Why does Google Maps limit stops?

Navigating the Limits: Why Google Maps Caps Your Stops

Google Maps is an indispensable tool for navigating the world, whether you’re planning a cross-country road trip or a quick grocery run. But have you ever wondered why it limits you to only ten stops on a single route?

The ten-stop limit is a common point of frustration for many users, especially those with demanding routes requiring multiple deliveries or errands. While the exact reason for this limit remains unclear, it likely stems from a combination of factors:

• Computational Complexity: Routing multiple stops requires complex algorithms to find the most efficient path. As the number of stops increases, the computational demand explodes, potentially overwhelming the app and impacting performance.
• User Experience: A cluttered route with dozens of stops can be overwhelming for the user, making it difficult to navigate. Keeping the number of stops manageable ensures a clear and intuitive experience.
• Focus on Navigation: Google Maps is primarily designed for navigation, not comprehensive route optimization. The focus remains on providing clear directions between two points, rather than managing complex multi-stop itineraries.

Workarounds and Alternatives:

If your needs exceed the ten-stop limit, there are a few options to explore:

• Manual Optimization: You can manually adjust the order of your stops within the ten-stop limit to achieve a somewhat efficient route. However, this method can be time-consuming and may not find the truly optimal solution.
• Supplementary Tools: Several third-party services like Routific offer route optimization specifically for businesses with multiple deliveries. These tools can generate efficient routes with a much larger number of stops, often taking into account factors like delivery time windows and vehicle capacity.
• Google My Maps: This tool offers a more comprehensive approach to route planning. You can add unlimited locations and create custom maps, but each individual route remains limited to ten stops. This can be useful for visualizing your entire itinerary, but you’ll need to break down complex routes into multiple ten-stop segments.

The Future of Route Optimization:

While the ten-stop limit can be frustrating, it’s important to remember that Google Maps is constantly evolving. As technology advances, we may see improvements in route optimization capabilities, potentially leading to higher stop limits or more sophisticated algorithms.

In the meantime, users can leverage existing workarounds and explore specialized tools to address their unique route planning needs.