diff --git a/features/routing_specs/route_to_matcher.feature b/features/routing_specs/route_to_matcher.feature
index 35cf5302fb..f804cc36a3 100644
--- a/features/routing_specs/route_to_matcher.feature
+++ b/features/routing_specs/route_to_matcher.feature
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ Feature: route_to matcher
 
       { :get => "/" }.should route_to(:controller => "welcome")
 
+      or
+
+      get("/").should route_to("welcome#index")
+
   Scenario: passing route spec
     Given a file named "spec/routing/widgets_routing_spec.rb" with:
       """
@@ -21,6 +25,22 @@ Feature: route_to matcher
     When I run "rspec spec/routing/widgets_routing_spec.rb"
     Then the examples should all pass
 
+  Scenario: passing route spec
+    Given a file named "spec/routing/widgets_routing_spec.rb" with:
+      """
+      require "spec_helper"
+
+      describe "routes for Widgets" do
+        it "routes /widgets to the widgets controller" do
+          get("/widgets").
+            should route_to("widgets#index")
+        end
+      end
+      """
+
+    When I run "rspec spec/routing/widgets_routing_spec.rb"
+    Then the examples should all pass
+
   Scenario: route spec for a route that doesn't exist (fails)
     Given a file named "spec/routing/widgets_routing_spec.rb" with:
       """
diff --git a/lib/rspec/rails/example/routing_example_group.rb b/lib/rspec/rails/example/routing_example_group.rb
index 52ee055a0f..e248385979 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/rails/example/routing_example_group.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/rails/example/routing_example_group.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ module RoutingExampleGroup
     include RSpec::Rails::RailsExampleGroup
     include ActionDispatch::Assertions::RoutingAssertions
     include RSpec::Rails::Matchers::RoutingMatchers
+    include RSpec::Rails::Matchers::RoutingMatchers::RouteHelpers
 
     module InstanceMethods
       attr_reader :routes
diff --git a/lib/rspec/rails/matchers/routing_matchers.rb b/lib/rspec/rails/matchers/routing_matchers.rb
index 43c40914a5..82f348572c 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/rails/matchers/routing_matchers.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/rails/matchers/routing_matchers.rb
@@ -2,17 +2,30 @@ module RSpec::Rails::Matchers
   module RoutingMatchers
     extend RSpec::Matchers::DSL
 
-    matcher :route_to do |route_options|
-      match_unless_raises ActiveSupport::TestCase::Assertion do |path|
+    matcher :route_to do |*route_options|
+      match_unless_raises Test::Unit::AssertionFailedError do |path|
         assertion_path = { :method => path.keys.first, :path => path.values.first }
-        assert_recognizes(route_options, assertion_path)
+
+        path, options = *route_options
+
+        if path.is_a?(String)
+          parts = path.split("#")
+          options ||= {}
+          options.merge!({ :controller => parts.first, :action => parts.last })
+        else
+          options = path
+        end
+
+        assert_recognizes(options, assertion_path)
       end
 
       failure_message_for_should do
         rescued_exception.message
       end
+
     end
 
+
     matcher :be_routable do
       match_unless_raises ActionController::RoutingError do |path|
         @routing_options = routes.recognize_path(
@@ -24,5 +37,16 @@ module RoutingMatchers
         "expected #{path.inspect} not to be routable, but it routes to #{@routing_options.inspect}"
       end
     end
+
+    module RouteHelpers
+
+      %w(get post put delete options head).each do |method|
+        define_method method do |path|
+          { method.to_sym => path }
+        end
+      end
+
+    end
+
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/rspec/rails/matchers/route_to_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/rails/matchers/route_to_spec.rb
index e95242564d..3f45402ea8 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/rails/matchers/route_to_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/rails/matchers/route_to_spec.rb
@@ -2,12 +2,27 @@
 
 describe "route_to" do
   include RSpec::Rails::Matchers::RoutingMatchers
+  include RSpec::Rails::Matchers::RoutingMatchers::RouteHelpers
 
   it "delegates to assert_recognizes" do
     self.should_receive(:assert_recognizes).with({ "these" => "options" }, { :method=> :get, :path=>"path" })
     {:get => "path"}.should route_to("these" => "options")
   end
 
+  context "with shortcut syntax" do
+
+    it "routes with extra options" do
+      self.should_receive(:assert_recognizes).with({ :controller => "controller", :action => "action", :extra => "options"}, { :method=> :get, :path=>"path" })
+      get("path").should route_to("controller#action", :extra => "options")
+    end
+
+    it "routes without extra options" do
+      self.should_receive(:assert_recognizes).with({ :controller => "controller", :action => "action"}, { :method=> :get, :path=>"path" })
+      get("path").should route_to("controller#action")
+    end
+
+  end
+
   context "with should" do
     context "when assert_recognizes passes" do
       it "passes" do