Route Planner for Lawn Care FAQ

Question 1

How does the route planner optimize my stops?

Accepted Answer

Our route planner uses a nearest-neighbor algorithm enhanced with 2-opt optimization. It starts from your first stop and finds the closest unvisited location, then refines the route by swapping segments to reduce total distance. This typically achieves routes within 10-20% of the mathematically optimal solution.

Question 2

Is this route planner really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, completely free with no signup required. You can optimize up to 25 stops per route. We use free mapping services (OpenStreetMap) so there are no costs passed on to you. It's our way of helping lawn care professionals save time and fuel.

Question 3

What format should my CSV file be in?

Accepted Answer

Your CSV needs an 'address' column with full addresses including street, city, state, and zip code. Example: '123 Main St, Dallas, TX 75201'. The tool also recognizes columns named 'location' or 'stop', and can combine separate street/city/state/zip columns automatically.

Question 4

Why does geocoding take so long?

Accepted Answer

We use OpenStreetMap's free Nominatim service which has a rate limit of 1 request per second. For 25 stops, this means about 25 seconds of geocoding time. This keeps the tool free for everyone. Premium route planners with faster geocoding typically charge monthly fees.

Question 5

Does this account for actual driving routes and traffic?

Accepted Answer

The free version calculates straight-line (as-the-crow-flies) distances between stops. This works well for optimizing stop order in most cases, but actual driving distances may vary due to road layouts, one-way streets, and traffic. For most lawn care routes in suburban areas, the optimized order will still save significant time.

Question 6

Can I set a specific starting location for my route?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Simply make your starting location (like your shop or home) the first address in your CSV file. The optimizer will treat it as the starting point and find the best order for all subsequent stops.

Question 7

How many stops can I optimize at once?

Accepted Answer

The free tool supports up to 25 stops per route. This covers most daily lawn care schedules. If you regularly need more stops, consider dedicated route planning software or contact us about enterprise solutions.

Question 8

Can I use this for businesses other than lawn care?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! While we built this for lawn care professionals, the route optimizer works for any multi-stop service business: pest control, pool cleaning, HVAC service, delivery drivers, real estate agents showing properties, and more.

Free Route Planner

How It Works

Upload CSV

We Optimize

View Route

Frequently Asked Questions

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