Get directions by car, on foot or by bike

Directions finds the way from one place to another by car, on foot or by bike. It shows up to three routes to choose from, with the time and distance of each, the steps to follow, and for walks and rides, how much you will climb.

#Get a route

Each choice shows its time, its distance and the roads it mostly follows ("via Boylston Street and Van Ness Street"), and notes Tolls or Ferry when it uses them. The first is marked Fastest.

Other ways to set a stop:

• Select the pin button at the end of a box, then click the map where you want that stop.
• Right-click the map (or press and hold) and choose Directions from here or Directions to here.
• Drag a lettered marker on the map to move that stop; the route follows.
• Select Start from your location before you fill anything in. Your browser asks whether to share your location.

Reverse swaps the start and the destination.

#Turn-by-turn steps, printing and sharing

Under the route choices is the list of steps, each with the distance to the next one. Select a step to zoom the map to where it happens.

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• Print prints the steps with a picture of the map.
• Share copies a link to these directions, with every stop and your options, so someone else opens the same route.

#Walking and cycling

Walking and cycling routes use footpaths, trails, crossings and bike paths, not only streets. Cycling routes prefer bike paths and quieter roads and avoid steep hills where they can.

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For walks and rides, an Elevation chart appears under the routes: the total climb and descent, the lowest and highest points, and the shape of the hills along the way. For drives, select Elevation profile to see it.

#Several stops

Select Add stop to add a stop before the destination. A trip can have up to ten places in all, lettered A, B, C and on. Once a trip has more than two places, each box has a × to remove that stop.

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With four or more places, Best order keeps your start and your destination and reorders the stops in between for the shortest trip. When you have two stops, Maps also offers alternative routes; with more, it shows the one best route through them.

#Avoid tolls, highways or ferries

Select Options and tick Avoid tolls, Avoid highways or Avoid ferries. The route is worked out again at once. Maps avoids them where it can; if there is no other way, the route may still use them.

#Miles or kilometers

Distances follow your choice of units. Open Layers and select mi or km under Distances in. See The Layers menu.

#When there is no route

Instead of a route you may see one of these messages: