When you're heading to a new location by car, iPhone users likely rely on Apple Maps for navigation. However, simply reaching your destination isn't always enough. Imagine pulling up and realizing there's no place to park—this can make your timely arrival irrelevant as you then scramble to find a parking spot. This is where the latest feature in Apple Maps becomes invaluable.

The update to iOS 14.5, released on April 26, introduced numerous enhancements to Apple Maps. Among these improvements was an expansion of the app’s pit-stop options. Previously, stops for meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner), refueling (Gas Stations), and coffee breaks (Coffee) were directly accessible from the main menu. Now, they are available under a new "Add Stop" button, offering six different stop types including Convenience, Charging Stations, Banks, and Parking.

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To effectively use the parking assistance feature, it's important to activate the pit stop function when you're near the end of your route. If you attempt this midway through your journey, it will display parking spots relevant to your current location rather than your final destination, which may not be helpful. Therefore, wait until you’re close to your intended endpoint to utilize this tool.

Begin by ensuring you are following driving directions to your destination. When you need to locate parking, tap the arrow on the menu card or swipe the card upward, choose "Add Stop," and then select "Parking."

Apple Maps now presents all nearby parking locations. You can expand the card menu to view a list of options that detail how much time each would add to your trip, their distance from your current position, and if available, the operating hours of the parking area. Simply hit "GO" next to your preferred option.

Alternatively, you can tap a specific location on the map to see detailed information about that parking spot. If it suits your needs, press the green "GO" button, which will also indicate the additional time added to your journey.

Once you've set your parking spot within your route, proceed with the directions until you arrive at that location. Upon reaching the parking site, you'll encounter the familiar "Arrived" screen, but two choices will appear.

If you know how to walk to your original destination from the parking location, tap "End Route." Conversely, if you require further guidance to your initial destination, select "Resume Route to [Your Original Destination]" at the top of the screen. This action restores the driving directions so you can navigate on foot to your final location.

It would be beneficial if future iOS updates made this feature more intelligent. For example, tapping "Resume Route" after parking within a certain radius of the target could automatically switch from driving to walking directions. After all, once parked, you won’t be driving to your final destination anymore.

Enhancing this functionality could help avoid complications such as one-way streets and roads restricted to pedestrians, which aren't ideal for drivers. That said, in most cases, standard driving instructions will suffice for navigating from your parking spot to your destination.

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Cover image and screenshots by Jake Peterson/Gadget Hacks

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