How Do You Plan a Route on MapQuest?

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Updated on: February 19, 2026

Google Maps route planner and tools like Waze or Apple Maps are limited in finding the shortest route from one point to another. MapQuest is a popular and reliable personal navigation tool used for daily deliveries and road trips.

To maximize the use of MapQuest, it is essential to understand how to map out multiple destinations and optimize travel time and fuel consumption. In this article, we’ll show you how to map out multiple destinations using MapQuest.

Key Features of MapQuest Route Planner

MapQuest offers features such as multiple-stop mapping and free driving directions. The following are some of MapQuest Route Planner’s primary features:

• Can plot up to 26 stops on one route, surpassing Google Maps and Apple Maps.
• Provides real-time traffic information for the quickest or shortest route.
• Customize routes to your vehicle type to avoid tolls, highways, or ferries.
• Provides live traffic info to steer clear of jams.
• Offer your cell phone with turn-by-turn MapQuest driving directions.
• Improves navigation with a speedometer, satellite imaging, and current maps.
• Saves common locations for easy planning and access.
• Locate hotels, dining choices, and sites of interest.

These characteristics make MapQuest a reliable tool for anybody creating a successful travel itinerary.

How To Use MapQuest Route Planner To Plan Routes?

The MapQuest route planner is user-friendly and can be easily accessed on any device, with a straightforward five-step process to plan your route.

Step 1: Open MapQuest

Access MapQuest by using any simple interface.

Step 2: Enter Addresses

Now use any three options for the address.

• Line-by-Line
• Copy/Paste
• Import

Then ensure the correct format for an accurate route plan.

MapQuest’s single route plan feature enables up to 26 stops, enhancing the efficiency of food delivery, e-commerce logistics, and service technician industries.

Step 3: Customize

• To enhance route customization, navigate to “More Route Settings”.
• MapQuest can help avoid toll roads, ferries, country borders, and other inconveniences.
• Reorder stops on the multi-stop route planner or enable the round-trip checkbox.
• MapQuest’s automation capabilities enable the search for the most efficient route for numerous trips.

Step 4: View Directions

• To view your complete route, click the “View Route Directions” button
• View step-by-step directions, total distance, estimated travel time, and IRS reimbursement value.

Step 5: Share

• Share directions through email, links, or mobile numbers.
• Print out the route plan or have driving directions in words along with the map image.

Use MapQuest Route Planner with Multiple Stops

The MapQuest route planner enables users to map multiple destinations, making it suitable for both professional drivers and short road trips. The “Get Directions” function is ideal for simple trips of up to four stops.

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To get directions on MapQuest, click on the menu button, select “Get directions,” add destinations, and customize your route to avoid toll roads, highways, and ferries.

MapQuest’s route planner is recommended for businesses planning multiple stops for service calls.

It offers more options like adding multiple addresses, re-ordering stops, and optimizing for the shortest distance or time. The mileage feature allows users to display unit measurements in kilometers or miles.

However, these features could be better, as changing the order of stops in the field is manual and the planner doesn’t automatically optimize new routes. This results in more manipulation in the app, wasting driver time and potentially delaying service calls. Therefore, few professional logistics operators rely on MapQuest for business use.

Ways to Add Multiple Stops to a MapQuest Route Plan

To create a route with multiple stops in Route Planner, follow these steps:

• Click “Route Planner” on the MapQuest site or app.
• Add destinations using three options.
• Customize the route with “More route settings.”

MapQuest provides three methods for submitting addresses on its route planner page.

Line-by-line: This option is a time-consuming method for typing addresses, but it’s best for a few destinations. MapQuest uses your IP address to suggest the most likely destinations based on your location. It starts with two address fields, but you can add more until you reach the maximum. Multiple route options are offered to reach your destinations.

Copy/Paste: This option is useful for importing addresses from a file and importing them into MapQuest’s blank field, but it’s crucial to ensure each stop is placed on its line.

Import: List with multiple addresses, use the import method, and ensure the file is formatted correctly. The columns should be in the order of Street, City, State, Zip, Country (optional), and Notes (optional).

MapQuest offers templates for users to import, where users can download and input addresses to avoid formatting issues. Once ready, the spreadsheet can be uploaded into the upload box or selected from the device.

Learn to Use the Advanced Route Planner

MapQuest Route Planner is a useful tool for casual users and small businesses, offering ease of use, multiple-stop optimization, and route preferences. MapQuest is a useful tool for recreational road trips, but its functionality falls short for logistics professionals. Therefore, delivery businesses or field service organizations should use dedicated route planning software instead of MapQuest for efficient logistics.

Zeo Route Planner, on the other hand, is designed for complex business needs. It offers superior route optimization and the ability to add 2000+ stops per optimization. To learn more about Zeo, book a free demo with us!