Using the Route Planner: Design a Custom Route Map

Updated July 2026 · 6 min read

Not every route lives in a GPS file. Sometimes you want to plan one — a road trip you're dreaming up, a walking tour of a city, or the itinerary for a trip you're giving as a gift. PrintMap's built-in route planner draws a line that follows real roads between your stops, ready to print as a poster.

The planner is the counterpart to uploading a recorded GPX track. Use the GPX upload when you already walked or rode the route; use the route planner when you want to build a new one by choosing stops. Here's how it works.

What the route planner is for

The planner shines whenever you're designing a journey rather than replaying one:

Road trips — chain together the towns and landmarks you'll pass through.
City walks & tourist routes — a self-guided walking tour between sights.
Travel itineraries & gifts — visualize a honeymoon or a "here's our trip" present.
Orientation maps — show the way from a station or airport to a venue.

Step 1 — Open the route planner

Open the PrintMap editor — it opens straight into Studio mode with the Route Planner panel ready in the sidebar. You'll see a list of stops and an + Add stop button.

Step 2 — Add your stops

Add your start, any number of via stops in between, and your end point. For each stop, type a place name or address and pick it from the results. Add as many stops as your journey needs — the order you add them is the order the route follows.

💡 For a clean poster, fewer well-chosen stops usually look better than many close-together ones. Pick the places that tell the story of the trip.

Step 3 — Calculate the route

Click 🗺 Calculate Route. PrintMap connects your stops with a line that follows real roads, and fits the map neatly around the whole route. An info box shows the start and end, the total distance, and an estimated travel time.

Want to change something? Adjust your stops and calculate again, or use Clear route to start over.

Step 4 — Style the line

Make the route match your poster. You can set the:

Color — pick a shade that pops against your chosen map style.
Width — thin, normal or thick.
Style — solid, dashed or dotted (dashed is a classic "travel route" look).

Then choose your overall map style, and optionally add a title and subtitle, drop markers on key stops, or add a QR code linking to the location.

Step 5 — Download and print

Export a high-resolution PNG at your chosen size — A4, A3, A2, A1 or a custom size in centimetres. It's free, with no watermark and no account. Print it at a local shop or an online print service on matte or satin poster paper.

Plan your route now

Design a custom route map in your browser — free, no sign-up.

Create your map →

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the route planner and GPX upload?

The route planner builds a new route from stops you choose, following real roads. The GPX upload draws a route you already recorded on a run, ride or hike. Use whichever matches what you have.

Does the route follow roads automatically?

Yes. When you calculate the route, PrintMap connects your stops along real roads rather than drawing straight lines between them.

How many stops can I add?

As many as you like. Add a start, an end, and any number of stops in between to shape the journey.

Is it free?

Yes — planning a route and downloading a high-resolution map is completely free, with no account and no watermark.