My morning commute feels more like an unknown adventure than a commute. The app I open to get me where I need to go is Google Maps, and the reasons are usually the same. Because I used to make the mistake of creating my commute as I went, things didn’t always go as planned.

Since I wanted my morning commute to be the best it could be, I set up four Google Maps settings in advance. Now I can say that my morning chaos shrank fast. Maps can’t make traffic go away, and I guess I have no choice but to accept that. But I can see what my commute will look like earlier, discover delays sooner, and stop wasting time setting up my commute every morning.

Saving my most common trips made the morning easier

I stopped rebuilding the same route every day

A few mornings a week, I take the same trip. I didn’t realize how much time I was wasting setting up my commute every morning until I finally saved the trip in Google Maps. Now I don’t have to type the same destination, choose the same starting point, and wait for Maps to build the route from scratch. It’s a relief to know I can open the saved trip and see how long it will take me to get there.

Since I’m checking this on Android, I only had to enter my destination, tap Directions, select a mode of transportation, swipe left to find the Save option, then tap the Save button. After that, I could open the saved trip by tapping the View option or find it later by tapping the “You” tab and going to Saved trips. It may seem like a lot to do, but I only had to do it once. After that, it took less than a minute to find it and get going.

I mostly set everything up on my phone because it’s just easier for me. But if I’m already on my computer, creating a trip is also very easy since I have a bigger screen to look at. Also, I see an option I missed on my Android phone. For example, when I was planning a trip on my computer, I noticed that Google Maps made the option to add a note to a saved place easier to see. I added something and then checked my phone to see if it synced properly, and it did! Once I was done, I also clicked “Send directions to my phone” to continue planning on my phone.

Notifications let me know what's going on before I leave

Traffic is easier to handle when I see the warning first

After saving my usual destinations, I made sure to get notifications about traffic issues, such as accidents. One thing is that I have to take a small detour, but it's completely different to have to pass through areas I don’t want to go through.

Since my Android phone is my everyday dashboard companion, I went into:

• Google Maps
• Tapped my profile picture
• Settings
• Navigation
• Alert options

I made sure the option was toggled, so I wouldn't miss anything that could impact my morning commute. I don’t expect Google Maps to let me know about every tiny issue. However, if someone reports a crash, slowdown, or construction ahead, I want to know about it as soon as possible.

Setting my departure time helped me plan my trip better

I could see the route Google suggested before heading out

Setting a departure time for my trips is a must for me. I can see what my trip will look like and know whether I need to change the time or day. For example, I wanted to see what the trip from Hollywood and Vine to the Sunset Strip would look like around 8 am. As I expected, Google Maps said it would be complicated due to a lane closure and limited parking.

I only had to enter the starting point and destination -> Tap the three-dot menu -> Choose Set depart or arrive time. So, if the result wasn’t what I wanted, I could choose different times until the results were more in my favor. The same benefits apply to the Arrive by option. If I need to be somewhere by a certain time, Google Maps gives me a better idea of when I should leave and, when available, can show useful details like parking notes, lane closures, or other traffic problems.

Route options helped me avoid the trips I don’t want

I could skip tolls, highways, or ferries before starting

The last setting I checked was route options. I don’t let this one slide since it tells Google what types of routes I want to avoid. For example, I can toggle on the option to avoid tolls, highways, and ferries. This is very useful because Google Maps can give me the best route, but what if I want to take a longer surface-street one?

That’s what I did when I asked Google Maps to create a trip from Hollywood and Vine to the Santa Monica Pier. I toggled on "avoid highways," and after taking a closer look, I saw that the route used only streets. I know I could take I-10 West, but I wasn’t too sure about the streets. I just had to tap the three dots to the side of the locations -> Options -> Toggle any option on or off.

I also noticed that Prefer fuel-efficient routes was turned on. I like having it enabled because it gives Maps another thing to consider. So, if you’re looking for a route that may help you use less gas when available, that feature is worth using.

Google Maps can still get a route wrong

The wrong-way sign in front of me said it all

I use Google Maps for all my trips, but I know it won't get it right every time. Once, I was coming back from a get-together and asked Maps for the best route. Not too long after, I was staring at a wrong-way sign, but Google Maps said to continue. That goes to show that you still have to be aware of your surroundings and not blindly trust it.

Google Maps can still recover from its mistakes

It can recalculate the route when I obey traffic laws

I didn't stop using Google Maps because it made a mistake. I obeyed the traffic laws, and when it said I took another way, it recalculated, and I still reached my destination. It wasn’t the first time I took a route other than the one it suggested, so I knew I was going to get an updated route.

My commute is still not perfect, but it feels easier to manage

I wish Google Maps could make the traffic disappear, but I know that’s not going to happen. What it can do is make planning my trips easier by helping me avoid tolls, highways, and ferries. Planning my commutes is easier because I can also see how long it will take if I travel between certain times. Sure, it’s going to make mistakes, but I know I would make a lot more without the settings.