How to Use ClickUp Timeline Templates for Better Project Planning

ClickUp gives you flexible timeline and roadmap tools that can easily replace Lucidchart timeline templates and help you plan projects from start to finish.

This walkthrough shows you how to move from static diagrams to interactive timelines, Gantt charts, and roadmaps that keep your entire team aligned.

Why Switch from Lucidchart Timelines to ClickUp

Traditional Lucidchart timeline templates are great for quick visuals, but they are separate from your actual work. You have to keep updating dates manually every time a task changes.

By comparison, ClickUp connects your tasks, timelines, and roadmaps in one place. When dates or dependencies change, your visual plan updates automatically.

Key advantages include:

Dynamic project views instead of static Lucidchart diagrams
Task-level details directly on your timeline
Automatic updates when schedules shift
Multiple views (Timeline, Gantt, Board, List) for the same data
Ready-made templates so you do not start from scratch

If you are used to Lucidchart, you can still keep visual clarity but gain execution power by setting up timelines inside your workspace.

Prepare Your Workspace Before Using ClickUp Timelines

Before you set up your first visual plan, organize your workspace so timelines stay clean and accurate.

Step 1: Define your project structure in ClickUp

Start by outlining where your work will live:

Create a Space for the broad area of work, such as Product, Marketing, or Operations.
Add a Folder for your initiative, such as Website Redesign or Q4 Launch.
Create a List inside that Folder to hold all tasks you want to place on a timeline.

This level of structure keeps your timelines focused while still giving you the flexibility to run multiple projects side by side.

Step 2: Set up key fields you will use on timelines

For timelines to work like improved Lucidchart timeline templates, you must capture time-related details consistently.

Add or confirm these core fields on your tasks:

Start Date and Due Date for every task
Assignee so ownership is clear on the visual plan
Priority to highlight critical work on the chart

With these basics in place, each view in your workspace can draw accurate data from the same tasks.

Create a Project Timeline in ClickUp

Once your project structure and fields are ready, you can build an interactive project timeline view.

Step 3: Open or add a ClickUp Timeline view

To replace a Lucidchart timeline for a project:

Open the List that contains your project tasks.
Click the + View button at the top of the screen.
Select Timeline as the view type.
Name your view, such as Project Timeline, and save it.

You now have a horizontal time-based view for all tasks in that List.

Step 4: Configure the ClickUp Timeline for clarity

To make the view as easy to read as a Lucidchart timeline template, adjust a few options:

Time scale: Choose day, week, or month, depending on your project length.
Grouping: Group by Assignee, Status, or a custom field to show ownership or phase.
Filters: Hide completed or low-priority tasks to keep the timeline clean.
Coloring: Use status or priority colors so milestones stand out.

Drag tasks along the timeline to quickly adjust dates. The changes apply to the underlying tasks themselves, not just the visual.

Build a Product Roadmap with ClickUp

Many people used Lucidchart timeline templates primarily for product roadmaps. You can recreate that view with more power using roadmap-style layouts.

Step 5: Organize features and initiatives

To begin your roadmap:

Create a List called Product Roadmap inside your Product Space or Folder.
Add tasks for features, epics, or initiatives.
Use custom fields like Theme, Quarter, or Release to categorize roadmap items.

Each task represents a roadmap item you would have drawn as a bar or block in Lucidchart.

Step 6: Visualize the roadmap in ClickUp Timeline or Gantt

Now turn that List into a visual roadmap:

Add a Timeline view for a high-level roadmap across weeks or months.
Optionally add a Gantt view to highlight dependencies between features.

Use grouping by Theme or Release so initiatives line up by category, similar to swimlanes in Lucidchart diagrams.

If you want extra guidance on visual project roadmaps, you can also explore specialized tutorials on tools such as the original Lucidchart timeline templates article that inspired this workflow.

Use ClickUp Templates to Speed Up Timeline Setup

Instead of creating every view from scratch, you can start with built-in templates that mirror common Lucidchart use cases.

Step 7: Apply a project management template

Inside your Workspace:

Create a new Folder or List.
Choose Templates instead of starting from a blank configuration.
Search for project management or roadmap templates that include Timeline or Gantt views.
Apply the template to instantly receive pre-built statuses, fields, and views.

These templates give you a structured starting point so you can focus on planning work rather than designing layouts.

Step 8: Customize views to fit your workflow

After applying a template:

Rename views so your team immediately understands their purpose.
Adjust colors, filters, and time scales to match your projects.
Remove views you do not need to keep navigation simple.

Over time you can save your own setups as custom templates, making it easy to standardize how teams use timelines across the organization.

Share and Collaborate on ClickUp Timelines

One major advantage over Lucidchart timeline templates is real-time collaboration on the same data, without importing or exporting files.

Step 9: Control visibility and access

To collaborate effectively:

Invite stakeholders to your Workspace or specific Spaces.
Use sharing settings to control who can edit or only view timelines.
Create public or team-specific views for different audiences.

This ensures everyone sees an accurate timeline without risking accidental structural changes.

Step 10: Keep discussions linked to the timeline

Instead of comments in separate documents or Lucidchart files, keep conversations close to the work:

Use task-level comments for questions and decisions.
Mention teammates so they receive notifications tied to the exact task on the timeline.
Attach files, specifications, or design links directly inside tasks.

This reduces context switching and makes your timeline the single source of truth.

Optimize Your Workflow Beyond ClickUp Timelines

Once your visual planning is in place, you can refine processes around it with additional tools and services.

For example, if you need expert help designing scalable workflows or integrating your timelines with other systems, you can explore consulting resources such as Consultevo for strategic guidance.

By combining structured project management with powerful visual views, you move far beyond what static Lucidchart timeline templates can offer. With an organized Workspace, carefully configured Timeline and Gantt views, and reusable templates, you can plan, track, and deliver projects in a single platform.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

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