Maps to your own travel preferences and style, which is a great feature.

How many levels is a map capable of having?

Although layers can help keep your map organized, don’t use them excessively. The maximum number of layers you can add is ten.

It might be necessary to carefully organize your layers or categories if you’re organizing a large, intricate trip.

For every layer, how many location pins can you add?

You can customize each map you make in My Maps with up to 2,000 different pins.

Step 4: Make travel arrangements

Now that you have established all of your categories, you can begin creating your schedule. Organizing points of interest into distinct layers or categories is simple. To move the pin, simply click and drag it to the desired location. In our example, I made three layers, one for each day, so I dragged each point of interest into the appropriate layer to plan my itinerary.

What happens, though, if you don’t divide your trip into days? What happens if you group your points of interest by city or category (restaurants, museums, etc.)?  Not a problem! You are free to arrange your layers however you see fit. The key is that Google My Maps facilitates easy trip visualization. You can quickly determine which points of interest are adjacent to one another. This makes making your itinerary in a digital planner or on paper simple.

Step 5: Make reservations

Now that you have arranged your travel, you can begin:

• Make hotel reservations
• Making reservations for car rentals
• Making reservations for any tickets that may be required.

Plan your reservation as far in advance as you can. There’s a chance that rooms and tickets will sell out if you wait too long.

Step 6: Cite off your map

You can give your itinerary and map to friends and family if you’re traveling with them.

Here’s how to do it:

• Return to the Google My Maps dashboard’s main screen.

You can use Twitter, Facebook, or email to share your map. If you have a website, you can also integrate your map into it.

Step 7: Use your phone to access your map

You’ve made your map and distributed it among your pals. However, you must have the Google Maps app installed on your phone in order to use it.

To view your maps on a mobile device, follow these steps:

• Launch the Google Maps application.
• Select Saved.

• Click Maps at the bottom.
• Select the map of your trip from the list.

Stay ahead in mapping and location technology!

What are the drawbacks of using google maps as an itinerary planner.

When used as a full itinerary planner, Google Maps isn’t as useful as it could be for finding your way and planning your routes. Here are three major problems that could make planning your trip harder, especially if you want more detailed and personalized help.

1. Lack of Detailed Itinerary Management

Google Maps does a great job of giving directions and showing routes, but it doesn’t do a great job of managing schedules. When travelers need to make a detailed itinerary with activities, accommodations, and scheduled events, Google Maps isn’t the best tool for organizing and managing all of these parts.

• Limited Activity Planning : Google Maps lets you add more than one stop, but it doesn’t let you schedule activities or events in detail at each one. You can’t give each stop a time limit or make a schedule for your trip.
• No Integration with Other Tools : Unlike specialized itinerary planners, Google Maps does not work with other travel planning services and tools, like booking systems for hotels, restaurants, or tours. This makes it harder to keep track of all the details of your trip.

2. Poor Collaboration and Sharing Options

Google Maps doesn’t have as many features for planning trips with a group as dedicated trip-planning apps. You can share routes and locations, but it doesn’t have the advanced tools for working together that many travelers need.

• Simple Sharing Options: You can email or post on social media to share routes and locations, but Google Maps doesn’t offer a central location for groups to work together. You can’t edit an itinerary together with other people or see what changes other users have made.
• Lack of Interactive Features: Unlike trip planning apps that provide interactive features such as voting on activities, commenting, and assigning tasks, Google Maps lacks these capabilities, making it less effective for collaborative planning.

3. Limited Flexibility and Customization

Google Maps API has powerful mapping and routing features, but it’s not very flexible or easy to customize:

• Predefined Functions: The API is made to provide certain functions, like geocoding, routing, and mapping. It can be hard to change these features to fit the needs of a specific business, and you often have to find ways to get around problems.
• Limited Access to Data: The API might not fully allow access to or customization of some data, like real-time traffic and historical traffic patterns. This could make it harder to create highly customized routing solutions. 

Travelers who want a more powerful and adaptable way to plan their trips. Travel planning apps might be a better choice for people who need more advanced features for making itineraries.

Is There A Better Option For Route Planning?

A lot of people use Google Maps to plan simple routes, but it might not always work for businesses and advanced users who want more powerful and flexible tools. Nextbillion.ai is a better alternative that can handle the needs of complex logistics and delivery operations with its advanced route optimization features.

Why Should You Use Nextbillion.ai to Plan Your Route?

NextBillion.ai offers a complete and adaptable Route Optimization API that is meant to boost productivity, reduce time and money wasted, and raise efficiency. 

NextBillion.ai’s API is better than Google Maps because it can handle both Single and Multi-Vehicle Routing Problems (VRP). This makes it perfect for companies that need to handle complicated logistics.

Customization and Flexibility: NextBillion.ai lets you change the routing algorithm to fit your needs, taking into account things like delivery priorities, time windows , and vehicle capacity. This customization ensures that you get the best routes for your business.

Real-Time Adaptability: The API uses real-time traffic data to change routes on the fly, which is very important for keeping things running smoothly when traffic conditions change. This feature cuts down on wait times and makes the best use of resources.

Scalability: NextBillion.ai’s API can be used to manage either a small fleet of vehicles or a large cluster of vehicles with a lot of moving parts. It can handle up to 4000 tasks in a single route optimization problem , which makes it good for large-scale operations.

How to Use NextBillion.ai to Plan Your Routes?

Here are the steps you need to take to start planning your route with NextBillion.ai:

Step 1: Sign up and get your API key

Step 2: Compile your input data to use

Find out about your jobs (like where to deliver), your vehicles (like fleet information), and your shipments (like pick-up and delivery tasks).

Put this information in the JSON format. This information will be sent to the API in the form of a POST request. 

Step 3: Set up the parameters for optimization

You can also improve your routes even more with advanced features like re-optimization , order grouping , or task sequencing .

Step 4: Get optimized routes and use them

You will be given a unique task ID once your optimization request is sent.

To get the optimized routes based on the task ID, use the Optimization GET method.

When you use these routes in your logistics, you’ll start getting better planning results.

Refer to the tutorials page for a more detailed understanding of Route Optimization API.

Getting Started with Route Optimization

While Google Maps is an excellent tool for personal trip planning and basic navigation, it might not be the best fit for complex route planning scenarios, especially for businesses. 

Its limitations in handling multiple stops, dynamic route adjustments, and custom constraints can pose significant challenges for logistics and delivery operations.

For businesses looking to optimize routes with advanced features and greater flexibility, NextBillion.ai offers a robust alternative. 

With capabilities to handle Single and Multi-Vehicle Routing Problems, real-time traffic data integration, and customizable constraints, NextBillion.ai’s Route Optimization API is designed to meet the complex needs of modern logistics.

To get started with route optimization contact us by clicking the button below and get your API key.

Route Optimization: What is it and How to do it?

Best 5 Route Planning Software to Try in 2024 [In-Depth Guide]

Best 7 Google Maps Alternatives & Competitors in 2024

Attention road trippers! These apps play vacation planner, make life on the road a dream

For many people, the classic American road trip is a rite of passage.

The 48 states on the continental U.S. are home to rolling hills, mountains, rivers, oceans and countless other attractions. And thanks to modern technology, planning the perfect road trip is easier than ever.

Just juice up your phone, make sure your car is ready to roll , grab your go-to road snacks, and let your smartphone do the hard work.  

Apps, like Roadtrippers or InRoute, can do most of the route planning for you.

Begin by inputting your starting and ending point, then let it suggest fun places to check out, whether you're taking the direct route via the highways or the winding roads less traveled.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Watch this video to learn more about some of the apps you need for your next road trip.   

Roadtrip essentials

A good road trip needs these three things: Good snacks, an excellent playlist, and plenty of gas. 

If you’re driving through an unfamiliar area, fill up your gas tank sooner rather than later to reduce the risk of getting stranded on empty.

Check out these apps to keep your car juiced up along the route: 

• Gas Buddy  

Gas Buddy helps you find gas stations near you and tells you how much the gas costs. 

Prices are put in by other users, so there is a chance prices may have changed by the time you arrive. If that happens, you can report the price change in the app. 

PlugShare helps you locate EV charging stations that are compatible with a variety of electric vehicles. 

And just in case you need it, because you almost certainly will, Toilet Finder can help you find a nearby facility to take a comfort break.

The app also tells you if the toilet can be used without charge and if it's wheelchair accessible. 

Taking a road trip with a pet

If your copilot has fur and paws, BringFido will help you find dog-friendly places to stay, eat, visit, and more. 

It even includes reviews from other users to help you make the best decision for you and your pet. 

On the road again

By the way, before you hit play and take the wide-open road, download your car insurance app on your phone.

Hopefully, you won’t need it, but it can make it much easier to file a claim or call for roadside assistance. 

Reviewed-approved car recommendations 

Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.  

Reviewed helps you find the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of experts test everything from waterproof speakers to air purifiers so you can shop for the best of the best. 

• Customer-loved portable car vacuum: ThisWorx Car Vacuum Cleaner  
• Durable phone car holders: Beam Electronics Phone Holder  
• A clutch jump-start box: N OCO Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Box  
• This well-reviewed dash cam: RedTiger Dash Cam  
• A handy USB C charger: Anker USB C Car Charger  

More problems, solved

• Breeze through security: 6 tips to quickly get through airport security
• Expand workspace: Transform your iPad into a second monitor
• Pre-travel checklist:  4 things you need to do before your next trip
• Fly easier: 4 travel tips to make flying easier
• Get inspired:   3 tips to plan your next trip using social media
• Be prepared:   3 travel apps to download before your next trip
• Carry on:   5 tips to travel safely with your tech like phones and laptops
• Easily get around:  4 tech tips to easily explore a new city
• Stream offline: How to watch TV shows, movies offline
• Speak in any language: 5 ways to use Google Translate on your phone

5 Google Maps Tips You Need To Know When Planning Your Next Trip

W hether a brief weekend escape or an extensive expedition across continents, planning a trip can be a daunting task. The challenge of selecting the ideal destinations, navigating through unfamiliar territories, and ensuring that you experience all the essential sights without overlooking anything, can quickly become overwhelming for any traveler. This is where online maps come into play, and one prominent tool that almost everyone has used at some point is Google Maps.

Google Maps goes beyond basic directions . It offers a suite of features designed to make trip planning not just easier, but also more enjoyable. You can map out itineraries, discover new attractions, get insights into local restaurants and services, and even find electric vehicle charging stations . The platform's real-time updates, user reviews, and detailed information on points of interest can help you make informed decisions while exploring new destinations. Moreover, its customization features allow you to create personalized maps that cater specifically to your travel plans, which are also shareable. Here are five essential Google Maps tips that every traveler should know. These tips will not only help you streamline your trip-planning process but also ensure that your travels are as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Read more: 12 Smart Gadgets You Didn't Know Existed

Utilizing Offline Maps

When you're heading out on a trip, one thing you definitely don't want to worry about is losing access to your maps when your signal drops. That's where offline maps come in handy. Google Maps allows you to download maps for offline use, ensuring you never get lost even when you're off the grid.

Downloading maps for offline use is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

• Open the Google Maps app on your smartphone or tablet. 
• Tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner.
• Choose Offline maps.
• Tap Select your own map in the following window.
• Drag the map window to your desired area.
• Select Download.

Depending on the size of the area you're downloading and your internet connection speed, this process may take a few moments.

Once the download is complete, you'll be able to access the map even without an internet connection. Offline maps are not only convenient, but they can also save you time and frustration. Imagine hiking in a remote area and losing your cell signal — having the offline map ensures you can still navigate your way back to your starting point without any hassle. This is also one of the many secret Google Maps features that can come in handy.

Customizing Your Route With Multiple Stops

We all have days packed with errands or sightseeing, where we just wish we could plan the routes efficiently. Google Maps allows you to do that by customizing your route with multiple stops. It's a nifty feature that can save you time and make your trips more organized.

Follow these steps:

• Open Google Maps on your device and enter your final destination.
• Click on the three buttons next to your starting point and select Add stop. 
• You can add multiple stops by repeating this step. 
• Rearrange stops by dragging the three lines next to each destination.

Now, Google Maps will calculate the most efficient route for you, taking into account all your stops along the way. This is perfect for those days when you have several places to visit or errands to run, but you want to make sure you're not zigzagging all over town. It can also save you time and fuel. Plus, it's a great way to ensure you don't forget any important stops along the way. 

When customizing your route with multiple stops on Google Maps, keep in mind to arrange your stops in a logical order to minimize backtracking and optimize efficiency. Additionally, consider traffic conditions and estimated travel times between each stop to plan your schedule accordingly. Lastly, ensure that all stops are accurately inputted to avoid any confusion or missed destinations along the way.

Taking Advantage Of Live Traffic Updates

This feature provides real-time information about traffic conditions, allowing you to avoid packed routes and save valuable time.

As you navigate with Google Maps, the app constantly monitors traffic conditions along your route. If there is heavy traffic, accidents, or road closures ahead, Google Maps will highlight the problematic area on the map using yellow or red markers.

To enable live traffic updates, open the Google Maps app and enter your destination. Once your route is set, Google Maps will display real-time traffic information along the way, including any incidents or slowdowns. You can then choose to follow the suggested route or explore alternative options based on the traffic conditions. 

When using live traffic updates on Google Maps, keep in mind to regularly check for updates throughout your journey to stay informed about changing road conditions. You can also report problems on the road yourself on Google Maps . Lastly, be flexible with your travel plans and prepared to follow alternative routes suggested by Google Maps to avoid congestion and minimize travel time.

By taking advantage of live traffic updates, you can make informed decisions about your route and avoid getting stuck in gridlock. Whether you're commuting to work or heading out on a road trip, this feature can help you reach your destination more efficiently.

Exploring Nearby Attractions And Restaurants

When you're in a new area, or even just exploring your own neighborhood, Google Maps can be a great tool for discovering nearby attractions and restaurants. 

To start exploring:

• Open Google Maps and zoom in on the area of your interest. You should see several options below the search bar, including Restaurants, Gas, Coffee, Shopping, ATMs, and more. 
• Click on the option you want to explore. For instance, if you are looking for places to eat nearby, select Restaurants to see a list of dining options in the area. Each restaurant will be marked with its location on the map, along with details such as the establishment's name, its rating, and sometimes photos or reviews. 
• Refine your search further by applying filters for rating and distance. 
• After selecting a restaurant that catches your interest, click on it to view more detailed information, including its address, hours of operation, contact details, and directions on how to get there. 

Google Maps also allows you to call the restaurant directly from the app if you wish to make a reservation or inquire about menu items.

You can explore all these categories by swiping right on the options pane below the search bar. To view the full list, click on the More button (three dots) at the very end.

Create A Custom Map To Share With Friends And Family

You can also easily create a custom map and share it with whoever you want on Google Maps. It's a great way to collaborate on travel plans, recommend must-visit places, or simply share your favorite local hangouts.

• Open Google Maps on your computer and sign into your Google account. 
• Click on the menu icon and choose Saved > Maps > Open My Maps. 
• Start a new map by clicking the Create A New Map button. 
• Give your map a title and a description that encapsulates the essence of your adventure or theme. This could be anything from "Family Road Trip to Yellowstone" to "Best Coffee Shops in New York City." 
• Populate your map with markers. Click on the marker icon, then click on the location on the map you wish to mark. For each marker, you can add a detailed description, upload photos, and even include links for more information. 
• Additionally, Google My Maps allows you to draw paths and shapes, perfect for outlining routes or highlighting areas of interest. 
• Once your map is ready, click on the Share button. Here, you'll be prompted to set the map's privacy settings. You can choose to make it public, share it with specific people, or keep it private with a link.
• Finally, invite your friends via email or simply send them the link.

Read the original article on SlashGear .

Official websites use .boston.gov

A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Boston Celtics Victory Parade and Traffic Advisory

The City of Boston will host a duck boat parade on Friday, June 21, 2024, to celebrate the Celtics winning their 18th NBA Championship.

• Last updated: June 21, 2024

Parade Route and Map

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Causeway Street and then follow Staniford Street to Cambridge Street to Tremont Street to Boylston Street, before ending near the Hynes Convention Center.

Download the map (pdf)

Public Transportation

Those attending the parade are strongly encouraged to use public transportation. Riders can find more information on MBTA service, parking, paying fares, and more during Friday’s Celtics Championship Parade on the MBTA's website . 

The MBTA will have increased subway service and modified Commuter Rail schedules with additional train times before and after the parade. Riders are strongly encouraged to purchase roundtrip fares in advance.

Accessibility

The parade route will include two designated accessible viewing areas - on City Hall Plaza on the Cambridge Street side and outside of the Boston Public Library on Boylston Street.  There is no reserved seating at these viewing areas. 

Bluebikes, the regional bike share service, is another great way to get around the City. Information on passes and station locations may be found on the Bluebikes website .

Parking Restrictions (No Parking)

• Causeway Street , Both sides from North Washington Street to Merrimac Street
• Staniford Street , Both sides from Causeway Street to Cambridge Street
• Cambridge Street , Both sides from Staniford Street to Tremont Street
• Tremont Street , Both sides from Cambridge Street to Boylston Street
• Boylston Street , Both sides from Washington Street to Massachusetts Avenue
• Charles Street South , Both sides from Park Plaza to Boylston Street
• Charles Street , Both sides from Beacon Street to Boylston Street
• Arlington Street , Both sides from Newbury street to Saint James Avenue
• Berkeley Street , Both sides from Saint James Avenue to Newbury Street
• Clarendon Street , Both sides from Saint James Avenue to Newbury Street
• Dartmouth Street , Both sides from Newbury Street to Saint James Avenue
• Exeter Street , Both sides from Newbury Street to Blagden Street
• Fairfield Street , Both sides from Boylston Street to Newbury Street
• Gloucester Street , Both sides from Boylston Street to Newbury Street
• Hereford Street , Both sides from Boylston Street to Newbury Street
• Cambria Street , Both sides, from Boylston Street to end at Hynes Center garage 
• Scotia Street , Both sides, from Saint Cecilia Street to Dalton Street 
• Saint Cecilia Street , Both sides, from Belvidere Street to Boylston Street
• Dalton Street , Both sides, from Belvidere Street to Boylston Street
• Providence Street , Both sides, from Arlington Street to Berkeley Street
• West Street , Both sides, from Washington Street to Tremont Street
• Temple Place , Both sides, from Washington Street to Tremont Street
• Bromfield Street , Both sides, from Washington Street to Tremont Street
• Park Street , Both sides, from Tremont Street to Beacon Street
• Beacon Street , Both sides, from Somerset Street to Tremont Street
• School Street , Both sides, from Tremont Street to Province Street
• Somerset Street , Both sides, from Ashburton Place to Cambridge Street
• New Chardon Street , Both sides, from Cambridge Street to Merrimac Street (Congress Street)
• Bowdoin Street , Both sides, from Dern Street to Cambridge Street
• New Sudbury Street , Both sides, from Cambridge Street to Hawkins Street
• Congress Street , Both sides, from New Sudbury Street to State Street
• State Street , Both sides, from Congress Street to Court Street
• Court Street , Both sides, from Washington Street to Cambridge Street
• New Chardon Street , Both sides, from Cambridge Street to Merrimac Street (Congress Street) 
• Staniford Street , Both sides, from Cambridge Street to Merrimac Street 
• Lomasney Way , Both sides, from Causeway Street to Nashua Street 
• Lancaster Street , Both sides, from Causeway Street to Merrimac Street 
• Portland Street , Both sides, from Causeway Street to Valenti Way 
• Friend Street , Both sides, from Causeway Street to Valenti Way 
• Canal Street , Both sides, from Causeway Street to Valenti Way 
• Haverhill Street , Both sides, from Causeway Street to Valenti Way 
• Beverly Street , Both sides, from Causeway Street to Valenti Way 
• Medford Street , Both sides, from Causeway Street to North Washington Street 
• Plympton Street , Both sides, from Albany Street to Harrison Avenue 
• East Dedham Street , Both sides, from Harrison Avenue to Albany Street 

Public Safety

Please note:.

• Underage and public drinking of alcohol will not be tolerated.
• Boston Police and Boston EMS will have a large presence along the parade route.
• The Office of Emergency Management will also have misting tents out to provide cooling relief at City Hall Plaza and the Boston Common, along with cooling towels.
• Residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertBoston emergency notifications  for the latest updates.

Designing a Custom Route Planner with Google Maps API

Getting Started with Google Maps API

Before embarking on building a route planner, you need to have access to the Google Maps API. This requires setting up an API key through the Google Cloud Platform. Once you have your key, you can load the Google Maps script in your HTML file:

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual API key.

Design Considerations for Your Route Planner

When designing a route planner, consider:

• User interface: How will users interact with your planner? Ensure it's intuitive and accessible.
• Data handling: Determine how you will manage waypoints, directions, and other data inputs/outputs.
• Performance: Optimize for responsiveness and speed, particularly if handling complex routes or large datasets.

Creating a Map Instance

To start with, you need to create a map instance on your web page where the routes will be displayed. You can do this by defining a <div> element for the map and initializing it with JavaScript:

Adding Routes to the Map

To add routes to the map, use the DirectionsService object. This object communicates with the Google Maps API Directions service and returns the route between two or more locations. Below is an example of how to use DirectionsService:

Advanced Features

Beyond basic routing, you may want to implement features such as:

• Waypoints: Intermediate stops along a route.
• Traffic conditions: Real-time traffic data for more accurate ETA calculations.
• Travel modes: Options for driving, walking, bicycling, or public transport.

Finding the Right Expertise

If you're interested in enhancing this article or becoming a contributing author, we'd love to hear from you.

Please contact Sasha at [email protected] to discuss the opportunity further or to inquire about adding a direct link to your resource. We welcome your collaboration and contributions!

Hire JavaScript and Vue.js Developers with RxJS Skills

Hire JavaScript and PHP Developers with Bamboo Skill for Your Remote Tech Team

Hire Remote Software Developers with JavaScript, TypeScript, and jQuery UI Skills

Watch CBS News

CDK cyberattack shuts down auto dealerships across the U.S. Here's what to know.

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Aimee Picchi

Updated on: June 21, 2024 / 5:15 PM EDT / CBS News

CDK Global, a company that provides auto dealerships across the U.S. with software for managing sales and other services, was shut down for a third straight day Friday after cyberattacks crippled the platform. 

The outage is disrupting roughly 15,000 car sellers that depend on CDK's dealer management software to run their businesses, including vehicle sales. Some dealership employees have resorted to pen and paper to handle transactions, but said most deals had ground to a halt. CDK has not indicated when its systems will be back up and running, but suggested the outage could last several days. 

"We are actively investigating a cyber incident," a CDK spokesperson told CBS News. "Out of an abundance of caution and concern for our customers, we have shut down most of our systems and are working diligently to get everything up and running as quickly as possible." 

CDK, which said it had restored some services on Wednesday, told CBS MoneyWatch on Thursday afternoon that its systems were again offline after it suffered another cyberattack. 

"Late in the evening of June 19, we experienced an additional cyber incident and proactively shut down most of our systems," a CDK spokesperson said. "In partnership with third-party experts, we are assessing the impact and providing regular updates to our customers. We remain vigilant in our efforts to reinstate our services and get our dealers back to business as usual as quickly as possible."

Calls to a CDK customer support hotline produced a continuous busy signal. But the company's automated recording said the outage could affect dealerships for days, according to  PC Mag . The message told callers, "At this time, we do not have an estimated time frame for resolution and therefore our dealers' systems will not be available likely for several days," the publication reported.

The message also warned callers that "bad actors" posing as CDK support staff were trying to obtain customers' credentials in what are known as phishing attacks, according to The Associated Press . 

The number of cyberattacks has been on the rise in the last year, with more than 3,200 data breaches in 2023, a 78% jump from the prior year, according to a new study from data firm  SOAX . Those breaches impacted more than 65 million victims last year, it added.

What is CDK? 

CDK's dealer management system, or DMS, lets car vendors operate their business, including handling payroll, inventory, customer relations and office operations. The technology also enables dealers to line car buyers line up with financing and insurance.

On its website, it also touts its cybersecurity capabilities. "CDK Cybersecurity Solutions provide a three-tiered cybersecurity strategy to prevent, protect and respond to cyberattacks so you can defend your dealership," it says. 

Brookfield Business Partners, a Toronto-based private equity firm, acquired the company in 2022 in a  deal  valued at more than $8 billion.

When did the cyberattack begin?

The cyberattack on CDK Global began Tuesday evening, Bleeping Computer , a cybersecurity news site, reported Wednesday, taking the 15,000 car dealerships it serves offline.  

As mentioned above, CDK said it suffered another cyberattack on Wednesday evening. It is not currently known who, or what group, is behind the cyberattacks. 

Mike Stanton, CEO of the National Automobile Dealers Association, said in a statement on Friday that "dealers are very committed to protecting their customer information and are actively seeking information from CDK to determine the nature and scope of the cyber incident so they can respond appropriately."

How are dealerships responding?

Some dealerships appeared to get creative to continue doing business during the outage. Dealership employees posted about the outage on  Reddit  Wednesday, sharing that they were relying on spreadsheets and sticky notes to sell customers small parts and make repairs, but that they weren't making any large transactions. 

One employee asked other dealership employees, "How many of you are standing around because your whole shop runs on CDK?" under the heading "CDK down," with users in Wisconsin and Colorado confirming their dealership transaction systems were offline. 

—The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• Cyberattack

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

More from CBS News

3 ways the CDK cyberattack is affecting car buyers

CDK Global calls recent cyberattack a "ransom event"

Banker filmed punching woman at Brooklyn Pride quits job at Moelis & Co.

Ford recalls more than 550,000 F-150 pickups over faulty transmission