Google Navigation only taking main roads

[nanllyn]

I use google maps/navigation all the time. I even use it if I know where I'm going to get an eta to where I'm going or if there is traffic I need to go around.
The problem is that Google usually only takes main highways and such. I know it takes me out of the way sometimes (if it happens to be an area I know) and makes a longer trip just to stay on main roads. I want the shortest, fastest way even if it means taking city street/country roads, etc.
How do I go about getting Google to ask me how I want to go? I want the shortest route to save gas but sometimes maybe I do want to stay on the highway. Is there a way to get it to ask before starting to drive the route. I know it will reroute if I take a different road.
As an example we went from an area we didn't know on the west side of Cincinnati to the east side of Cincinnati. It took us down the highway and then a main road. Once I got in that area, I realized we could have taken back roads and saved about 8 miles. But I didn't know it until after we had taken the route Google told us to go. That is what I mean by will it ask us if we want to take main roads or the shortest route.
Thanks for your time.
Nancy

 

[ernbrdn]

I'm not at my phone right this minute but if I remember correctly when you start up navigation there is a popup in the middle of the screen that gives you a summary of Distance, and ETA. (Looks like a gray rectangle if I remember correctly) IF you tap that area, it will open up a route summary page in which navigation will present you with 2 other alternate routes , along with Distance and ETA traffice included. In my past experience there may be a shorter distance to travel but google is looking at distance and eta and choosing the best route. The route may always be the same, except that one day when there is a huge pile up on the interstate and all of a sudden it's giving you directions around the world.
Enough rambling, you can change the route if you like by doing that, but in my past experience, Google may seem stupid but its just automaticallyl choosing the route your going to pick anyways.

 

[takeshi]

You can hit button for alternate routes in Google Maps Nav (not always an option though) but if you really want these routing options then you need to find a GPS nav app that offers the feature.

 

[kamtsa]

>> I want the shortest, fastest way even if it means taking city street/country roads, etc.

shortest and fastest are typically not the same route. From my experience, Google Nav prefers the fastest and it uses current traffic information to estimate the travel time. Some GPS's allow you to prefer shortest vs fastest. I don't think that this is available in Google nav. Instead it shows you a a list of alternate routes in increasing estimated travel time.

Google route planning on the web is more flexible as you can actually points of the route around.

 

[Johnly]

I always check given route, and change it if I prefer a different route. Is it perfect? Nope, but neither is tom tom or garmin.