A smart route planner saves hours when you’ve got a long list of stops—whether that’s a supply run between trailheads, a shuttle loop, or a full day of deliveries. Below are 10 proven tools that find the fastest route across multiple stops, plus several outdoor-focused planners for efficient waypoint-to-waypoint travel on trails.

At a glance (top picks by use case):

• Best free for quick multi-stop driving: Google Maps
• Best free with auto-optimize: MapQuest Route Planner
• Best for pros and teams: OptimoRoute, Route4Me
• Best for solo couriers and gig drivers: Circuit Route Planner, RoadWarrior
• Best for exporting to GPS: MyRouteOnline
• Best lightweight optimizer: Speedy Route
• Best for on-trail planning: Komoot, Gaia GPS

1. Google Maps (Free, familiar, and great for quick runs)

• Best for: Simple multi-stop driving routes you can reorder manually.
• Why it stands out: Ubiquitous, accurate traffic, and easy to use. You can add up to 10 stops and drag to reorder them.
• Good to know:
  • Consumer Google Maps does not auto-optimize stop order; you reorder manually. Source: Google Maps Help – “Add multiple destinations to your route” (https://support.google.com/maps/answer/144339)
• Pricing: Free.

2. MapQuest Route Planner (Free optimizer up to 26 stops)

• Best for: Free automatic reordering to minimize time or distance.
• Why it stands out: Click “Optimize” and it rearranges your stops for the fastest route. Supports up to 26 locations on the free web tool.
• Good to know:
  • Stop limit details: MapQuest confirms up to 26 stops in Route Planner (https://support.mapquest.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039230211-How-many-stops-can-I-have-in-Route-Planner-)
  • Direct tool link: https://www.mapquest.com/routeplanner
• Pricing: Free web tool; ads supported.

3. Route4Me (Enterprise-grade optimizer with rich constraints)

• Best for: Businesses or complex days with time windows, service times, and large stop lists.
• Why it stands out: Powerful route optimization with constraints (time windows, priorities), driver tracking, and analytics.
• Good to know:
  • Platform capabilities and optimization features: https://route4me.com/platform/route-optimization/
• Pricing: Paid plans; free trial available.

4. Circuit Route Planner (Fast, simple mobile optimizer)

• Best for: Drivers who want quick drag-and-drop and one-tap optimization on mobile.
• Why it stands out: Optimizes stop order with options for priority and time windows; clean mobile UI for on-the-go changes.
• Good to know:
  • Overview and features: https://getcircuit.com/route-planner
• Pricing: Free tier (limited); paid tiers unlock larger stop counts and features.

5. OptimoRoute (Pro-grade routing for teams and multi-day trips)

• Best for: Dispatchers and teams needing live replanning, time windows, and multi-day/long-haul routes.
• Why it stands out: Real-time driver ETAs, proof-of-delivery, multi-day routing, and capacity constraints make it ideal for operations.
• Good to know:
  • Feature set and multi-day routing: https://www.optimoroute.com/features/
• Pricing: Paid plans; free trial.

6. RoadWarrior (Time windows and priority for gig drivers)

• Best for: Couriers and field service pros balancing time windows and service durations.
• Why it stands out: Optimizes with arrival windows, route balancing, and customizable priorities; integrates well with navigation apps.
• Good to know:
  • Features overview: https://roadwarrior.app/features
• Pricing: Free tier; Pro plan for higher stop counts and features.

7. MyRouteOnline (Optimizer with export to Garmin/TomTom)

• Best for: Users who want to export optimized routes directly to GPS devices.
• Why it stands out: Optimize stop order then export to Garmin/TomTom or as files (GPX, etc.) to use offline—handy for remote trailhead loops.
• Good to know:
  • Core optimizer and export features: https://www.myrouteonline.com/
• Pricing: Pay-as-you-go and subscriptions; free demo.

8. Speedy Route (Straightforward TSP solver for fast ordering)

• Best for: A lightweight tool to compute the optimal visiting order.
• Why it stands out: Solves the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) to produce the fastest route order with minimal setup.
• Good to know:
  • Web optimizer: https://www.speedyroute.com/
• Pricing: Free trial; paid for larger routes.

9. Komoot (On-trail route planning with hiking-optimized paths)

• Best for: Hikers and bikepackers planning efficient waypoint-to-waypoint routes on trails.
• Why it stands out: Snap-to-trail routing, estimated hiking time, and multi-day planning help you organize hut-to-hut or segment-based trips.
• Good to know:
  • Route planning and waypoints: Komoot Support – Plan a route (https://support.komoot.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023189531-Plan-a-route)
• Pricing: Free basic; paid regions and Premium for multi-day tools.

10. Gaia GPS (Build precise GPX routes and sync offline maps)

• Best for: Backcountry planners who need custom tracks, offline maps, and GPX exports.
• Why it stands out: Create routes on web, snap to trails, export/share GPX, and sync to the mobile app for offline navigation.
• Good to know:
  • How to create a route (official help): https://help.gaiagps.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003638528-Create-a-Route
• Pricing: Free app; Premium for downloadable maps and advanced tools.

How to choose the right route planner

• Do you need automatic stop-order optimization? If yes, start with MapQuest, Circuit, Speedy Route, Route4Me, OptimoRoute, RoadWarrior, or MyRouteOnline. Google Maps requires manual reordering.
• How many stops per day? Free tools often cap stops; paid plans raise limits and add constraints like time windows.
• Driving vs. on-trail: For vehicle legs between trailheads, use an optimizer. For trail segments and GPX planning, use Komoot or Gaia GPS.
• Integrations and output: If you need GPX/CSV export or GPS device sync, prioritize MyRouteOnline, Gaia GPS, and Komoot.
• Team features: For dispatching, live ETAs, and proof-of-delivery, look at OptimoRoute and Route4Me.

Pro tips for hikers and road-trippers

• Mix tools for best results: Use a driving optimizer (e.g., MapQuest or Circuit) for the road legs, then plan on-trail segments in Komoot or Gaia GPS.
• Check time windows: If a shuttle, ranger station, or ferry has limited hours, use a planner that supports time windows to avoid backtracking (e.g., RoadWarrior, OptimoRoute).
• Save offline: Export GPX and download maps in advance for areas with limited coverage (Gaia GPS, Komoot).
• Reality check your ETA: Fastest driving routes can change with traffic; re-optimize midday if your schedule slips.

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• Multi-Stop-Routing
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