MapQuest Walking Directions

Walking directions need a different route

A car route is shaped by vehicle access and road movements. A person on foot may use a public path that cars cannot enter, while a road open to vehicles may be unsuitable for pedestrians. Replacing a car’s estimated speed with a walking speed does not fix the underlying route.

MapQuest’s developer documentation includes a pedestrian route type that avoids limited-access roads. That confirms a routing capability, not that every website or app screen has the same control or that every path is suitable for every walker. Choose a pedestrian mode explicitly rather than assuming the default route is appropriate.

Once the mode is correct, inspect the route itself. Look for a plausible crossing of any river, railway or major road. A line that appears short at city scale may rely on a crossing that is far less convenient at street level.

Source: MapQuest documentation: route types, distance and fuel estimates

Start at the point where you will actually walk

If you are arriving by train, use the station exit you expect to leave from, not just the center of the station property. If you are parking first, begin at the parking exit. A large car park or station can add several minutes before the street portion of the journey even begins.

At the destination, find the pedestrian entrance rather than the vehicle gate. A museum or shopping center may have an entrance facing a different street from its delivery access. Check visitor information when the map marker does not make that distinction clear.

1. Confirm the start and destination, including the correct entrances.
2. Select a walking or pedestrian route where the service provides one.
3. Inspect crossings, public paths and the final approach.
4. Add time for signals, stops, slopes and any access checks your group needs.

Estimate walking time at your own pace

A walking estimate is only useful if it suits the people walking. Pace can change with luggage, children, hills, frequent stops or a crowded pavement. You do not need to match the estimate displayed by a map; use it as a starting reference and allow for your circumstances.

For a simple estimate, divide the route distance by your assumed speed. The examples below describe uninterrupted movement. They deliberately exclude crossings and breaks so you can add those separately.

Keep the units consistent. If you measure the walk in kilometers, use kilometers per hour in the formula. Do not substitute straight-line distance when the usable path curves or requires a detour to a crossing.

Check access without assuming a route is step-free

A pedestrian route does not, by itself, certify a step-free or accessible journey. Stairs, steep surfaces, uneven paving and narrow passages can matter even when a path is public. When these features affect your trip, seek specific access information from the station, venue or local authority.

Overhead imagery can help you understand the layout, but it cannot reliably establish the height of a curb, the condition of a surface or whether a gate will be open. Street-level photographs can add context, although they may also be old or incomplete. Treat both as supporting information.

If a mapped path is closed, private or visibly unsafe, do not follow it merely because the route includes it. Choose a permitted alternative and reassess the remaining journey from a suitable place. Leave enough time that a small detour does not force a rushed decision.

Understand street-level imagery · Interpret satellite images

Plan a drive-and-walk journey in two parts

For a city visit, plan the drive to a suitable parking location and the walk from that location to the entrance as separate legs. This avoids the mistake of treating a vehicle route to the building as a complete arrival plan.

For example, a hypothetical 25-minute drive followed by a 12-minute walk already totals 37 minutes before parking or payment. Add those tasks explicitly. Keep the parking location available for the return walk, especially if the route to the venue is unfamiliar.

Common questions