A route is created in the route editor. In the route editor, you can first of all create a route by placing waypoints. In this manual you can read how to create a route and you will find references to other guides and videos.
Using the route editor, you can also: manage favourites and POIs; search and book a hotel; save routes to your hard disk in the most common file formats; export routes to most common navigation systems; and share routes via various social media!
Start a new route
- First, click on 'Route lab' and then on 'New route' (top picture) or click on 'New' and then 'route' in your route archive (bottom picture).
- Next, you get a pop-up screen where you fill in the route settings:
- the name of the route;
- the privacy mode, so who is allowed to see the route;
- and the desired transport mode;
- Departure date and time: This allows you to plan routes even more precisely. This is not a necessary setting to plan a route. You can always change this setting later by clicking on 'more options' in your route archive and edit the start time there.
If you would like to use timed waypoints that are visible in PDF: please fill in something here. For more information about timed waypoints see our Manual 'Waypoints'.
- Finally, click on 'ok'.
The route editor opens
The route is automatically and directly saved in your route archive (Profile>Routes).
Here is a description of the main functions of the route editor.
Later on and in other manuals, we will go into more detail about the functions.
The Left column
1. Waypoints: Here you will find a list of the waypoints (also called route points sometimes);
2. Route information: You can find information such as the name and description of the route, privacy mode, transport mode, duration and distance of the route and the total number of waypoints. You can also change settings of the route here.
3. Animation: With this option you can create an animation of your route.
4. Comments: Here you can leave a comment on your route or react to someone else's route.
5. Favourites: Here you can find your favourite waypoints.
6. Routes: This option allows you to add (and use) a different route to your current route.
7. Tracklogs: This option allows you to add (and use) a tracklog in your current route.
8. POIs: Here you have access to a selection of interesting locations that you might want to include in your route.
9. Help: Here you can search for manuals using a keyword.
In the map area
10. Search bar: Place a waypoint by entering an address.
11. Information: Here you can find the duration and distance of the route
12. Zoom: With these buttons, you can zoom in and out on the map (this can also be done with the wheel of the mouse).
13. Coordinate: place a waypoint by entering a coordinate.
14. Lock: by clicking on this icon you (de)activate a lock on the route. In this way, you cannot accidentally move or add a waypoint when viewing the route in the route editor. This is only for yourself.
15. 3D View: When you click on it, a 3D view of the map is shown.
16. StreetView: activate StreetView by clicking this icon. It is possible to start StreetView on any blue road.
17. Height profile: Click this icon to display the height profile of your route.
18. Current location: Clicking this will zoom the map to the (set) current location.
19. Map layers: Here you can activate different map layers (Attention! This only changes the appearance of the map, this does not affect the route calculation that is still done by the map itself).
20. Manage actions: Here you can undo the most recent action or retrieve a deleted action. For more information, see the FAQ page: How do I undo something in the route editor?
Blue menu bar above the map
21. Route name: You can change the route name by clicking on the pencil.
22. Export: Click to export the route using the MyRoute-app connector.
23. Save as: Click to save the route to your computer as (for example) a .GPX file (there are several types of files that we support).
24. Toolkit: Here you will find the Toolkit functions of the set map (Note that each map has different toolkit functions).
25. Map: Set the map you want to use here (Note that the route calculation differs per map).
24. Sharing: You can share the route in different ways; on MyRoute-app (activities), Twitter, Facebook, E-mail, via a link, or you can embed the route and place it on your own website.
Starting to create a route in the OpenStreetMap
There are several ways to create a waypoint:
- Double-click with your mouse on the map;
- Enter an address in the search field at the top left (A);
As soon as you start typing you will see that several search results appear. - Enter a coordinate by clicking on the icon of the coordinate (B).
A pop-up window will appear: What do you want to call this waypoint?
A name is automatically given to the waypoint. You can change the name. Click 'confirm' if everything is according to your wishes.

Waypointmenu
The first waypoint appears on the map and is also shown in the left column in the list of waypoints. The first (and also the last) point of a route is always automatically a viewpoint. For more information about waypoints, see our Manual 'Waypoints'.
When you click on the waypoint, a window appears with the following options:
1. Rename: change the name of the waypoint;
2. Zoom in on the waypoint;
3. Change the colour of the waypoint by clicking this icon several times. This colour can only be seen in MRA Routeplanner and in MRA Navigation. If you share the route within MyRoute-app, others can also see it.
4. Search for, find and book a hotel directly near the waypoint;
5. Remove the waypoint;
6. Open/close more options (the lower row of options become visible or hidden again).
7. Add note to waypoint. This note is only visible in the route planner of MyRoute-app and in MyRoute-app Navigation. If you share the route within MyRoute-app, others can also see it.
8. Add favourite: this waypoint is now a favourite waypoint and is shown under the 'Favourites' heading;
9. Start point: Set this waypoint as the starting point of the route (the order of the other waypoints remains the same), easy if you use someone else's route;
10. Set via-point: Use this button to turn a shaping point into a via-point and vice versa. For more information see our Manual 'Waypoints'.
11. Skip: the selected waypoint is created 'off-road'. This is useful when a route calculation is unsuccessful. This way you still have the waypoint in the ride and the route remains intact.
(TIP: This is very useful for the HERE/Garmin map, for example. If you have a ferry in the route that is not recognised, you have to place a waypoint just in front of the ferry, on the water, and at the arrival point. Then you make the waypoint that is on the water 'off-road' and the route will calculate as it should!)
12. Add photo: With this option, you can add a photo to the selected waypoint. A nice touch for the MRA Animate!
13. Add symbol: Click on this to add a symbol from the pop-up menu.
14. Insert pause: This will add a pause time to the waypoint. For more information on timed waypoints, see our Manual 'Waypoints'.
Add next waypoint
This can be done again by clicking on the map, entering an address in the search bar, or entering a coordinate.
- The map calculates the quickest route between the various waypoints; you will see the route line on the map and the total list of waypoints on the left.
- The total distance and estimated journey time are shown on the left-hand side of the map;
- In the list of waypoints, you see the distance and estimated time between the different waypoints.
Adjusting the route
Adjusting the order of the waypoints
- In the list of waypoints, move your cursor to the waypoint you want to move and hold down the left mouse button;
- Drag the waypoint to the location in the list where you want to place the waypoint.
Dragging the route line
- Place your cursor on the route line, a ball will appear on the route line under your mouse's pointer;
- By holding down the left mouse button, you can move the route line from here to a new path;
- Where you release the left mouse button, a new route point appears and the route has been modified. The waypoint is between the original waypoints; this is also shown in the list of waypoints in the left column.
Finishing the route
You can complete the route by placing waypoints and dragging route lines as mentioned above. You can use timed waypoints and via-points. You can read more about this in our manual: Manual 'Waypoints'. As mentioned before, the route and all the adjustments are automatically saved in your route archive (Profile > Routes).
Tips & Tricks
- In the following manuals we delve deeper into the subject matter, for example, the various maps and the toolkit functions;
- When the route is finished, check all the waypoints by zooming in completely (function two of the waypoint) and make sure they are on the road correctly. Every GPS has a margin of error and if your waypoint is right next to an exit, for example, your GPS may think that it is on the exit, then you will be steered in the wrong direction.
- Not at roundabouts or intersections, but afterwards;
- Not close to an exit, an exit or driveway, but a little further from there;
- On the right side of the road (pay attention to separate lanes).
- Especially for places of interest and lunch locations, you can use StreetView to see if the waypoints are correctly positioned. StreetView is also a good way to check whether the chosen roads are beautiful.
- For example, you can create a route by placing waypoints at places of interest and beautiful roads you have found on the internet. Between these waypoints, you drag the route line in such a way that you think it is a beautiful route. You can, for example, support this with the 'expand' toolkit function (more about this in another manual).
- Also, watch this video instruction from our switching service below.