**European Economic Area (EEA) developers**

> [!NOTE]
> If your billing address is in the European Economic Area, effective on 8 July 2025, the [Google Maps Platform EEA Terms of Service](https://cloud.google.com/terms/maps-platform/eea) will apply to your use of the Services. Functionality varies by region. [Learn more](https://developers.google.com/maps/comms/eea/faq.md.txt).

Specify which route features you prefer to avoid, such as avoiding tolls or highways, by adding
route modifiers to a request. The API then attempts to provide a route that does not require
those features.

You specify which route features you prefer to avoid, such as avoiding tolls or
highways, by adding *route modifiers* to a request. The API then attempts to
provide a route that does not require those features.

Use the `routeModifiers` property in a request, of type
[`RouteModifiers`](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/reference/route.md.txt#RouteModifiers).
You can specify `avoidTolls`, `avoidHighways`, `avoidFerries`,
and `avoidIndoor`.

Specifying a route modifier does not necessarily eliminate routes that include the restricted
feature. The API uses the modifier to bias the result to more favorable routes. There can be a
few reasons why requesting an avoidance option doesn't change your route. For example, the only
route from the origin to the destination makes it impossible to avoid a highway or ferry. Or,
the alternate route actually lengthens travel time significantly.

## Example

The following example demonstrates how to set a route modifier to avoid tolls in a
[`computeRoutes`](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/reference/route.md.txt#Routes.computeRoutes)
request.

```javascript
const requestWithAvoid = {
  origin: 'Kirkland, WA',
  destination: 'University of Washington',
  travelMode: 'DRIVING',
  routeModifiers: {
    avoidTolls: true,
  },
  fields: ['path'],
};
  
```