Route search apparatus

A route search apparatus includes: a storage device (8) that stores link positional information and link connection information, a minimum unit of road on a map being referred to as a link; a point setting device (2, 3) through which a point of departure, a waypoint, and a destination on the map can be set by an operator; a search start instruction device (2, 3) through which an instruction for route search start can be issued by an operator; and a control device (2) that performs route search leading from the point of departure to the destination or route search leading from the point of departure to the destination via the waypoint when the waypoint has been set based upon the link connection information. When a point is set through the point setting device (2, 3), the control device (2) starts a route search near the point based upon the link connection information even if a route search start instruction has not been issued through the search start instruction device (2, 3).