Directions API
Point-to-point and multi-stop directions with turn-by-turn navigation data in 22 languages
How it works
Set your waypoints
Origin, destination, and up to 25 via points.
Plaza calculates directions
Seven travel modes, with headings, curb-side approaches and exclusions.
Get step-by-step
Maneuver type, street name, distance, and instruction.
See it in action
An example request and its response, drawn on the map.
Who uses this
Teams building with Directions API.
Navigation apps
Power in-app turn-by-turn navigation experiences.
Trip planning
Show route previews with multiple stops and alternatives.
Dispatch systems
Send drivers instructions that start in the direction they're facing.
Start building
curl -X POST "https://plaza.fyi/api/v1/route" \
-H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"destination": {
"coordinates": [
-77.01,
38.88
],
"type": "Point"
},
"origin": {
"coordinates": [
-77.03,
38.9
],
"type": "Point"
},
"steps": true
}'
View endpoints
| Method | Path | Description |
|---|---|---|
| POST | /api/v1/route | Calculate directions between two or more waypoints with turn-by-turn steps |
| POST | /api/v1/nearest | Snap a coordinate to the nearest road segment |
How it compares
Common questions
What's included in turn-by-turn steps?
Each step has a maneuver (type such as turn, fork, off_ramp or roundabout, a modifier, bearings and location), the instruction in one of 22 languages, the street name, distance, duration, its own geometry and the intersections it passes. Ask for voice_instructions and banner_instructions to get timed announcements, lanes and exit numbers too. The response follows the shape of Mapbox Directions, with snake_case names.
Is there a navigation SDK?
No. The route has the data a navigation screen needs, and following the GPS and re-routing happen in your app. The docs have a tutorial that builds that loop.
How many alternative routes can I request?
Up to 3 alternatives, ranked by duration, each with its full geometry and, with steps, its own instructions. Alternatives can't be combined with waypoints.