# How to Avoid Busy Roads and Areas When You Plan a Bike Route

Draw avoid areas on the map — circles that route suggestions go around — and choose routing profiles that prefer trails, bike paths and quiet roads.

Updated 2026-10-26 · TrailScout blog

## Quick answer

In TrailScout open Plan → Avoid areas, press Draw an area and drag a circle on the map over the road, town or trail you want to stay out of (30 m to 20 km). The A→B planner then routes around every avoid area when Use avoid areas list is on. For roads in general, pick a profile that avoids them — MTB, Gravel or Bike paths & quiet roads — or draw the leg yourself in the route builder.

## Key takeaways

- Avoid areas are circles you draw; A→B suggestions go around them.
- Areas are saved — on the device, or in your account for all your devices.
- An area that contains your start, a via point or your destination is skipped automatically.
- The Attention markers show crossings of bigger roads along any route.

A good ride can be spoiled by a few kilometres on the wrong road — a fast main road with trucks, a busy tourist town, a trail closed for logging. TrailScout gives you two ways to stay out of them: routing profiles that prefer quiet ways, and **avoid areas** you draw yourself.

## How to draw an avoid area

1. Open [TrailScout](index.html?app) and press **Plan → Avoid areas**.
2. Press **Draw an area**.
3. **Press on the map and drag** — the circle grows as you drag. Let go when it is big enough (from 30 m to 20 km).
4. Rename it (“Main road”, “Quarry”) and adjust the **radius** in the list if you like.
5. Repeat for every place to avoid.

The areas are shown on the map as circles and kept in a list. They're saved on this device, or in your account (on all your devices) if you sign in.

## How the planner uses them

In **Plan → A → B**, tick **Use avoid areas list**. Every suggestion now goes around your areas. **Manage** opens the list from the planner.

If an area contains your **start, a via point or the destination**, it is skipped for that plan (you can't avoid the place you're going to) and the planner tells you how many were left out.

*Screenshot: A→B suggestions on the map with their cards — A → B suggestions — with avoid areas on, every one goes around them.*

## Choose a profile that avoids roads

| You want | Profile |
|---|---|
| trails, few roads | MTB (trails) |
| easier trails and tracks | MTB light |
| gravel and forest roads | Gravel |
| cycle paths and low traffic | Bike paths & quiet roads |
| footpaths only | Hiking |

The A→B suggestion labelled **Most bike paths** is usually the quietest; **Most trails** keeps off asphalt the most. See [how to plan an A→B bike route](blog/plan-a-to-b-bike-route.html).

## Draw it yourself where it matters

For full control, draw the critical part in the [route builder](blog/plan-mountain-bike-route-on-trails.html): place points along the quiet road you want and the line follows it. Use **Freehand** for a path the map doesn't know.

## Check a route for road crossings

The **Attention** markers on the map flag crossings of bigger roads along any route (as well as steep drops, hairpins and gaps in the track). Check them before a family ride. See [how to rate a route's difficulty](blog/route-difficulty-rating.html).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do avoid areas work in the route builder?
They are used by the A→B planner. In the builder you choose the line yourself point by point.

### How big can an avoid area be?
From 30 m to 20 km radius.

### Are my avoid areas private?
Yes. Without an account they stay on your device; with an account they're kept in your account, visible only to you.

### Can I avoid a whole road, not just a circle?
Draw several circles along it, or pick a profile that prefers trails or quiet roads so the road isn't chosen in the first place.