Feature Suggestion: Add a ‘Scenic Route’ option alongside fastest and eco-friendly routes
Hi Google Maps Team and Community,
My partner and I are currently on a beautiful road trip through Europe in our classic Mercedes-Benz oldtimer. While we love using Google Maps for everyday navigation, this trip has made us realize that the app is heavily optimized for efficiency: getting from A to B as fast, cheap, or eco-friendly as possible.
However, when you are touring in a classic car, a camper, or on a motorcycle, the journey is the destination. Highways and tunnels are efficient, but they hide the most beautiful parts of the world.
We would love to propose a new routing option: The Scenic Route.
How it could work:
Google already has all the data required to build this:
- Visual Data: Using Street View algorithms and satellite imagery to identify roads with high green density, coastlines, mountain passes, and historic villages.
- User Engagement: Connecting routes that pass by high-density photo spots or highly-rated viewpoints.
- Driving Patterns: Identifying secondary roads where drivers traditionally choose to take it slower and enjoy the surroundings.
Why this adds value:
Right now, classic car drivers, roadtrippers, and motorcyclists are forced to use third-party apps just to find beautiful roads. Introducing a ‘Scenic’ toggle would keep millions of travelers inside the Google Maps ecosystem, transforming it from a utility tool into the ultimate travel companion.
We would love to hear if other travelers feel the same way. Let’s make road trips beautiful again!
Best regards,
Nathan and Sarah
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Halo @NathanandSarah , selamat datang di komunitas Connect ini ya @NathanandSarah , salam kenal dan sukses selalu ya 
Hi @NathanandSarah
Welcome to Connect.
You are correct that beautiful landscapes is not a filter on Maps. But here are the most effective workarounds:
1. Toggle “Avoid Highways”
The fastest way to force Google Maps off the major, boring freeways and onto local, historic, or rural roads is to adjust your route options. [1]
- Enter your destination and tap Directions.
- Tap the three dots (Menu) in the upper right corner.
- Select Route Options (or Options).
- Check the box for Avoid highways. This automatically shifts your route to secondary roads, which are inherently more scenic. [1, 2]
2. Use the “Explore Along Your Route” Feature
If you are already driving a specific route but want to uncover hidden gems, viewpoints, or beautiful stops without going too far out of your way, use Google’s tailored road trip tool. [1]
- Once your route is active, tap Add stops.
- You can swipe up from the bottom to browse curated recommendations or look for Points of Interest pins directly on the map.
- Tap a location to check the detour time and instantly add it to your trip. [1]
3. Look for the “Green” and “Dotted” Map Markers
When looking at the map screen dynamically, keep an eye out for visual cues that indicate a route is scenic:
- Green Areas: Zoom in slightly on your map to locate large swaths of green, which denote national parks, forests, and nature reserves.
- Manual Waypoints: If you spot a body of water or a green zone, long-press on that specific road to drop a pin, select Add Stop, and drag it into your itinerary to manually bend the route through the beautiful scenery. [1]
4. Scout Ahead via Street View
Before you commit to a drive, use Street View to manually check the vibe of the road. If the blue line tracking the road hugs a coastline, cuts cleanly through a mountain pass, or is canopy-lined with trees, you’ve found your scenic path.
Are you planning a trip through a specific region or country right now? If you share your starting point and destination, I can help you identify exactly which backroads or scenic detours to manually plug into Google Maps!
These suggestions are from Gemini.
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