Route Planning and the Art of Dropping Waypoints

Learning to navigate effectively is an essential motorcycle travel skill. Whether you’re setting out for a cross-country tour or just chasing curves close to home, knowing when and where to turn can make or break the flow of your ride.

Here at RoadRUNNER, we’ve spent countless hours experimenting with every route planning and navigation method. I remember the early days of plotting routes in a Gazetteer, handwriting turn-by-turn directions like a roll chart, and taping them to my gas tank. A lot has changed since then.

These days, we have an abundance of tools at our fingertips. In the office, each of us has developed a unique approach to route creation, but despite our different styles, there are a few best practices we all follow. Here’s how to streamline your planning process and ride with confidence.

Break Your Route Into Daily Segments

To keep things manageable, create a separate route file for each day or major leg of your trip. This reduces clutter on your screen and helps avoid confusion when navigating overlapping routes. Smaller files also load faster and are easier to modify or share.

Download Offline Maps

Cell service is never a given—especially in remote areas. Most major apps, including Google Maps, allow you to download regions for offline use. Even if you’re navigating with a dedicated GPS, having an offline map on your phone is useful for quick detours or when plans change mid-ride.

Use Waypoints Strategically

Adding strategic waypoints helps shape your route and keep it on the roads you want. Dropping pins on scenic parkways, mountain passes, or key towns prevents apps from autocorrecting your route. Just don’t overdo it—too many waypoints can bloat your file and cause issues with some devices.

Don’t Discredit Google Maps

Google Maps has come a long way in supporting custom routes. After plotting your ride in the Google MyMaps software (a separate service from regular Google Maps), export the route as a KML file, and import it into your navigation app or GPS unit. 

Bonus tip: on your phone, tap the You icon in Google Maps, scroll down to select Maps, and overlay your custom track directly in the app for easy following.

Consider a Dedicated GPS Unit

Phone navigation works great until it doesn’t. Exposure to the elements, heat, constant charging, and vibration can all wreak havoc on your precious pocket computer. A rugged, motorcycle-specific GPS unit, like a Garmin, is built to withstand the elements and provide worry-free guidance for long rides.

Subscribe to RoadRUNNER WEB

If you’re looking for the best places to ride, look no further than RoadRUNNER. We have 25 years of tour stories and travel information to help you plan your next motorcycle tour. RoadRUNNER WEB subscribers get access to over 1,250 motorcycle tours, complete with GPS files and informative travel stories. Use filters on our site to search by state, country, or ride type. Every route has been ridden and approved by our team, so you know it’s worth your time.

Build a Hybrid Route

Find a GPS file you like but want to customize it? Download the route from our website, import it into GPX.Studio, Google MyMaps, or your favorite planner, and start editing. This way, you can lean on the tested and recommended routes we share, while making it all your own.

To see some of our top picks for navigation products, click here.