How to avoid tolls and highways in Apple Maps on an iPhone

2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Device

iPhone

Shown on

iOS 26.5 (iPhone 17)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › Apps › Maps › Driving

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Apple Maps picks driving routes that may use toll roads and highways. If you do not want to pay tolls, or prefer smaller roads, two switches change that for every route. They are in the Settings app.

The screenshots show iOS 26.5 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows have the same names, with a slightly different look.

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings and tap Apps

   Apps is near the bottom of the main Settings list. On iOS 17 and earlier, Maps is in the main list itself.

   Done

2. 

   Tap Maps

   The apps are in alphabetical order, so Maps is under M.

   Done

3. 

   Scroll down to Directions and tap Driving

   The Directions group has four rows: Driving, Walking, Transit and Cycling.

   Done

4. 

   Switch on Tolls, Highways or both

   The two switches are under the heading Avoid. In the picture both are off.

   Done

Good to know

For one route only: in Maps, get driving directions, tap Options below Directions, and make your choices below Avoid.

The same page has Report and Verify While Navigating, which is on at first. According to the text on the page, it lets you submit reports with a few taps while navigating and verify whether crashes and other incidents are still present.

For areas without a signal: how to download offline maps on an iPhone.

In short: Settings, Apps, Maps, Driving, switch on Tolls or Highways under Avoid.