I use Google Maps frequently, and my routine is to open it and enter my destination. Sure, I get the directions I need, but my trip could be a lot better if I did a few things before hitting the road.

I’ve started taking a little more time with Maps, especially when I’m going somewhere unfamiliar or making more than one stop. I realized I was using Maps mostly for directions and overlooking features that could help me plan the trip, not just navigate it. Now it’s the other way around: the features I used to overlook are the ones I look at first.

Download offline maps before you leave

I’d rather have a saved route than hope for a good signal

If my destination is within the city limits, I don’t bother downloading an offline map. My phone has enough trouble with storage, and even if I lose the signal for a moment, it usually comes back shortly after. However, if I’m going somewhere where I know coverage can be spotty, I’ll download the map before heading out rather than take my chances.

I don’t mind downloading the map since it’s easy. I just have to go to Google Maps ,tap my profile picture, and then Offline maps. From there, Select your own map, move the highlighted box over the area I want to download, and Download. I like that the download can cover a fairly big area because I don’t have to worry about every little section separately.

For me, the main point is just getting from point A to point B without Maps failing me.

Check the route before you start

I’d rather know where it’s taking me than find out mid-drive

Once Google Maps shows me its recommended route, I don’t tap Start right away. I like to zoom out while still keeping points A and B on the screen. Since I know the city pretty well, I can usually get a mental picture of where I’ll be passing through without having to look at every street on my phone.

If I see something I don’t like, such as an intersection that’s usually congested or a street I know is too narrow for my taste, I’ll take another route I know will get me to the same point. When I do that, Google Maps always recalculates. I also check the ETA before I leave when I know traffic will be heavier.

That gives me a better idea of how much of a cushion I’ll need. For example, if Google Maps says 30 minutes, I might give myself 45 minutes for any “what if” situations. That’s a lot better than exaggerating and leaving over an hour early.

Set the time you actually plan to leave

I’d rather know what the drive looks like during rush hour than right now

If I open Google Maps on the spot and see what my drive will look like, it’ll give me details based on the time of my search. But that doesn’t help me if I want to leave hours later. That’s when Set depart or arrive time is useful, since it estimates traffic conditions for when I actually plan to leave.

On the desktop version, I can click Leave now and choose Depart at or Arrive. From there, I can pick the time and date I plan to leave, or when I need to arrive. I tested it on a trip that would take about 15 minutes if I left right then. When I changed the departure time to 8:30 a.m., Maps gave me ranges of:

• 12 to 20 minutes
• 14 to 20 minutes
• 14 to 22 minutes depending on the route

What caught my attention was how much all three ranges overlapped. That told me switching routes probably wouldn’t save me much time at that hour.

Of course, the feature is only useful if I leave on time. If I sleep in, it’s on me, not Maps. I can always change my route mid-drive, but I can’t change what time I left.

Plan and reorder your stops at home

I’d rather sort everything out calmly at home than figure it out on the road

If I have different places to visit, I would rather plan my stops while I’m comfy and calm at home. That way, I avoid forgetting about a place because I’m trying to rush it while sitting in the parking lot of one of my stops. Maps lets you add up to nine stops, including the final destination, so you can get quite a few places sorted out before you leave.

Don’t worry if you don’t see one big scribble on the map showing the whole trip with all the stops included. First, you’ll see a recommended route to your first stop, and once you’re there, you’ll see a recommended route to your second stop, and so on. If you change your mind while planning, you can tap the number of stops to see them all listed. You can press the two vertical lines and rearrange them however you want. Don’t forget to tap Done to save your changes. Once I’ve got the order where I want it, that’s one less thing I have to figure out after I leave.

I get more out of Maps before I even tap Start

I thought I was getting the most out of Google Maps once I started driving. Now I’m realizing I was missing out on some of its most useful features because I wasn’t planning ahead. Sure, Maps may not know about an accident that happened moments ago, but it’s still a lot more helpful than guessing which streets will get me there faster. I save myself a lot of stress by taking some time to sort things out at home rather than on the spot.