# Route Planner from a Spreadsheet: Upload a CSV, Get the Route | InstaMaps

> Plan a route from a spreadsheet. Upload a CSV or paste rows from Excel or Google Sheets: up to 100 stops in the best order, with one Google Maps link. Free.

Source: https://get-instamaps.com/tools/route-planner-from-spreadsheet

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# Plan a Route from a Spreadsheet

 Upload a CSV, or paste rows straight out of Excel or Google Sheets. Get up to 100 stops in the order with the least driving, and one Google Maps™ link for the whole route. Free, no signup. 

Stops, one per line

0 stops · up to 100 Upload a CSV 

Quick answer

## How do I plan a route from a spreadsheet?

 Save the sheet as CSV and upload it above, or select the address rows and paste them into the box. We find the address columns, put the stops in the order with the least driving on real roads, and give you one Google Maps™ link with every stop loaded. To keep the route inside the sheet, use =VISIT\_ORDER and =ROUTE\_LINK (below). 

## What your file needs

A first row naming the columns, and one of these:

* an **Address** column with the full address, or
* **Street**, **City**, **State** and **ZIP** columns (Billing Street, Shipping City and the like work too), or
* **Latitude** and **Longitude** columns.

 Other columns, like names, phone numbers and notes, stay out of the route. A file with no header row works too: each row's cells are read as one address. The file is read in your browser. Only the stops go to the planner, and we don't save your list. 

### From Excel

File, Save As, then CSV. Or select the rows, copy, and paste them into the box.

### From Google Sheets

File, Download, then Comma-separated values (.csv). Or copy the rows and paste them.

## Keep the route in Google Sheets

 The free InstaMaps add-on plans the route where the list lives. =VISIT\_ORDER numbers each stop in the best order on real roads. Sort by that number, then =ROUTE\_LINK builds one Google Maps™ link for up to 100 stops. Change the list and both update. 

`=VISIT_ORDER(A2:A101)` → `=ROUTE_LINK(A2:A101)`

[Get the add-on free →](https://workspace.google.com/marketplace/app/instamaps/103204565785?utm%5Fsource=get-instamaps&utm%5Fmedium=site&utm%5Fcampaign=route-planner-from-spreadsheet)[How =ROUTE\_LINK works](/blog/route-link-google-sheets)

## How it works

1. 1Upload the CSV, or copy the address rows from Excel or Google Sheets and paste them.
2. 2Check the stops we found, then plan. We time every stop against every other on real roads.
3. 3Get the stops in the best order and one Google Maps™ link. Routes over 10 stops are emailed to you too.

## FAQ

### Which columns does the planner read?

An Address column, or Street, City, State and ZIP columns, or Latitude and Longitude. Column names like Billing Street or Shipping City work too. Other columns stay out of the route.

### Can I upload an Excel file?

Save it as CSV first (File, Save As, CSV), or copy the rows and paste them into the box. The planner reads CSV, TSV and text files.

### How many rows can I upload?

One route takes up to 100 stops. If your file has more, we load the first 100 and tell you how many are left, so you can plan the rest as another route or share them across drivers.

### Is my file uploaded anywhere?

No. The file is read in your browser. Only the stops go to the planner, the same as if you had pasted them, and we don't save your list.

### Which row is the start?

The first stop is where the route starts and the last is where it ends. Put your depot or office in the first row, and in the last row too if you come back.

### Can the route stay in my Google Sheet?

Yes, with the free InstaMaps add-on. =VISIT\_ORDER(A2:A101) numbers each stop in the best order; sort by it, and =ROUTE\_LINK(A2:A101) builds one Google Maps™ link for up to 100 stops.

## More free tools

[Multi-stop route planner (100 stops) → ](/tools/multi-stop-route-planner)[Delivery route planner → ](/tools/delivery-route-planner)[Free sales route planner → ](/tools/sales-route-planner)[Route planner for multiple drivers → ](/tools/multi-driver-route-planner)[Drive time between two addresses → ](/tools/drive-time-calculator)[Plan a route from a Google Sheet, step by step → ](/blog/address-list-to-route-workflow)[\=VISIT\_ORDER in Google Sheets → ](/blog/visit-order-route-google-sheets)[Batch geocoder → ](/tools/geocoder)