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Google Maps may recommend a route with a higher estimated travel time because it predicts that the route could save meaningful fuel or energy for only a small increase in driving time. Predicted traffic and road characteristics can also affect which route Maps presents. To change it, compare the alternatives and select another one, then review route preferences such as avoiding tolls or highways and the departure or arrival time used for the estimate.
Why Google Maps may choose a route with a higher ETA
The recommended route is not necessarily the shortest by distance or the one with the lowest displayed ETA. One documented reason is fuel-efficient routing: Google says Maps uses an AI prediction model to estimate fuel or energy use across route options. If the route predicted to use the least fuel or energy is not the fastest, Maps may recommend it when the estimated savings are meaningful and the added driving time is small.
That can make a route look like the long way even when Maps is making a deliberate trade-off. The trade-off is based on estimates; it does not guarantee a particular amount of fuel or energy saved on your trip. “Longer” can also mean a higher time estimate rather than more miles: compare both distance and travel time before deciding whether the recommendation is longer in either sense.
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Google has also described considering predicted traffic and road characteristics, including road quality, road size, and directness. Its examples of road quality include paved roads as well as gravel, dirt, or mud. If traffic is expected to become heavy on one route, Maps may favor a lower-traffic alternative.
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In a Google Maps routing explanation, Product Manager Johann Lau wrote: “If we predict that traffic is likely to become heavy in one direction, we’ll automatically find you a lower-traffic alternative.” That describes how a traffic prediction can influence routing; it does not mean every route that appears slower is avoiding congestion, or that Maps guarantees the alternative will stay clear.
These are factors Google says it considers, not a complete explanation of its routing logic. Google’s public descriptions do not reveal a full per-trip ranking formula, so it is not possible to say which factor caused a particular recommendation unless Maps provides an explanation for that trip. A route may reflect several factors at once, and the information shown to a driver may not identify their relative weight.
“Slower” may refer to the estimate, not what happens on the road
The ETA is a prediction based on the route and the traffic estimate used when you plan. Traffic and conditions can change after you leave, so the route that looked slower beforehand may not remain slower. For a fair comparison, check the departure time and compare the displayed travel times and distances for the alternatives available to you.
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Does a toll route explain the higher ETA?
Not by itself. A toll route is not automatically the fastest, cheapest, or route Maps will recommend. Check the ETA and route details for each alternative and whether an avoid-tolls preference is active. If a displayed toll estimate matters to your decision, treat it as an estimate rather than an operator’s final quote. Google says toll prices may depend on the date and time and on payment method, including whether the estimate assumes a toll pass. Confirm the charge with the road operator when the exact amount matters.
How to choose a different route in the Google Maps app
You can choose among routes Maps displays, and you can review preferences that affect which choices appear. The controls do not guarantee that Maps can generate a route with a particular ETA or that a specific road will be offered.
- Get directions to your destination. Review the routes shown on the map and compare their estimated travel times and distances. If you are planning ahead, first check whether the displayed estimate is for the time you intend to travel.
- Select an alternative. Google’s Android directions help describes alternate routes as gray lines. Tap the route you want to take; on other app versions or platforms, the appearance or interaction may differ. After selecting it, check that the route now highlighted is the one you intended before starting navigation.
- Check route preferences. Review the available options for avoiding tolls, highways, or ferries. These preferences can rule out routes, changing which choices are offered. If the road you expected to see is missing, first check whether its type is excluded.
- Review fuel-efficient routing preferences if the time trade-off is the issue. Google’s 2025 customization guidance places route preferences under Navigation settings and mentions using vehicle type for fuel-efficient routing. Look for the labels available in your app; settings and availability can vary. If the fuel-efficient option is present and you do not want that trade-off, review or change it there. Do not assume every app version or region uses identical labels or offers the same controls.
- Set the time you actually plan to travel. For a single-destination trip, use the departure or arrival time option to compare estimates for when you expect to be on the road. This is especially useful when you are weighing routes for a future trip rather than leaving immediately.
Changing a preference can alter the routes Maps offers, while tapping an alternative selects a different route from the ones currently displayed. If you want the shortest ETA, compare the listed times and select the alternative with the lowest displayed estimate when it is offered. The available controls do not promise that Maps will always force the minimum-ETA or most-direct route, and changing preferences may not produce the specific route you have in mind.
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How do I turn off fuel-efficient routes?
Check Navigation settings for the fuel-efficient routing preference. Google’s 2025 customization guidance describes route preferences there and says vehicle type can be used for fuel-efficient routing. If the setting appears in your version of Maps, review its current choice and turn off or change the fuel-efficient preference using the control shown in your app. The exact wording and availability may vary by platform, version, region, and vehicle type, so there is not one menu path that applies to every driver. If you do not see the option, you can still compare the displayed routes and select an alternative.
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How to change the route on desktop
- Get directions to your destination.
- Open Options and choose whether to avoid tolls or motorways, as appropriate for your trip.
- Use Leave now to set a departure or arrival time for a single-destination route.
- Select the alternative route on the map if you prefer it to the currently selected one.
Desktop and app controls are not necessarily identical. Menu names and available preferences may vary by platform, app version, country or region, and vehicle type. Google’s desktop directions help describes avoiding motorways, while app wording may refer to highways. Look for the equivalent route option rather than assuming the label is identical.
How to compare routes before choosing
Instead of judging by the route line alone, compare the trade-offs that matter for this trip. A higher ETA may reflect a fuel-efficiency preference, traffic prediction, or a difference in the roads used; the map’s displayed details can help you decide whether that trade-off suits you. Compare the same destination and planned travel time across alternatives so you are not weighing estimates based on different assumptions.
- Estimated time and distance: Check both values. A route with less distance may still have a longer estimate, and the shortest ETA is not necessarily the route Maps recommends. Decide whether your priority is time, miles, or another factor rather than treating “recommended” as a synonym for “fastest.”
- Tolls: Check whether a route includes tolls and whether an avoid-tolls preference is active. Google’s toll prices are estimates, may depend on the date and time of travel, and can vary with payment method or whether the estimate assumes a toll pass. When the exact charge matters, confirm it with the road operator.
- Road type: Consider the roads used and whether avoiding highways or ferries would change the options. On desktop, Google refers to avoiding motorways; wording can differ by location. Road quality and road size are among the characteristics Google has said it considers, but Maps does not provide a complete account of how those characteristics affected a particular recommendation.
- Fuel or energy efficiency: If the preference is available, consider whether you want Maps to prioritize estimated fuel or energy savings over a small amount of time. Vehicle type may affect fuel-efficient routing. The predicted savings are not a personalized guarantee of what your vehicle will use on the trip.
- Departure or arrival time: Make sure the comparison reflects when you intend to travel. A route estimate for “now” may not represent the traffic expected at a later departure time. For a single destination, use the planned-time control where available and compare the estimates again.
- Your priority for this trip: The route that best suits you may not be the route with the lowest displayed time. A modest time difference, toll cost, road preference, or estimated efficiency trade-off can matter differently depending on the journey. Maps presents options and estimates; you choose which listed trade-off is acceptable.
What to do when the route still seems wrong
Check whether a preference is excluding your preferred road
If the route avoids a highway, toll road, or ferry that you expected to use, inspect the relevant avoid preference. A setting that rules out a road type can change the available route choices, not just the route currently highlighted. Check the settings before assuming the road is unavailable or that the recommendation has a single cause.
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Look for other route lines on the map and check their estimates before starting navigation. Select the alternative that best fits your priorities. On Android, Google’s directions help says alternate routes appear as gray lines and can be selected by tapping them; desktop users can select another route on the map. The display and interaction can differ between devices.
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If no alternative is shown, the controls described here do not guarantee that Maps can create a route with a specific travel time or directness. You can review the route preferences and travel time, but the available route choices still depend on what Maps offers for that trip.
Recheck the travel-time setting
For a one-destination journey planned in advance, set the intended departure or arrival time and compare again. The estimate is tied to the time you select; changing it can change the traffic assumptions used for the route. Do not treat a comparison made for the current moment as a reliable comparison for a different time of day.
Keep the prediction in perspective
A route recommendation is not a guarantee of actual arrival time or road conditions. Even a route with a lower displayed ETA can be affected by changes after departure. Use the estimates as a comparison, and make the route choice that suits your priorities and the conditions you encounter. Since Google does not publish a complete per-trip formula, avoid reading a precise cause into a recommendation based only on its appearance.
What Google has quantified about fuel-efficient routing
Google reported in 2024 that fuel-efficient routes in Maps had enabled an estimated 2.9 million metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions reductions from the feature’s launch in late 2021 through the end of 2023. This is a cumulative historical estimate attributed to the feature; it is not a measured saving for an individual trip or a current annual figure. The number provides context for the stated purpose of fuel-efficient routing, but it does not tell you how much fuel or energy a particular alternative will save.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Google Maps taking me the long way?
Maps may be prioritizing a route it predicts will use meaningfully less fuel or energy for only a small increase in time. Predicted traffic and road characteristics, such as road quality, road size, and directness, can also affect route choices. Google does not publish a complete formula explaining each individual recommendation, so the precise reason may not be visible.
How do I make Google Maps choose a different route?
Get directions, compare the alternatives shown on the map, and select the route you prefer. On Android, alternate routes are described as gray lines that you can tap; on desktop, select another route on the map. You can also review avoid-tolls, highways or motorways, and ferries preferences, as well as the planned departure or arrival time.
How do I turn off fuel-efficient routes in Google Maps?
Look in Navigation settings for the fuel-efficient route preference and change it if the option is available in your app. Google’s 2025 customization guidance also mentions vehicle type for fuel-efficient routing. Menu labels and availability vary by platform, version, region, and vehicle type; if you cannot find that setting, compare and select a displayed alternative.
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How do I avoid tolls or highways in Google Maps?
Review the route options or preferences after getting directions and select the applicable avoid-tolls or avoid-highways option. Desktop directions use Options and include choices to avoid tolls or motorways. Labels and availability can vary. Avoiding a road type can remove some route choices, and toll-price figures shown by Google are estimates rather than operator quotes.
Can I make Google Maps always choose the fastest route?
The documented controls let you select an available alternative and adjust some route preferences, but they do not promise a setting that always forces the minimum-ETA or most-direct route. Compare the displayed ETAs for the alternatives, set the departure or arrival time for a single-destination trip when planning ahead, and select the route that best fits your priorities.
The Bottom Line
Google Maps can recommend a higher-ETA route when it predicts meaningful fuel or energy savings for a small time increase, or when predicted traffic and road characteristics affect the choice. Compare travel times, distances, tolls, road preferences, and the time used for the estimate; then select another displayed route if it suits you better. Preferences and route availability vary, and an ETA remains a prediction rather than a guarantee.
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