The ability of Google Maps to suggest alternative routes during the trip may be useful in some trips, but in another one it may be just a frustration if you want to take a specific path. We teach you how to eliminate this irritation
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20/08/2026
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A pair of Waze, Google Maps is one of the most useful browsing applications you can use when travelling, allowing you to know exactly the route you should take according to your destination.
However, Maps has a small “default” that is, by the way, transversally present in the main navigation applications. Depending on what happened in the chosen route, Google Maps may suggest another route and eventually take it another way that was not the one that initially planned.
You may think this is a useful feature and not a “defect” as mentioned above, noting that this ability allows you to avoid accidents and other obstacles that may delay your arrival.
However, what happens if you try to follow a certain path because, in fact, you know that the route suggested by Maps has some problem you would like to avoid? You can even give yourself the case of simply wanting to go another way, without wanting to do so, but not from Maps directions. There are a number of reasons that may lead you to want to follow a certain route that, for one or the other reason, is not understood by Maps as the most effective.
Fortunately, there is one way to prevent Google Maps from constantly suggesting another route and pushing it in another direction. This is not exactly a feature dedicated to this purpose but a service option that you can use in your favor.
Instead of just placing your destination, try adding stops along the route to ensure you follow the intended route.
Think of a situation from Lisbon to Faro but, for some reason, I would like to make the trip by the sea along the Alentejo coast instead of the motorway or the national road. Putting this situation, you can (for example) add stop in Sines, in Porto Covo, Vila Nova de Mil Fontes, Amolgrave and Zambujeira do Mar to ensure that it is a good part of the route along the Alentejo coast without being diverted by another way.
Once you've reached the last stop between the starting point and your destination, Google Maps can take you back the shortest and most efficient route to your destination.
Just note that Google Maps allows you to add up to nine stops (including the final destination) per trip, so you should take care of these crossing points.