Easiest way to plot route and move to 1030

Thanks, folks, tons of help.

The process of creating a route and uploading it to the 1030 is ridiculously complex and involves opening Garmin Express on the Mac just to connect to Garmin Connect. The course creation menus are hidden three layers deep and, even using a mouse, the Open Street maps are hard to manipulate.

The iOS version of Garmin Connect uses a completely different style of interface so anything you know how to do on the Web version won't help you. There is no way to create a route by dropping points in the iOS Connect app! The stupid application asks for a mileage and direction and then magically decides where you're going based on unknown factors. Totally. Insane. This is truly stupid application design.

Creating a route directly on the 1030 is simply not possible using the display on the 1030 and the provided tools.

bogiesan, did you try Basecamp ? (https://www.garmin.com/fr-FR/shop/downloads/basecamp)

If I have a PC available, I use the RideWithGPS web site to create routes, then connect the 1030 to the PC and export the routes as FIT files from RideWithGPS to the /Garmin/NewFiles folder on the 1030. When I'm touring and have no PC, I use Locus/Brouter on my phone to develop routes, export them from Locus as GPX files, and use the combination of the gexporter app on the phone and gimporter IQ app on the 1030 to copy the route to the 1030.

My process goes like this, and it is really not that difficult.

1) In Garmin Connect (that is the website, opened on a computer not a mobile device) go Training/Courses. There I either create a new course, using either Google or OSM map, or I import a GPX file to create that course. I usually add Course Points to flag villages and stops along the way. When done I save it.
2) Turn on my Edge 1030, which connects to my iPhone
3) using the Garmin Connect Mobile app on my iPhone, I go to menu/Training/Courses, select the course I want, then transfer to the Edge. This get done over Bluetooth. Nothing to plug
4) On the Edge 1030, in the saved courses, the course will be there to ride

The key here is to use the web site to create courses from the comfort of your home (manually or import a GPX), use the mobile phone app to transfer it to the Edge, and finally ride it on the Edge. In the end the repository of courses is the Garmin Connect website. I delete them from the Edge regularly.

Hope this helps.

The easiest way is to use dwmap, https://dynamic.watch/
You can plot the route from phone, tablet or computer and then just transfer it over to Edge.

I think the original poster's problem has been missed. If he is using garmin's map which does not have the required roads on it, it won't matter which web application you use the resulting routing cannot be guaranteed.
Bogiesan, sorry but you are going to have to do some work yourself but you will get better results.
You need to edit the OSM map yourself (which then benefits other people too) then upload an alternative map to your garmin.
This is not hard to do, and if you need help there will be plenty of people to assist

If it has not the actual routes, then we have a problem with map itself - probably garmin offers an updated version, or it is better to choose more actual OSM or any other available map.

To plan a route on 1030 is not easy, but it is possible - autoroute to destination and by adding "pins" to map it can route via them. For me the easiest way how to plan a route is to use https://www.komoot.com/ - via web or mobile app and then transfer it to garmin device via IQ app as described here https://www.komoot.com/garmin The only one disadvantage is that it is not possible to update on the fly - IQ apps are not available when activity is active :(
Edit: based on the web it is possible - they are calling it "plan on the go" ...need to check :)

A couple of other options.
You can use Easyroute on an iPhone (maybe Android as well, not tried it), that relies on GCM to get the route to the 1030 though.
You can use the Strava IQ routes app to get a route off Strava. Strava have a mobile route creator in Beta but you need to have a paid Strava sub.

Can't validate how well you'll get directions if your 1030 map is missing the roads though, so then you're into OSM editing as peteonbike mentioned.

Hi,
I used to do like that and it was a straightforward process, but now, for some weird reason, with my 1013 replacement unit, Garmin Connect mobile app considers my 1030 as a "not compatible" device for sending tracks...
Read here: https://forums.garmin.com/forum/into-sports/cycling/edge-1030-aa/1451236-can’t-send-courses-to-1030-not-compatible
Any suggestion?

I had this a while ago. If I recall you get this if the Bluetooth pairing is not well done. Make sure you have both BT and BT_BLE paired. There is two connection types being used by the Edge. If not sure might be worth it to unpair and redo the paring process since it takes just a minute to do.

Thanks, folks, tons of help.

No one owes you anything.

The process of creating a route and uploading it to the 1030 is ridiculously complex and involves opening Garmin Express on the Mac just to connect to Garmin Connect. The course creation menus are hidden three layers deep and, even using a mouse, the Open Street maps are hard to manipulate

Many thousands of people manage it. Ridewithgps.com might be easier to use. Create a route, export a file, copy the file to "\Garmin\NewFiles", and that's it.