When your day is packed, getting from one place to another can become a task in itself. Whether I'm heading out for a day of leisure or working my way through a long to-do list, Google Maps often ends up doing more than just giving me directions.
The navigation app helps me plan my day, keep track of places I need to visit, and figure things out before I'm already on the move. Here are the best features I use to plan and spend less time sorting things out on the go.
When I'm running errands or planning a long day of small tasks that take me to a string of different locations, there is one Google Maps feature that always comes in handy: adding multiple stops to my navigation.
Search for your first destination in Google Maps and tap Directions. Before starting navigation, tap the "Add stop" button at the bottom of the navigation bar. Search for another location, and keep adding stops to your route.
Once you've added all the stops along your way, touch and hold the two-line icon next to a stop to drag it into a different position. This lets you rearrange your journey based on where you want to go first.
You can add up to nine stops along with your final destination, allowing you to plan for ten stops on your journey. This feature works for driving, walking, and even cycling, but unfortunately not for public transit, since transit schedules can be unpredictable.
For days when I know I'll have a long list of places to visit but haven't decided exactly when I'll get to them, Google Maps' Lists feature is more useful than plotting a route with multiple stops.
You can save restaurants, stores, attractions, or practically any location to a custom list. I sometimes create one for a particular area if I know I'll be spending the afternoon there, adding every place I may want to visit.
To create a new list on Google Maps on the mobile app, tap the bookmark icon ("You") in the middle of the toolbar, then tap on "New List." Name and describe the list, select between private or shared, then tap "Save."
Now, tap on "Add Places," search for and tap on a specific location, then tap "Save" under the place's name/address to build your list. You can always go back to the "You" tab to edit existing lists (by clicking the three dots near their names) or create new ones.
If you're out and about in your vehicle on a busy day, a Google Maps feature that can save you time is the ability to save your parking location.
With this feature, you can easily get back to your parked vehicle, especially when you're traveling to new areas, cities, or simply want to keep track of where you parked your vehicle.
Tap your profile, then go to Settings > Navigation > Parking options, then toggle on "Automatically save parking" if it's not already enabled.
To save a parking spot, open the spot's location on Google Maps by clicking the blue dot, then tap "Save your parking." You can find your saved parking spot by typing in the search bar.
I've also found this feature to come in handy when parking in crowded lots, like malls and plazas.
