JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select id="routetype" name="routetype">
    <option value="fastest">Fastest</option>
    <option selected="true" value="balanced">Balanced</option>
    <option value="quietest">Quietest</option>
</select>

JavaScript

$(document).ready(function() {
    $("#routetype").val('quietest');
});