To provide a method of retrieving candidate node for route searching system by which the optimum route is found by displaying a detailed numerical map on a display, and searching an already existing node near an arbitrary point selected by means of a pointing device from the arbitrary point at the time of searching already existing nodes.

In this method, the numerical map and already existing nodes are displayed on the screen of the display, and the arbitrary point is designated on the map by means of the pointing device. Then the costs from the arbitrary point to the already existing nodes shown on the map are found and the already existing node which is the lowest in cost is retrieved. When a retrieving extent is designated, all of the already existing nodes existing around the arbitrary point in the designated extent are picked up as candidate nodes for route retrieval.