iOS 18 Beta: Create a route in Maps for your next walk, hike, or run
Apple released the fifth public beta of iOS 18 on August 20, more than two months after the tech giant announced the software at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The beta brings new features to developers and beta testers’ iPhones, including RCS notifications and an updated Calculator app. It also updates the Maps app, which now lets you plan walking, running or driving routes.
Creating a custom route is great for planning a hike or other outdoor activity, and it can help keep you on track so you don’t get lost. This feature can also tell you how far a custom route is, and what your elevation is along the way — if you’re in Denver, I think it might just say, “Up there.”
Read more: Everything you need to know about the iOS 18 beta
However, iOS 18 is still in beta, and I recommend only downloading a beta on something other than your primary device. Since this isn’t the final version of iOS 18, the update may be buggy and your battery life may be poor, so it’s best to keep those issues 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 route in Maps.
Create a custom route on Apple Maps on iPhone
1. Open Maps.
2. Press and hold the position where you want to start your route to drop a pin.
3. Crane More.
4. Crane Create a custom route.
From here, you’ll need to plot your route by tapping on your map. You can tap on intersections and landmarks like restaurants and shops and the app will begin mapping your route. You can also tap on intersections and unmarked locations on your map for a more detailed approach to creating your route.
You also don’t need to tap a location near your last waypoint. After you tap Create a custom routeyou can tap on a location that’s miles away and Maps will map out a route for you.
It’s important to note that if you tap a location that’s miles away from where you start your route, Maps will find a path that doesn’t involve smashing through walls like the Kool-Aid man. In that sense, creating a route is a lot like getting directions on Maps.
As you create your route, Maps also gives you three route options: Reverse, Out and Back, and Close Loop.
Reverse flips your route around so that where you started, your route now ends. Out & Back maps your route back to itself so that you start and end where you started in one path. Close Loop also ends your route where you started, but for routes that are circular.
Once you have created your route, tap To rescue and you will be asked to give your route a name. Then tap Finished.
Maps also downloads your custom route to your iPhone, so you don’t have to worry about losing reception, especially when you’re hiking through the wilderness.
Where to find your custom route
Once you save your custom route, it will be moved to your library in Maps. Here’s how to access it.
1. Open Cards.
2. Crane Places, guides and routes below the search bar in Maps.
3. Crane Routes.
4. Select the route you want to take.
Tap this to view your saved routes.
Once you select the route, Maps will display it on your map. If you are close to the start of your route, tap To 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 show you how to get to the start of your route.
Keep in mind that iOS 18 is still in beta, so this feature could be buggy. Apple will likely release more beta versions of the software before it becomes available to the general public this fall, which will give it plenty of time to address any issues. There is no exact date yet for when Apple will roll out the update to the general public.
For more information on iOS 18, you can read my hands-on with the beta, all the ways to customize your home screen, and our iOS 18 cheat sheet.
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