Siri: Getting Route Information as You Drive

One of the awesome ways that Siri integrates with Apple Maps is that you can ask her for updates on your route as she's giving you turn-by-turn directions. To play along with me for this tip, you'll need to be running iOS 6 on an iPhone 4S/5, an iPad 2 or later, or an iPad mini (and your device must be able to access cellular data to navigate while you're out and about). Got all that? Hooray—let's get started!

First of all, tell Siri where you want to go, and then she'll automatically start turn-by-turn directions. You can do this through the Maps app too, of course, but that just isn't as much fun.

Then as you proceed to drive your way around this wide old world, you can ask Siri about your route, so if (for example) you didn't hear where your next turn is supposed to be, you can get that information without having to take your eyes off the road. Here are some questions you can ask her:

What time will I get there?

How far do I have to go?


What's my next turn?


How far away is my next turn?

If you're as directionally challenged as I am, that last one's a lifesaver. Because, you know, if it has been long enough since I've heard Siri speak, I become convinced that I'm going to miss my turn and wind up in another state or something. Thanks, Siri, for not letting me wind up in another state. Yet.