To map a run, open a running route planner, click where you start and click at every turn. The planner draws the route along the real pavements and paths and adds up the distance as you go. With Runplanner's free route planner that takes about a minute, works in kilometres or miles, and needs no account.
The short version
- Open the route planner and click your start.
- Click at each turn; the line follows the paths for you.
- Read the distance, time and climbing.
- Download the GPX or copy a share link.
How to map a run in 4 steps
1. Find your start
Open the running route planner. Pan and zoom the map to where you want to start, or tap the locate button to jump to where you are. Click once to drop your start point.
2. Click at each turn
Click the next place where the route changes direction: a junction, a park gate, the end of a street. With Snap to roads switched on, the planner fills in the line between your clicks along pavements, footpaths, park paths and trails. You don't need a point on every bend, only where you'd make a choice. Clicked the wrong spot? Use Undo.
3. Read the distance
The distance updates with every click. Use the km and mi switch to change units, and type your usual pace to see how long the run will take. The elevation profile shows where the climbs are, so a "flat 10K" really is flat.
4. Save or export it
Press Download GPX to put the route on your watch, or Copy share link to send it to a friend or keep it for later. The link holds the whole route, so nothing is stored on a server. Not sure what to do with the file? Our guide to GPX files covers Garmin, Coros, Apple Watch apps and Strava.
Why snapping to paths changes the distance
Some map tools measure a straight line from click to click. That is fine for a long straight road, but runs bend, and every bend you skip makes the route shorter on the map than it is on your feet. Two examples with simple geometry:
- Across a city block. To reach the opposite corner of a block that is 400 m by 300 m, a straight line says 500 m. Along the streets it is 700 m, so the straight line misses 200 m.
- Around a round lake or park. Drawn with straight lines between clicks, the loop comes out short by how few clicks you use:
| Clicks on a round 5 km loop | Straight-line distance | Too short by |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4.50 km | 10% |
| 8 | 4.87 km | 2.6% |
| 16 | 4.97 km | 0.6% |
| Snapped to the path | Follows the path | Close to 0% |
Straight lines between evenly spaced points on a perfect circle. Real paths are less regular, but the effect is the same: fewer clicks, shorter distance.
A snapped route measures the mapped path itself, so you get the right number with just a few clicks. Runplanner uses OpenStreetMap paths and a pedestrian profile that prefers footpaths and quiet streets and never sends you onto a motorway.
Map a run in km or miles
Switch between km and mi at the top of the planner. The distance, the pace field and the estimated time all follow the unit you pick, so a 5-mile run reads as 5.0 mi and a 10K as 10.0 km. Need a quick conversion while you plan? 5K is 3.1 miles, 10K is 6.2 miles, a half marathon is 13.1 miles (21.1 km) and a marathon is 26.2 miles (42.2 km). The pace calculator converts any pace between min/km and min/mile.
Map a loop or an out-and-back
Loop: keep clicking around the area and finish with a click on your start point. Loops usually feel shorter than the same distance out and back, and you see more on the way. How to plan a running route has tips for picking a good one.
Out-and-back: map the way out to your turnaround point, then press Out & back. The planner adds the same route home and doubles the distance. Want a 10K? Map 5 km out and press the button. Reverse flips the direction of any route.
Let the app pick a loop: the free iPhone and Android app can generate a loop of the distance you ask for, starting where you are. The web planner doesn't do this yet.
Measure a run you already did
Ran without a watch, or want to know how far your usual loop is? Map it afterwards in exactly the same way: click your start, then click along the streets and paths you took. For a section across a field, a beach or an athletics track, turn off Snap to roads and the line goes straight between your clicks for that part.
Ways to map a run, compared
| Method | Follows paths | Before the run | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running route planner | Yes | Yes | Exact distance, climbing, GPX for your watch |
| Route planner app on your phone | Yes | Yes | Generated loops and directions while you run |
| Measure tool in a general map app | No, straight lines | Yes | A rough idea of a straight route |
| GPS watch or phone recording | Records where you went | No, only afterwards | Logging the run you did |
Map a run on your phone
The web planner works in your phone's browser. For more, the free Runplanner app for iPhone and Android adds a library of saved routes, loop generation, run reminders with the weather forecast, and turn-by-turn directions while you run. There is no account and no ads, and the routes you save stay on your phone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I map a run for free?
Open a free running route planner such as runplannerapp.com/route-planner/, click your start, then click at each turn. The route snaps to paths and the distance updates as you click. Runplanner needs no account and shows no ads.
How accurate is a mapped run?
A route that snaps to mapped paths measures the path itself, so it is usually closer to the real distance than straight lines between clicks. A GPS watch on the day can read a little differently because of satellite drift, tall buildings and tree cover.
Can I map a run in miles?
Yes. Runplanner's web planner has a km and mi switch, and pace and time follow the unit you pick.
Can I measure a run I already did?
Yes. Click where you started and along the streets and paths you ran; the planner adds up the distance. Turn off Snap to roads for sections across a field, a beach or a track.
Do I need an account to map a run?
Not with Runplanner. The web planner and the iPhone and Android app work without an account, and routes you save in the app stay on your phone.
Ready? Open the free running route planner and map your next run.