diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/DefaultInlineConstraintResolver.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/DefaultInlineConstraintResolver.cs
index 5d335f0dd9..7426516db2 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/DefaultInlineConstraintResolver.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/DefaultInlineConstraintResolver.cs
@@ -69,12 +69,25 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
 
             if (!typeof(IRouteConstraint).GetTypeInfo().IsAssignableFrom(constraintType.GetTypeInfo()))
             {
-                throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                throw new RouteCreationException(
                             Resources.FormatDefaultInlineConstraintResolver_TypeNotConstraint(
                                                         constraintType, constraintKey, typeof(IRouteConstraint).Name));
             }
 
-            return CreateConstraint(constraintType, argumentString);
+            try
+            {
+                return CreateConstraint(constraintType, argumentString);
+            }
+            catch (RouteCreationException)
+            {
+                throw;
+            }
+            catch (Exception exception)
+            {
+                throw new RouteCreationException(
+                    $"An error occurred while trying to create an instance of route constraint '{constraintType.FullName}'.",
+                    exception);
+            }
         }
 
         private static IRouteConstraint CreateConstraint(Type constraintType, string argumentString)
@@ -107,7 +120,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
 
                 if (constructorMatches == 0)
                 {
-                    throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    throw new RouteCreationException(
                                 Resources.FormatDefaultInlineConstraintResolver_CouldNotFindCtor(
                                                        constraintTypeInfo.Name, arguments.Length));
                 }
@@ -118,7 +131,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    throw new RouteCreationException(
                                 Resources.FormatDefaultInlineConstraintResolver_AmbiguousCtors(
                                                        constraintTypeInfo.Name, arguments.Length));
                 }
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/MapRouteRouteBuilderExtensions.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/MapRouteRouteBuilderExtensions.cs
index cf46749f3d..d3cc115e6d 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/MapRouteRouteBuilderExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/MapRouteRouteBuilderExtensions.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder
         /// <param name="name">The name of the route.</param>
         /// <param name="template">The URL pattern of the route.</param>
         /// <param name="defaults">
-        /// An object that contains default values for route parameters. The object's properties represent the names 
+        /// An object that contains default values for route parameters. The object's properties represent the names
         /// and values of the default values.
         /// </param>
         /// <returns>A reference to this instance after the operation has completed.</returns>
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder
         {
             if (routeBuilder.DefaultHandler == null)
             {
-                throw new InvalidOperationException(Resources.DefaultHandler_MustBeSet);
+                throw new RouteCreationException(Resources.DefaultHandler_MustBeSet);
             }
 
             var inlineConstraintResolver = routeBuilder
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
index 6abdc4ea48..9dd91e7f85 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs
@@ -442,6 +442,22 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
             return string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, GetString("UnableToFindServices"), p0, p1, p2);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// An error occurred while creating the route with name '{0}' and template '{1}'.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string TemplateRoute_Exception
+        {
+            get { return GetString("TemplateRoute_Exception"); }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// An error occurred while creating the route with name '{0}' and template '{1}'.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string FormatTemplateRoute_Exception(object p0, object p1)
+        {
+            return string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, GetString("TemplateRoute_Exception"), p0, p1);
+        }
+
         private static string GetString(string name, params string[] formatterNames)
         {
             var value = _resourceManager.GetString(name);
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/Resources.resx b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/Resources.resx
index 97217dfa25..6af7dff663 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/Resources.resx
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/Resources.resx
@@ -198,4 +198,7 @@
   <data name="UnableToFindServices" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Unable to find the required services. Please add all the required services by calling '{0}.{1}' inside the call to '{2}' in the application startup code.</value>
   </data>
+  <data name="TemplateRoute_Exception" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>An error occurred while creating the route with name '{0}' and template '{1}'.</value>
+  </data>
 </root>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteBase.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteBase.cs
index 05b70c6cfb..f05d2d5470 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteBase.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteBase.cs
@@ -46,12 +46,19 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
             ConstraintResolver = constraintResolver;
             DataTokens = dataTokens ?? new RouteValueDictionary();
 
-            // Data we parse from the template will be used to fill in the rest of the constraints or
-            // defaults. The parser will throw for invalid routes.
-            ParsedTemplate = TemplateParser.Parse(template);
+            try
+            {
+                // Data we parse from the template will be used to fill in the rest of the constraints or
+                // defaults. The parser will throw for invalid routes.
+                ParsedTemplate = TemplateParser.Parse(template);
 
-            Constraints = GetConstraints(constraintResolver, ParsedTemplate, constraints);
-            Defaults = GetDefaults(ParsedTemplate, defaults);
+                Constraints = GetConstraints(constraintResolver, ParsedTemplate, constraints);
+                Defaults = GetDefaults(ParsedTemplate, defaults);
+            }
+            catch (Exception exception)
+            {
+                throw new RouteCreationException(Resources.FormatTemplateRoute_Exception(name, template), exception);
+            }
         }
 
         public virtual IDictionary<string, IRouteConstraint> Constraints { get; protected set; }
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteConstraintBuilder.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteConstraintBuilder.cs
index bd2dfca275..c230ed0e96 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteConstraintBuilder.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteConstraintBuilder.cs
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
                 var regexPattern = value as string;
                 if (regexPattern == null)
                 {
-                    throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                    throw new RouteCreationException(
                         Resources.FormatRouteConstraintBuilder_ValidationMustBeStringOrCustomConstraint(
                             key,
                             value,
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteCreationException.cs b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteCreationException.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0c47e7e412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing/RouteCreationException.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// Copyright (c) .NET Foundation. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+using System;
+
+namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The exception that is thrown for invalid routes or constraints.
+    /// </summary>
+    public class RouteCreationException : Exception
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="RouteCreationException"/> class with a specified error message.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="message">The message that describes the error.</param>
+        public RouteCreationException(string message)
+                : base(message)
+        {
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="RouteCreationException"/> class with a specified error message
+        /// and a reference to the inner exception that is the cause of this exception.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="message">The error message that explains the reason for the exception.</param>
+        /// <param name="innerException">The exception that is the cause of the current exception.</param>
+        public RouteCreationException(string message, Exception innerException)
+            : base(message, innerException)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/DefaultInlineConstraintResolverTest.cs b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/DefaultInlineConstraintResolverTest.cs
index 128d50ee35..bba78fb6b2 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/DefaultInlineConstraintResolverTest.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/DefaultInlineConstraintResolverTest.cs
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests
         public void ResolveConstraint_IntConstraintWithArgument_Throws()
         {
             // Arrange, Act & Assert
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(
                 () => _constraintResolver.ResolveConstraint("int(5)"));
+
             Assert.Equal("Could not find a constructor for constraint type 'IntRouteConstraint'" +
                          " with the following number of parameters: 1.",
                          ex.Message);
@@ -276,7 +277,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests
             var resolver = GetInlineConstraintResolver(routeOptions);
 
             // Act & Assert
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => resolver.ResolveConstraint("custom"));
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(() => resolver.ResolveConstraint("custom"));
             Assert.Equal("The constraint type 'System.String' which is mapped to constraint key 'custom'" +
                          " must implement the 'IRouteConstraint' interface.",
                          ex.Message);
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests
             var resolver = GetInlineConstraintResolver(routeOptions);
 
             // Act & Assert
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => resolver.ResolveConstraint("custom(5,6)"));
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(() => resolver.ResolveConstraint("custom(5,6)"));
             Assert.Equal("The constructor to use for activating the constraint type 'MultiConstructorRouteConstraint' is ambiguous." +
                          " Multiple constructors were found with the following number of parameters: 2.",
                          ex.Message);
@@ -317,7 +318,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests
         {
             // Arrange
             // Act & Assert
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => _constraintResolver.ResolveConstraint("int(5,6)"));
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(() => _constraintResolver.ResolveConstraint("int(5,6)"));
             Assert.Equal("Could not find a constructor for constraint type 'IntRouteConstraint'" +
                          " with the following number of parameters: 2.",
                          ex.Message);
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/RouteConstraintBuilderTest.cs b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/RouteConstraintBuilderTest.cs
index 8aceb54da0..fefd735a81 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/RouteConstraintBuilderTest.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/RouteConstraintBuilderTest.cs
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
             var builder = CreateBuilder("{controller}/{action}");
 
             // Act & Assert
-            ExceptionAssert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
+            ExceptionAssert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(
                 () => builder.AddConstraint("controller", 5),
                 "The constraint entry 'controller' - '5' on the route " +
                 "'{controller}/{action}' must have a string value or be of a type which implements '" +
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
         [Fact]
         public void AddResolvedConstraint_SetOptionalParameter_AfterAddingTheParameter()
         {
-            var builder = CreateBuilder("{controller}/{action}/{id}");            
+            var builder = CreateBuilder("{controller}/{action}/{id}");
             builder.AddResolvedConstraint("id", "int");
             builder.SetOptional("id");
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
             Assert.Equal(1, result.Count);
             Assert.Equal("name", result.First().Key);
             Assert.IsType<OptionalRouteConstraint>(Assert.Single(result).Value);
-            var optionalConstraint = (OptionalRouteConstraint)result.First().Value;            
+            var optionalConstraint = (OptionalRouteConstraint)result.First().Value;
             var compositeConstraint = Assert.IsType<CompositeRouteConstraint>(optionalConstraint.InnerConstraint); ;
             Assert.Equal(compositeConstraint.Constraints.Count(), 2);
 
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/RouteTest.cs b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/RouteTest.cs
index ac6333a0f6..ceab3f1d3d 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/RouteTest.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/RouteTest.cs
@@ -30,11 +30,8 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
             // Arrange
             var template = @"{controller}/{action}/ {p1:regex(abc} ";
             var mockTarget = new Mock<IRouter>(MockBehavior.Strict);
-            var expected = "The constraint entry 'p1' - 'regex(abc' on the route " +
-                "'{controller}/{action}/ {p1:regex(abc} ' could not be resolved by the constraint resolver of type " +
-                "'IInlineConstraintResolverProxy'.";
 
-            var exception = Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
+            var exception = Assert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(
                 () => new Route(
                     mockTarget.Object,
                     template,
@@ -43,7 +40,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
                     dataTokens: null,
                     inlineConstraintResolver: _inlineConstraintResolver));
 
+            var expected = "An error occurred while creating the route with name '' and template" +
+                $" '{template}'.";
             Assert.Equal(expected, exception.Message);
+
+            Assert.NotNull(exception.InnerException);
+            expected = "The constraint entry 'p1' - 'regex(abc' on the route " +
+                "'{controller}/{action}/ {p1:regex(abc} ' could not be resolved by the constraint resolver of type " +
+                "'IInlineConstraintResolverProxy'.";
+            Assert.Equal(expected, exception.InnerException.Message);
         }
 
         [Fact]
@@ -1460,14 +1465,21 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing
             var routeBuilder = CreateRouteBuilder();
 
             // Assert
-            ExceptionAssert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
+            var expectedMessage = "An error occurred while creating the route with name 'mockName' and template" +
+                " '{controller}/{action}'.";
+
+            var exception = ExceptionAssert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(
                 () => routeBuilder.MapRoute("mockName",
                     "{controller}/{action}",
                     defaults: null,
                     constraints: new { controller = "a.*", action = 17 }),
-                "The constraint entry 'action' - '17' on the route '{controller}/{action}' " +
+                    expectedMessage);
+
+            expectedMessage = "The constraint entry 'action' - '17' on the route '{controller}/{action}' " +
                 "must have a string value or be of a type which implements '" +
-                typeof(IRouteConstraint) + "'.");
+                typeof(IRouteConstraint) + "'.";
+            Assert.NotNull(exception.InnerException);
+            Assert.Equal(expectedMessage, exception.InnerException.Message);
         }
 
         [Fact]
diff --git a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/TemplateParserDefaultValuesTests.cs b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/TemplateParserDefaultValuesTests.cs
index 10c5651e84..96c126fd30 100644
--- a/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/TemplateParserDefaultValuesTests.cs
+++ b/test/Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests/TemplateParserDefaultValuesTests.cs
@@ -58,46 +58,54 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests
             var routeBuilder = CreateRouteBuilder();
 
             // Act & Assert
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(
                                 () => routeBuilder.MapRoute("mockName",
                                                             "{controller}/{action}/{id:int=12}",
                                                             defaults: new { id = 13 },
                                                             constraints: null));
 
-            var message = "The route parameter 'id' has both an inline default value and an explicit default" +
-                          " value specified. A route parameter cannot contain an inline default value when" +
-                          " a default value is specified explicitly. Consider removing one of them.";
+            var message = "An error occurred while creating the route with name 'mockName' and template" +
+                " '{controller}/{action}/{id:int=12}'.";
             Assert.Equal(message, ex.Message);
+
+            Assert.NotNull(ex.InnerException);
+            message = "The route parameter 'id' has both an inline default value and an explicit default" +
+                " value specified. A route parameter cannot contain an inline default value when" +
+                " a default value is specified explicitly. Consider removing one of them.";
+            Assert.Equal(message, ex.InnerException.Message);
         }
 
         [Fact]
         public void EmptyDefaultValue_WithOptionalParameter_Throws()
         {
             // Arrange
-            var message = "An optional parameter cannot have default value." + Environment.NewLine +
-                          "Parameter name: routeTemplate";
             var routeBuilder = CreateRouteBuilder();
 
             // Act & Assert
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ArgumentException>(
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(
                                 () => routeBuilder.MapRoute("mockName",
                                                             "{controller}/{action}/{id:int=?}",
                                                             defaults: new { id = 13 },
                                                             constraints: null));
 
+            var message = "An error occurred while creating the route with name 'mockName' and template" +
+                " '{controller}/{action}/{id:int=?}'.";
             Assert.Equal(message, ex.Message);
+
+            Assert.NotNull(ex.InnerException);
+            message = "An optional parameter cannot have default value." + Environment.NewLine +
+                "Parameter name: routeTemplate";
+            Assert.Equal(message, ex.InnerException.Message);
         }
 
         [Fact]
         public void NonEmptyDefaultValue_WithOptionalParameter_Throws()
         {
             // Arrange
-            var message = "An optional parameter cannot have default value." + Environment.NewLine +
-                          "Parameter name: routeTemplate";
             var routeBuilder = CreateRouteBuilder();
 
             // Act & Assert
-            var ex = Assert.Throws<ArgumentException>(() =>
+            var ex = Assert.Throws<RouteCreationException>(() =>
             {
                 routeBuilder.MapRoute(
                     "mockName",
@@ -106,7 +114,14 @@ namespace Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing.Tests
                     constraints: null);
             });
 
+            var message = "An error occurred while creating the route with name 'mockName' and template" +
+                " '{controller}/{action}/{id:int=12?}'.";
             Assert.Equal(message, ex.Message);
+
+            Assert.NotNull(ex.InnerException);
+            message = "An optional parameter cannot have default value." + Environment.NewLine +
+                "Parameter name: routeTemplate";
+            Assert.Equal(message, ex.InnerException.Message);
         }
 
         private static IRouteBuilder CreateRouteBuilder()