Planning your workout route ahead of time can make the difference between a stressful session and a smooth, enjoyable one. Whether you're training for a race, trying to hit a step goal, or just exploring new roads around town, using a route planner helps you stay consistent and motivated.
In this guide, we’ll walk through simple steps to map a route for exercise and highlight a few easy-to-use route mapping websites that can help you get started.
Instead of guessing your mileage, you’ll know exactly how far you’re going and what terrain to expect.
Are you running, walking, or cycling? Some routes are better suited for bikes, while others are ideal for foot traffic.
Most route planning websites let you drop a pin at your home, a park, or a trailhead.
Want a 3-mile run? A 10-mile ride? Adjust your loop or out-and-back route until the total distance fits your workout plan.
Elevation changes can significantly impact difficulty. If you're training for a hilly race, include climbs. If it’s a recovery day, keep it flat.
Many platforms allow GPX downloads or syncing with smartwatches and fitness apps.
Best for: Tracking workouts, community features, and route planning
Strava is one of the most popular fitness apps for runners, walkers, cyclists, and endurance athletes. In addition to GPS activity tracking, it includes route planning tools that allow users to build and save custom routes.
Strava’s Route Builder allows you to design running, walking, or cycling routes directly on a map. As you build, you can view real-time distance and elevation data.
Note: Free accounts cannot create custom routes. Users can view public routes, but building and saving routes requires a paid membership.
Strava Membership (Paid Plan)A Strava subscription unlocks full access to the Route Builder and additional training tools.
Typical Cost: Approximately $8.99 per month or about $79.99 per year (pricing may vary by location).
Best for: General navigation and urban route planning.
Google Maps is one of the most widely used mapping platforms and is often the first tool people consider when planning a run, walk or bike ride. While it is not built exclusively for fitness, it can still be useful for basic exercise route planning.
Google Maps is designed primarily for navigation and location discovery, but it offers several features that can support exercise planning:
For people exercising in unfamiliar areas or looking for safe walking and biking paths, Google Maps can be a convenient starting point.
Because Google Maps is built for navigation rather than training, some users may notice limitations when planning routes around specific workout goals:
These factors don’t prevent Google Maps from being used for exercise, but they can make precise distance-based planning slightly more time-consuming.
Google Maps includes a manual distance measurement tool that allows users to estimate route length:
This method provides flexibility, though it may require more interaction compared to tools designed specifically for exercise route creation.
Best for: Quick, simple route planning for runners, walkers, and cyclists.
MapMyRoute.net is designed specifically for people who want a clean, easy-to-use interface without unnecessary clutter. You can click to build custom routes, see instant distance calculations, and create loops or out-and-back routes.
If your goal is simply to map a route for exercise and get moving, this is a great starting point.
Creating a route takes just a few clicks. Open the site on desktop or mobile, choose a starting point, trace your path, and watch the total distance update instantly. There’s no account to create, no setup process, and no learning curve.
Because MapMyRoute.net is web-based and mobile-friendly, it works wherever you are — with no app download required. Whether you’re planning a short walk, a long ride, or a daily run, everything is fast and straightforward.
Best of all, it’s completely free. There are no subscriptions, no locked features, and no sign-ups required to start mapping your route.
If your goal is to plan a route fast and focus on your workout instead of the tool, MapMyRoute.net offers a simple solution that just works.
Taking a few minutes to map a route for exercise can dramatically improve your workouts. Whether you prefer the simplicity of MapMyRoute.net, the community features of Strava, or the versatility of Google Maps, planning ahead helps you stay consistent and confident.
The best route is the one that keeps you moving — so map it, lace up, and get outside.