Apple Maps is a useful navigation app that comes pre-installed on iPhones. It provides turn-by-turn directions to help you get to your destination. One handy feature of Apple Maps is the ability to add stopovers or “waypoints” along your route. This allows you to plan routes with multiple destinations, like running errands or going on a road trip.
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Add a Stopover in Your Route
Adding a stopover in Apple Maps is easy. Here are the steps:
- Open Apple Maps and enter your first destination. Search for the first place you want to route to. You can enter an address, location name, contact name from your phone, etc.
- Tap the route button. This is the icon that looks like a car inside a box next to your destination.
- Tap “Add Stop.” This option is near the top of the screen after you tap the route button.
- Enter your stopover destination. Search for and select the next place you want to stop at along your trip.
- Repeat to add more stopovers. You can keep adding additional stops by tapping the “Add Stop” button and entering new destinations.
Apple Maps will automatically optimize the route with all your stops in the most efficient order. It will provide directions from your current location to the first stopover, then to the next stops, before finally ending at your last entered destination.
Reorder, Edit, or Delete Stopovers
As you build your multi-stop trip, you may want to customize it further by reordering, editing or removing stops:
- Reorder Stops: Tap the three horizontal line menu button next to the search bar. Select your route to open the trip overview. Here you can tap and drag stops to reorder them.
- Edit Stop: Tap a stop in your trip overview to edit or remove it. You can change the location by entering a new search.
- Delete Stop: Swipe left on a stop in your trip overview and tap “Delete” to remove it from your route.
Plan Trip Details and Options
When planning a multi-stop trip in Apple Maps, consider trip options to customize your journey:
- Check arrival times: Your trip overview will estimate arrival times so you can plan your schedule. Note that traffic conditions may affect times.
- Compare routes: Tap the three dots next to estimated arrival time to select from fastest, shortest or avoid highways routes.
- Share trip: Tap the share button in your trip overview to share your multi-stop trip with others. This gives them access to the entire planned route.
- Start trip: When ready, tap “Go” to start turn-by-turn navigation. Your first stop will be set as the initial destination.
As you navigate between stops, Apple Maps has handy features to improve the experience:
- Automatic directions: As you reach each stop, Apple Maps will automatically route you to the next destination without needing to re-enter it.
- Custom notifications: You can set notifications to alert you when you’re getting close to the next stop.
- ETA updates: Trip overview ETAs will update to reflect current traffic conditions.
- Reorder on the fly: Tap into your trip overview from navigation to reorder upcoming stops.
- Add more stops: Even while navigating your planned route, you can still use “Add Stop” to append new stops to the end.
Tips for Using Stopovers Efficiently
Here are some tips for efficiently planning and navigating multi-stop trips:
- Cluster stops that are close together to minimize driving. Apple Maps will route them in order of proximity.
- Make sure to account for time needed at each stop when looking at ETAs. Don’t schedule stops too tightly.
- If a stop takes longer than expected, reorder upcoming stops or edit the next stop’s arrival time.
- Name each stop so you know the order at a glance. For longer trips, add notes on details like contacts or items needed.
- Share your trip with passengers so they can track progress and changes.
- Use Siri shortcuts to quickly add frequent or favorite multi-stop routes.
