How to Plan a Cycling Route Using Google Maps
Cycling Route Elevation Calculator
Calculate your cycling route difficulty based on elevation data from Google Maps.
Planning a cycling route shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces. Whether you’re commuting to work, exploring local trails, or training for a weekend ride, Google Maps can be your best friend-if you know how to use it right. Most people open Google Maps, type in a destination, and call it a day. But for cyclists, that’s like using a car GPS on a mountain bike. You’ll end up on highways, steep hills, or roads with no shoulders. Here’s how to actually plan a safe, smooth, and enjoyable ride.
Start with the right mode: biking, not driving
Open Google Maps on your phone or computer. Type in your starting point and destination. Instead of tapping "Directions" and letting it default to driving, look for the bicycle icon. It’s usually next to the walking and driving icons. Click it. That’s your key move. Google Maps now switches to its bike routing engine, which prioritizes bike lanes, quiet streets, and paths over major roads. It also avoids steep climbs when possible and factors in elevation data from recent terrain scans.In Adelaide, for example, this means you’ll get routes along the River Torrens Linear Park, the Port River cycleway, or the Glenelg Tram Trail instead of being sent down South Terrace with heavy traffic. The difference isn’t minor-it’s the difference between a pleasant ride and a stressful one.
Use the layer tool to see bike infrastructure
Google Maps doesn’t just give you one route. It gives you options. After you set your start and end points, tap the three-dot menu next to the route summary. Choose "Show bike lane layers." This turns on color-coded overlays that show you exactly where bike lanes, shared paths, and cycle tracks exist. Green = dedicated bike path. Blue = shared road with bike markings. Red = no bike infrastructure-avoid if possible.On a recent ride from Norwood to Kensington, I used this layer and discovered a hidden connector along St. Vincent Street that bypassed two busy intersections. Without the layer, I would’ve taken the longer, slower route along Greenhill Road. This feature alone saves time, reduces risk, and makes cycling more enjoyable.
Check elevation before you commit
Cyclists know: a flat 10km ride feels nothing like a hilly 10km ride. Google Maps shows elevation graphs for each route option. Look for the small graph icon next to the distance and time. Tap it. You’ll see a profile of every climb and descent. If you’re not in shape for steep climbs, or if you’re riding a cargo bike or e-bike with limited battery, this matters.For instance, the route from Mitcham to Mount Lofty might look short, but it includes a 12% grade over 1.8km. Google Maps will show you that. It won’t warn you in words-but the graph tells you everything. Compare two routes: one with three small hills, another with one long climb. The shorter climb might be easier on your legs, even if it’s 2km longer.
Save routes for offline use
You don’t always have cell service on country roads or in forested areas. Google Maps lets you download entire routes for offline use. After you’ve planned your ride, tap the route summary, then "Save offline." Choose a name like "Adelaide Hills Loop - Weekend Ride." It saves the map data, including elevation, bike lanes, and turn-by-turn directions. You can access it even without Wi-Fi or data.This saved me during a ride through the Mount Lofty Ranges last summer. My phone died at the halfway point. I had downloaded the route the night before. I turned on airplane mode, opened Google Maps, and it still showed me exactly where to turn. No signal. No panic.
Combine with other tools for better results
Google Maps is great, but it’s not perfect. It doesn’t always know about temporary closures-like a trail blocked by fallen trees after rain. It also doesn’t show you the condition of paths. A gravel trail might be marked as a bike path, but if it’s muddy or overgrown, it’s not rideable.That’s why I cross-check with local cycling forums or apps like Komoot or Trailforks. In Adelaide, the Adelaide Cycling Group on Facebook posts weekly updates about trail conditions. I’ll plan my route on Google Maps, then hop over to their latest post to see if the path from Crafers to Mount Barker is still clear. It takes two minutes, but it prevents a 30-minute detour or worse.
Test it before you go far
Never plan a long ride based on one digital route. Do a short test ride first. Pick a 5km section of your planned route and ride it. See if the bike lane ends suddenly. Check if the intersections feel safe. Notice if there are gaps in the path or poor lighting. Google Maps might say "bike path," but reality says "cracked concrete with potholes."I once planned a 40km loop using Google Maps. It looked perfect. I rode 15km, then hit a stretch where the path vanished into a construction zone with no detour marked. I had to backtrack. That’s why I now test every new route on a smaller scale first. It’s not extra work-it’s risk management.
Use custom pins for stops
Long rides aren’t just about getting from A to B. They’re about coffee, water, restrooms, or repair spots. Google Maps lets you add multiple stops. After setting your start and end, tap the "+" button to add a waypoint. Name it "Coffee at Payneham" or "Water refill at Klemzig Park." Google Maps will adjust the route to include it, and even show you estimated times for each leg.On a recent ride from Henley Beach to Glenelg, I added three stops: a bakery, a public bike pump, and a shady rest area. The route adjusted automatically. Without those pins, I’d have been searching for a pump in the middle of a 35°C day. Small additions make big differences.
Share your route with others
Planning a ride with friends? Google Maps lets you share your route in real time. After you’ve created your route, tap "Share" and choose how you want to send it-via message, email, or social media. Your friends can open it on their phones and follow the same path. You can even see their location as they ride if they’ve turned on location sharing.That’s how I organized a group ride last month. Five of us followed the same route from Semaphore to Port Adelaide. One person got lost because they didn’t have the map downloaded. The rest of us were fine because we’d shared the route ahead of time. It’s a simple trick, but it stops group rides from turning into search parties.
What Google Maps doesn’t tell you
There are blind spots. Google Maps doesn’t show you:- Whether a bike path is shared with pedestrians (and how crowded it gets)
- If there are low-hanging branches or narrow gaps under bridges
- Whether a route is well-lit after sunset
- Local rules-like whether you’re allowed to ride on certain footpaths
That’s why local knowledge still matters. Talk to other cyclists. Join a group. Read local cycling blogs. Google Maps gives you the skeleton of a route. You need to add the flesh.
Final tip: Always have a backup
Even the best digital tools fail. Batteries die. Apps crash. GPS loses signal. Always carry a printed map or screenshot of your route. Or at least write down the names of key streets or landmarks. I keep a folded paper map in my jersey pocket. I haven’t needed it yet-but if I do, I’ll be glad I have it.Can Google Maps plan routes for e-bikes?
Yes, Google Maps treats e-bikes the same as regular bikes. It factors in elevation and route difficulty, which helps e-bike riders avoid overly steep climbs that could drain the battery. But it doesn’t account for battery range or charging stations. For long rides, pair Google Maps with an e-bike app like Bosch eBike Flow or Ride with GPS that shows battery usage and charger locations.
Why does Google Maps sometimes send me on sidewalks?
Google Maps sometimes routes cyclists onto footpaths if it thinks there’s no bike lane nearby. This is common in older suburbs or areas without infrastructure. In Adelaide, this happens near the CBD and in parts of the Hills. Always check the layer view-if the path is marked blue or red, it’s not ideal. Sidewalks are legal for cyclists in many areas, but they’re not always safe. Watch for pedestrians, especially kids and seniors.
Is Google Maps accurate for off-road trails?
Not reliably. Google Maps uses satellite imagery and road data, but it doesn’t update trail conditions often. A dirt track might appear as a path, but if it’s been washed out or overgrown, you’ll find out the hard way. For mountain biking or gravel riding, use apps like Komoot, Trailforks, or AllTrails-they rely on user-reported trail conditions and are far more accurate for non-paved routes.
Can I plan a route without typing an address?
Yes. Tap and hold anywhere on the map to drop a pin. That becomes your start or end point. You can also use your current location by tapping the blue dot. This is great for spontaneous rides. Just find a park, drop a pin, then search for another park or café as your destination. Google Maps will connect the dots.
Does Google Maps work in rural areas?
It depends. In places like the Adelaide Hills or the Murray River region, Google Maps has decent coverage because of recent mapping efforts. But in remote areas like the Flinders Ranges, it may show roads that don’t exist or miss gravel tracks entirely. Download offline maps before heading out. If you’re going far off-grid, carry a GPS device or paper map as backup.
