To put addresses in best driving order, use Google Sheets with the InstaMaps add-on. Type =VISIT_ORDER(A2:A50) to sequence stops, then =ROUTE_LINK(B2:B12) to generate a Google Maps URL. It processes up to 1,000 daily lookups entirely within your spreadsheet.
This method is for delivery drivers, real estate agents, and sales teams needing a straightforward Speedy Route alternative after it shut down in February 2025, or a free RouteXL alternative. By the end of this guide, you will have a properly sequenced list of stops and a clickable navigation link, completely removing the need to copy data into external web calculators.
- →InstaMaps processes routes directly inside Google Sheets using custom formulas.
- →Use =VISIT_ORDER() to sort a list of addresses into the most efficient sequence.
- →Use =ROUTE_LINK() to generate a Google Maps URL for up to 11 stops.
- →Ideal for small delivery fleets, real estate viewings, and door-to-door sales.
- →A free email unlock increases your daily limit from 100 to 1,000 lookups.
- →A reliable Speedy Route alternative after its shutdown in February 2025.
What you need to get started
You need a Google account, a list of addresses, and the free InstaMaps add-on. InstaMaps connects natively to Google Sheets, meaning you do not have to export your customer data to third-party servers to calculate driving routes.
Once installed, you can access the tool from the Extensions menu. A sidebar (Extensions > InstaMaps > Formulas) inserts formulas without typing, which helps prevent syntax errors. The add-on provides a free tier of 100 lookups per day, which expands to 1,000 daily lookups simply by registering your email.
Step 1: Clean and geocode your addresses
Before calculating a driving route, ensure your addresses are formatted correctly. If you have messy data with missing postcodes or inconsistent formatting, standardise it first. In cell B2, apply the cleaning formula: =CLEAN_ADDRESS(A2:A50).
Next, you must convert these text addresses into precise latitude and longitude coordinates. In cell C2, type =GEOCODE(B2:B50). The add-on will populate the column with coordinates. This step is essential because calculating the actual driving distance requires accurate geographic points, not just text strings.
Step 2: Determine the best sequence
Now you need to put addresses in best driving order. In cell D2, enter the routing formula: =VISIT_ORDER(C2:C50). InstaMaps evaluates the distance between every coordinate and returns a number representing the optimal visiting sequence (1 for the first stop, 2 for the second, and so on).
You can then highlight your rows and sort the spreadsheet by column D in ascending order. Your spreadsheet is now arranged logically. This calculation happens locally in your sheet, giving you a reliable RouteXL alternative for small-to-medium datasets without subscription fees.
Step 3: Generate the driving link
With your addresses sorted, create your navigation link. In cell E2, type =ROUTE_LINK(B2:B12). This formula relies on Google Maps' official URL scheme, which has a hard limit of 11 stops per link. The cell will display a clickable hyperlink.
If you have more than 11 stops, create batches. You can drag the formula down to =ROUTE_LINK(B13:B23) and so on. For drivers who prefer different navigation software, use =WAZE_LINK(B2:B12) to generate a route directly in the Waze app instead.
A worked example: 47 stops for a local farm
Consider a local produce delivery driver with exactly 47 customer addresses across three neighbouring postcodes. Previously, she entered these stops into a web calculator, but she lost access when the service changed its pricing model.
She copies her 47 addresses into column A. She runs =CLEAN_ADDRESS(A2:A48) and =GEOCODE(B2:B48). Next, she enters =VISIT_ORDER(C2:C48) in column D. She sorts her sheet by column D, instantly seeing the most efficient path.
Because Google Maps limits turn-by-turn links to 11 stops, she divides her 47 stops into five batches. She places =ROUTE_LINK(B2:B12) in F2 to plan her first hour of driving. Finally, she puts =INSTAMAP(C2:C48) in cell G2. This generates a live, hosted shareable map URL that updates automatically when she marks orders as delivered in the sheet.
Limits and honest alternatives
InstaMaps caps free lookups at 100 per day (1,000 with a free email unlock), which is plenty for standard small business operations. The primary technical limit you will face is the 11-stop maximum on the =ROUTE_LINK() formula, dictated entirely by Google Maps' URL parameters.
If you operate a massive fleet with 200 stops per driver, advanced time-window constraints, and vehicle capacity limits, you genuinely need dedicated routing software. Premium tools handle algorithms that spreadsheets cannot manage.
However, if you have 10 to 47 stops and just need a quick, logical sequence without paying monthly fees, a spreadsheet does the job perfectly. Pre-built templates are available at get-instamaps.com/templates to help you set up your route in seconds.
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Common Questions
You can use a free Google Sheets add-on like InstaMaps. By entering your addresses into a column and using the =VISIT_ORDER() formula, the add-on calculates the most efficient sequence. You can then use =ROUTE_LINK() to open the optimised path in Google Maps.
Since Speedy Route shut down in February 2025, users need reliable alternatives. InstaMaps provides a direct replacement by calculating the visit order directly in Google Sheets. This avoids monthly subscriptions and keeps your data in one place, offering up to 1,000 free lookups per day.
Google Maps limits a single route URL to 10 stops plus your starting point. The InstaMaps =ROUTE_LINK() formula respects this official limit, generating a link for up to 11 total locations. If you have more stops, you must break them into separate batches.
Yes, InstaMaps functions as a free RouteXL alternative for smaller datasets. While RouteXL restricts its free tier to 20 stops per route, InstaMaps allows you to calculate the optimal visit order for larger lists in Google Sheets and visually map them using =INSTAMAP(), though turn-by-turn links remain capped at 11 stops by Google.
Stop paying for external routing software. Install InstaMaps for free, sequence your stops with formulas, and build your driving routes in seconds.
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