Create a Route in Maps for Your Next Hike, Walk or Run With the iOS 18 Beta

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Apple released iOS 18’s sixth public beta on Aug. 29, a few days after the tech giant announced it will hold its iPhone launch event on Sept. 9. The beta brings new features, including RCS messaging and an updated Calculator app, to the iPhones of developers and beta testers. It also updates your Maps app, which now lets you plan a walking, running or driving route.

Creating a custom route is great for planning a hike or other outdoor activities, and it can keep you on track so you don’t get lost. This feature can also tell you how far a custom route is, as well as what your elevation is throughout your route — if you’re in Denver, I imagine it just says, “Up there.”

But iOS 18 is still in beta, and I recommend downloading a beta only on something other than your primary device. Because this isn’t the final version of iOS 18, the update might be buggy and battery life may be short, so it’s best to keep those troubles on a secondary device. I downloaded iOS 18 on my older iPhone XR to keep those issues away from my iPhone 14 Pro.

Here’s how to create your own custom route in Maps.

Make a custom route on Apple Maps on iPhone

1. Open Maps.
2. Long press where you want to start your route to drop a pin.
3. Tap More.
4. Tap Create a Custom Route.

From here you have to plot your route by tapping around your map. You can tap intersections and landmarks — like restaurants and shops — and the app will start mapping your route. You can also tap intersections and unmarked locations on your map for a more granular approach to creating your route.

You don’t have to tap a location near your last route point, either. After you tap Create a Custom Route, you can tap a location miles away and Maps will create a route for you.

It’s important to note that if you tap a location miles away from where you start your route, Maps will find a path that doesn’t involve busting through walls like the Kool-Aid man. In that regard, creating a route is just like getting driving directions on Maps.

A custom route created in Maps — Apple/Screenshot by CNET

While creating your route, Maps will also give you three route options: Reverse, Out & Back and Close Loop.

Reverse flips your route so where you initially started is now where your route ends. Out & Back maps your route on top of itself so you start and end where you began in a single path. Close Loop also ends your route where you started but for routes that are circular.

Once you’ve created your route, tap Save and you’ll be asked to name your route. Then tap Done.

Maps will also download your custom route to your iPhone, so you won’t have to worry about losing reception, especially if you’re hiking out in the wilderness.

Where to find your custom route

After you’ve saved your custom route, it will be moved to your Library in Maps. Here’s how to access it.

1. Open Maps.
2. Tap Places, Guides and Routes beneath the search bar in Maps.
3. Tap Routes.
4. Select the route you want to take.

Library in Maps with the Place, Guides, Routes location outlined in orange — Tap this to find your saved routes.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET

After selecting the route, Maps will pull it up on your map. If you’re near the start of your route, tap Go and your iPhone will give you directions along your route. But if you’re not near the start of the route, you can tap Directions and Maps will show you how to get to the start of your route.

Don’t forget, iOS 18 is still in beta so this feature could be buggy. Apple will likely release more betas of the software before releasing it to the general public this fall, which is plenty of time to address any issues. As of now, there’s no word on exactly when Apple will release the update to the general public.

For more on iOS 18, here’s my hands-on experience with the beta, all the ways to customize your home screen and our iOS 18 cheat sheet. You can also check out what we might see at Apple’s September iPhone event.