Use the map to search, explore, and find your way around the world. The more you interact with the map, the more it's tailored to you. Learn how the map works. There are lots of ways to use Google Maps on your computer. Here are some things you can do. Note: Not all features are available in all regions.

Get directions- To see directions, go to the search box, then click the directions icon . Click points on the map or type the address or place name. You can also right-click to get directions. Whenever you see "Directions," click it for more info. You’ll usually see it under the search box. Note: If you're using Maps in Lite mode, you can't use the right-click menu.
See search results- Look for a place or type of places, see recent searches, or get directions. Your search results appear on the map and large markers show top results. Click any result to see more information, get directions, or see inside a business.
Explore the map- Click anywhere on the map to get details about a place. You can also right-click to explore. Note: If you're using Maps in Lite mode, you can't use the right-click menu.
Measure distances between points- Right-click on the map to measure distances between points. Learn more about measuring distances on desktop or your mobile device. Note: If you're using Maps in Lite mode, you can't use the right-click menu.
Report a data problem- Help to make Google Maps better by reporting problems with the map, like incorrect business details, wrong road names, or other errors.
See traffic, transit, bicycling, and terrain info- To see this info and more, click the main menu .
Print a map- To print the map, click the main menu > Print Print. Learn more about how to print.
See the world in 3D- To see 3D Earth view, click the square in the bottom left. If you're in Lite mode, you can see satellite imagery instead.
See reviews and photos- You can see reviews and photos you’ve added to Google Maps by clicking on the main menu
See Street View- When you click on a place on the map, you might see Street View images. To see more, go the to bottom right and click the arrow .

A Simple Spreadsheet to find Approximate Driving Distance Between Locations

By- Anthony Luscre

Learn more about the map^[3]

Move the map- To move the map, click and hold your mouse, then drag the map. You can also use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the map north, south, east, and west.
To zoom in or out- go to the bottom right and use the zoom in and zoom out buttons. You can also double click to zoom in, or use your mouse scroll or trackpad to zoom in and out.
What the pins and markers mean- Markers show you important places. For example: when you search for an address, Google Maps shows you the address with a pin. Here are some markers you may see:

	This pin shows where the business or address is on the map.
	After you search for an address or business, red markers show you all search results. The larger markers mean more relevant search results and might include symbols that show you the type of business.
	These markers appear on the map automatically to show you places you might like. The markers are different depending on the type of place, like a bar, restaurant, school, park, or shopping center.
	When you save a place, the marker will turn into a star.
	When you get directions, this marker shows your starting and destination points.
	These markers show what public transit is available and where it is.
	Markers with highlighting around the outside show places that are recommended for you, based on places you or people in your circles have rated or reviewed.
	Markers that are darker on the inside show places you’ve checked into, rated, or reviewed.

Other ways to use Google Maps-

Add a Google Map on another website.
Use Google Maps on an Android or iOS device.
Use a private map created by Google Earth Enterprise products

Meet the Many Sides of Google Maps ^[4]

21 Google Maps Tricks You Need to Try- PC Magazine^[5]

by Evan Dashevsky

Time Lapse- Street View has amassed a huge collection of street imagery over the years. Last year, Google introduced a way for users to view Street View as it changed over time. A virtual time machine of sorts. In fact, the company dubbed this feature Time Travel. You can access this four-dimensional cartographic experience when in Street View by clicking on the little stopwatch icon in the top-left corner (not available in all locations), which will prompt a sliding scale that will allow you to jump through street views over time.

Create Your Own Private Google Map- You have the power to build your own custom Google Map (aka "My Maps") and fill it with information that is important to you. Just click here or, if you are signed into Google, go to My Places via the little gear at the bottom of Google Maps, and then click "create map." Once in the My Maps feature, you can add pinpoints with info cards, highlight whole sections, or create customized walking or driving directions. For a good primer on all the tools available, click the gear at the top right and choose "Take a tour" from the pull-down menu. To share your new map or invite others to edit, click on the "Share" button in the top right corner (it's the same interface as sharing a document in Google Drive). For example, here's a map I made that shows the U.S.A. as I understand it to be.
View (and Change) Your Google Maps History- Google's business model is built around digital services. And they're all for free! Sorta. Google supports these services by renting out your eyeballs to advertisers. The company maintains this model by keeping a very detailed record of your digital activities, including everything you search for on Google Maps. You can look at this detailed online diary by going to google.com/history. Once you are on your Google history page, enter "Maps" in the search bar at the top. Here you can see your past search queries within Maps (including mobile). If you want to delete some (or all) searches from your digital record check the box next to each record and then hit "DELETE" at the top.
Search Lazily- If you search "café," Maps will highlight all nearby cafes that can fit on your current screen. However, the search function is sophisticated enough to find types of businesses "near" places—even if it's not on your current screen. So you can search McDonald's near 28 east 28th street NYC, book stores near The White House, or shoe stores near work (granted you have let Google know your home and work locations, which you can do via the My Places link under the little gear in the corner).
We Are All Unpaid Cartographers- Maps is a collaborative effort. In fact, it depends on locals to fill in the details. It's like a cartographic Wikipedia. In the bottom right-hand corner, you'll find a "Send Feedback" link that will allow you to add or correct info. However, if you want to be part of the collaborative effort overseeing your local area, you can volunteer your services over at Google Map Maker. This interactive forum allows you to add, subtract, or correct information. Of course, since it is the Internet, Map Maker was invaded by trolls who used the tool to draw dirty pictures over the public Maps (and there was also some hate speech thrown in as well), forcing Google to temporarily shut down the service. Maker is now coming back online in phases (it may not be available in your country yet) and some tools have been nixed altogether. See, trolls, this is why we can't have nice things.
A Heads-Up on Footnotes- At the bottom of the page you will see a footnote window where you'll find the copyright info (when viewing a location in the U.S., the copyright should say "Map data © 2015 Google"—the copyright will change as you move around the globe) as well as boring legal links like "Terms" and "Privacy." You will also find the aforementioned "Report a problem" to help keep Maps up to date. At the far right you will see the map scale. If you click on it, you will be able to switch between Metric and U.S. customary units.
God View Through Google Maps- The line between Maps and its cousin Google Earth has blurred over time. You can easily jump over by clicking the "Earth" inset in the bottom left-hand corner. The Earth view offers a comprehensive and surreally seamless mash-up of Street View and satellite imagery. One cool option is to click on the "Tilt the View" icon on the right-hand side (looks like the Windows logo on its side). This allows you to virtually fly through just about anywhere in the world. Hold the Ctrl button (on a PC) to pivot around any axis using your mouse. Zoom in far enough and you'll find familiar features are melted into Van Gogh-ish landscapes. Tap on any building or feature to identify it and prompt an information card.
Be Your Own Traffic Reporter- On the desktop version of Maps, you can watch real-time traffic data by clicking on the "Traffic" link via the hamburger in the top-left corner (perhaps using data integrated from Waze). In the bottom center, you'll find an overlay which will allow you to choose between "Live traffic" and "Typical traffic," which will allow you to see expected traffic patterns at specific times (e.g. Tuesdays at 3 a.m.).
Know Your Street View Key Commands- While you can maneuver around the Street View world with your mouse, you can also get around with just your keyboard. Here are some good ones to know:

+ / - zoom in / out
left / right arrow keys turn left / right
up / down arrow keys move forward / backward
A / D turn left / right
W / S move forward / backward

Change Directions Around by Drag and Drop- When finding directions on the desktop version of Maps, you are able to maneuver your route to go through or away from specific locations via drag and drop. Just click and drag any part of your direction route to move around (this only works with directions for walking, driving, or biking—it won't work with any mass transit options).
Find Directions With a Single Click- It's easy to find directions on the Web version of Maps just by typing where you want to go, but it's even easier than that. Just use a right-click anywhere on the map and it will prompt a pull-down list, which you can use to find directions to or from that location.
Measure Any Distance- Using the aforementioned right-click tool, you will have the ability to calculate the distance of any two points on Earth. Just choose "Measure distance." This will drop a point (signified by a white dot with a bold black line), then click anywhere else on the map and the distance between the points will be calculated. (You can switch between Metric and U.S. measurements by clicking on the scale in the footnote. You can also add more points and move the points around later). The total trip distance will be calculated in the main card.
Find Nation-Specific Info- Maps is a global product, so there are versions of Maps tailored for different nations and languages. You can view these nation-specific sites by switching the domain in the URL (in the U.S., the default is google.com/maps). So if you wanted information in Japanese, you would change it to google.co.jp/maps; for Russian google.ru/maps; or for Icelandic google.is/maps. Google defaults the domain based on your location. So, if you're traveling abroad and want to view the U.S. version of Maps, simply change the domain to good ol' .com. Regardless of what domain you are in, you can search for cities under numerous languages (i.e. searching "Munich" or "Munchen" will take you to the same city, as will "New York" or "Nueva York").
Explore Maps Galleries- Many organizations use the Pro version of Maps to create datalicious visuals (the U.S. Census Bureau in particular has used the tech to create a number of cool maps). You can explore some of these examples at maps.google.com/gallery.
Indoor Directions- Remember when indoor mapping was gonna be the next big thing? While the indoor mapping revolution hasn't arrived quite yet, it has been incorporated into the greater Maps ecosystem. Previously you could only find these details on the mobile version (where they are indeed more useful), however these "indoor street views" have made their way to the Web version as well. You can find a full list of indoor maps here. In any of the select locations, just zoom all the way in and you'll see the inside details. You will even find an embedded window in the bottom right that will allow you to toggle between various floors.
That Little Person in the Corner Has a Purpose- See that little yellow person in the bottom right-hand corner? That's "Peg Man" (or alternatively "the pegman"). You can pick little peggy up and drop him anywhere on maps and be thrown into that location's street view. Once in Street View mode, he will be oriented with the current view in the embedded map window in the bottom left-hand corner.
Go Off-Road- Street View has traditionally been limited to… streets. While users can upload panoramas and other photos to places off the literal trail, it wasn't a true explorable, immersive experience. Recently, Google has begun experimenting with capturing off-road Street Views through various novel approaches in a project known as "Treks." The project already includes immersive off-the-road walkthroughs in such notable locales as the Pyramids of Giza, Angkor Wat, and the canals of Venice to name just a few. You can find a list of Treks here. If you want to help the project and add hard-to-get imagery, you can sign up as a volunteer here.
Access 'Lite Mode'- If your computer doesn't have the chops to handle some of Maps's beefier features, you'll automatically be sent into "Lite mode," which means you won't have access to top-shelf features like 3D Earth view. You'll know you're in Lite mode because you'll see a lightning bolt icon in the bottom right-side of your window. If you think you're in Lite mode in error, click the bolt and you'll be sent back to the full map experience. If you want to check out Lite mode and help save your computer resources, you can just click here.
Access Google Maps Offline- Today, Maps is most useful on mobile, which brings up a problem: when you are most in need of Maps, you may find yourself somewhere with limited (or—gasp—non-existent) coverage. To help you out, Google Maps supports offline access and recently added the ability to download maps and get turn-by-turn directions while offline.
Become a Local Guide- Know your neighborhood better than anyone else? Then consider becoming a Local Guide. While anyone can leave reviews and tips in Google Maps, Local Guides allows you to earn points for leaving more insights and data that—as you go up the ladder—can result in early access to Google products, exclusive Google meet-ups, and even extra Google Drive space.
Easter Eggs- Of course, there are Easter Eggs. • Ask for directions from "Fort Augustus" to "Urquhart Castle" via mass transit > click on "Route options" and choose "fewer transfers" > one of the options below will be "Loch Ness Monster" (FYI, the trip is scheduled to take 28 mins). • Ask for directions between "Snowdon" and "Brecon Beacons" via mass Transit and one of the options will be via Dragon, which will take about 21 minutes apparently. • The peg man turns into a spaceship when dropped over Area 51 in Nevada. • You can find Dr. Who's TARDIS on a London street and venture inside from the street to view a much larger interior. • It's difficult to see, but when using the Time Travel function in Street View, the peg man turns into Doc Brown from Back to the Future.

Nine Google Maps Tips That Will Make Your Life Way Easier^[6]

Predictive directions- You don't need directions to get home from the office every day, but it's still nice to know how long the journey will take you. With the latest Google Maps for Android update, the app predicts where you're headed, based on the time of day, and shows travel times and traffic conditions for your frequent routes. How it works: Make sure you've set your home and work addresses in Google Maps. From left-side menu, select "Start driving" before you leave the office to see if there is more congestion than usual. You can also add a shortcut for this new Driving mode to your phone's home screen. Available for Android only.
See where you've gone- Can't remember that killer burger place from last summer's road trip? Turn to Maps, which can show you everywhere you've traveled, so long as Google Maps is installed on your phone. How it works: This helpful tool is called Your Timeline and it's perfect for remembering the restaurants, shops and points of interest you visited on your trips. Read CNET's guide to Your Timeline here, and if you want to stop Google from tracking you, we can help with that, too.
Offline maps- Before you head into the wilderness or off to a foreign country, download the maps you'll need so you can use them without a connection. In just a few steps, you have full-fledged maps that you can search and use for turn-by-turn directions. How it works: Open the Maps app and search for a city, county or country; tap the menu at the bottom and select download. This is available for iOS and Android only.
Search on your route- When you're navigating somewhere, Google Maps for Android helps you find gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and more while you're on the road. You can even see gas prices for different stations on your current route, so you can pick the best option. How it works: Just tap the search button on the navigation screen and pick an option from the drop-down menu or use voice search to find something else. Available in for Android only.
Beat the crowds- It's taken a few years, but Google's become a replacement for Yelp, offering similar reviews and help business info for nearly any business you find in Google Maps. That includes phone numbers, addresses, websites, hours of operation and photos. In the last year, Google has also added a graph for the busiest times for popular shops and restaurants so you'll know when to go to avoid the crowds. How it works: Search for a business and tap the name to see an entire page of helpful for information. Available on the desktop, Android and iOS.
Traffic patterns- You may already know that you can see live traffic conditions on Google Maps, but did you know you can also see typical traffic patterns, too? This is great to plan the right time to head to the beach or when to avoid congested areas. How it works: On the desktop, click on the three lines in the search bar and select traffic, then at the bottom click Live traffic and select Typical traffic. You can pick a day of the week and time to see usual traffic patterns. This does not work on the mobile apps.
Where's the restroom?- Don't get lost in the mall ever again. Google Maps has spent the last several years working hard on indoor mapping to help you find your way wherever you are. This includes shopping malls, particularly large department stores, convention centers, airports and even sports arenas. How it works: In Google Maps on mobile or the desktop, just zoom in tight on any large indoor place to see if there are maps available. On your phone, you can switch between floors. You'll (hopefully) never hunt for a bathroom again.
Send directions- Google Maps helps you send directions from your computer to your phone, so you can hit the road faster. How it works: Find a place on Google Map's desktop site and select the Send to Phone option. Pick from one of the available devices in the list and you'll get a link to the place for the Google Map's mobile app. For this to work, you just need to sign into the same Google account on your computer and phone or tablet.
Become a Local Guide- In order to keep Google Maps helpful and accurate, the company relies on everyday people to add their knowledge. You can help by signing up for the Local Guide program, where you share your favorite places, add ratings and reviews for businesses on the map and make edits to business information so it stays current and correct. Local Guides are rewarded for their contributions with special perks, which range from entries in contests to win Google gear (like phones and tablets), extra storage in Google Drive and early access to new products and features.

Google Maps tips, tricks and secret features - Trusted Reviews^[7]

ADD YOUR HOME AND WORK- This is a great trick if you're constantly on the move. Inputting your home and work locations lets you quickly navigate to either without having to enter the address every time. To set it up, head into Settings in the Google Maps app, tap on 'Edit home' or Edit work' and pop in your details. Easy.
EXPLORE YOUR TIMELINE- Now, the idea of Google Maps Timeline tracking your every movement and then letting you scroll through everywhere you've been might sound a little bit creepy, but it can come in quite useful. Especially if you've forgotten where that awesome restaurant you stumbled upon after a few cocktails is. It's accessible with a swipe in from the left and a tap on the 'Your Timeline' and it's ridiculously accurate. It'll even tell you how long you've been at each place and how much time you've spent walking. If you take pictures at a location, it'll also add them to the timeline. Aside from turning off GPS, essentially rendering Google Maps useless anyway, there isn't really a way to turn this feature off. But, you can delete a day of activity by tapping the three dotted menu and hitting 'Delete'.
SEND YOUR LOCATION- This is a handy, though slightly buried feature in Google Maps. To send your current location to someone else, first you have to tap on the blue dot that shows your current location, then swipe up from the bottom and hit the three dot menu in the top right. Next, tap share and choose your preferred apps. Boom, now everyone will know where you are
SAVE OFFLINE MAPS ON MOBILE- One of the most useful features of Google Maps is also one of the trickiest to find. It's useful to save the map of an area so that it can be viewed offline. This is particularly so when traveling abroad, where roaming charges can be prohibitive. Do do so on the mobile app, just navigate to the area you want to save, touch the search field and clear any text, then scroll down the list of places and options that appear. At the very bottom, you'll see the option to 'Save a new offline map.' Touch this, and the map will commence downloading. You may need to zoom in a little, as you can't download much more than a city at a time. Also note that you won't be able to navigate using these offline maps, or see individual location details.
USE SEARCH PROPERLY- Do you use Google Maps's search feature properly? If you're like us, you probably default to just searching for the basic stuff like place names and addresses, but remember - the beating heart of Google Maps is Google itself. Google Maps is much more sophisticated than you might realise. For example, if you're heading to a night out at a specific location and you fancy a certain type of food, just type in 'Indian restaurant near Royal Albert Hall' (for example) and Google Maps will pick out all of the Indian restaurants within a couple of mile radius of that grand location. Naturally, you'll also get the best of them picked out for you according to Google's own customer ratings.
USE RIGHT CLICK- Right clicking in the Google Maps web browser is a shortcut to several goodies. You can navigate to or from a specific point on the map through this menu - just right click where you want to navigate to or from, and select the appropriate option from the menu. Through this same menu you can manually measure the distance between two points.
TIME LAPSE- Google takes an impossible number of pictures as part of its peerless Street View system, allowing you to virtually travel streets from thousands of miles away. It's been doing this for some time now, and the company has put these older images to interesting use. Head for a popular location in Street View - say, the London Eye - and you'll see a little clock icon in the top left corner, alongside the date. Click on this, and a little window will appear that lets you flick back through the same picture taken through the years. It's a great way to see how locations (and fashions) have or haven't changed over time.
MOVE AROUND STREET VIEW LIKE AN FPS- Street View is a wonderful thing, but isn't it a pain clicking all the time to move along a road? There is a physical alternative. In fact, you can move through the virtual streets like a first person shooter game, using W and S to move forward and back, and A and D to turn left and right. Alas, you can't rocket-jump over the Dartford crossing. We've tried. Talking of Street View, you can access it in the mobile apps by touching a location pin and scrolling down to the appropriate thumbnail.
MY MAPS- Google Maps lets you annotate your own, personalised maps. The feature is called My Maps, and it's stashed away in the side menu of the web version. Go into here and ensure you're logged in, and you'll be able to label up points on the map, created driving or walking routes, and highlight areas. Once complete, you can easily share it with other people using an automatically generated link. Give it a go!
USE THE 'AROUND' OPTION ON MOBILE- Navigate to any general area on mobile, and you'll see an 'Around' option appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap this, and you'll be given a nicely presented list of dinner spots, local favourites, and other attractions. You can also change the time of day for the area if you know you're going to require breakfast recommendations or things to do during the day.

Google Maps Help Tips and tricks^[8]

Sign into Google Maps- Save your favorite places to search or get directions easily by signing in. Your places and recent searches will follow you across devices.
Print the map or directions- Print a map of an area, a place, directions, or imagery.
Measure distances- Measure the distance between two or more points on the map.
Get or find coordinates- Search for a place using its latitude and longitude coordinates, or get the coordinates of a place you've already found.
Search nearby- Find restaurants, shops, and other places near a location on the map.
Contribute to the map- Share your local expertise by editing business information and road names. You can even add missing places to the map.
See street-level imagery from the past- You can see street-level imagery from the past using Street View in the new Google Maps. For example, see how your neighborhood has changed over time.

Pinterest Google Maps Page

Google Maps- Mobile Tips & Tricks^[9]

Get on your way

Use turn-by-turn navigation- You can use Google Maps voice navigation in the Google Maps app. Voice navigation helps you get to places easily when you drive, walk, or bike. You’ll hear traffic conditions, where to turn, which lane to use, and if there's a better route. If you get off track, Maps will automatically find a new route for you.
Start and exit voice navigation- To start and exit voice navigation, follow the steps below.

Open the Google Maps app maps.
Get directions to a location.
To hear voice-guided navigation, touch Navigate .
To exit, go to the bottom left and touch the X.

See train & bus departures- You can see transit departures from the Google Maps app. Some transit stations show real-time departures while others show a schedule of departures.

Customize your map

Save your home and work addresses
Save a place and find it later
Give a place a private label
Contribute to the map

Add photos
Add reviews
Fix information

Google Trips is Here to Tame all Your Unruly Travel Plans The Android and iOS app taps summarizes your details and lets you save it offline for easier access while traveling.

Derek Walter | @derekwalter Greenbot

Sep 19, 2016 11:06 AM

google trips

Any trip creates a web of details that can be difficult to sort through. Google, whose main purpose is making sense of disparate bits of information, wants to bring its organizational talents to your next vacation.

The company released Google Trips for Android and iOS on Monday. The app takes details from your Gmail and puts them into an easy-to-view package so you can easily find your itinerary, hotel reservation, and get recommendations about what to do. google trips plans

Google has dabbled in this space before, offering trip summaries in Google Now and organizing such details in the Inbox mail app. This is a more direct approach that puts these features more front and center with a dedicated app on both platforms.

One of the best features is that you can save a trip offline, which is especially handy for international travel. There’s also a Maps feature that offers things to do near your location and even medical and monetary information that could be nice to have when visiting a foreign country.

The impact on you: If you’ve used the travel powers of Google Now, you’ll find this feels like an upgrade to that service. Of course if you don’t use Gmail, then there’s a lot less reason for you to explore this. Google services work best when you’re all-in, which means that you have to decide where you fall with handing the company that much information.

Fifteen Tips That Will Make Your Life Way Easier, Useful Tips & Tricks You Need To Know About^[10]

How to create your own maps

Ten Google Map Tricks You’ll Never Know If You Miss This^[11]

1. Multi-stop routes

Google Map tricks - multi stop routes

Sometimes life isn’t as simple as going from point A to point B. Sometimes there are stops between those points that you also need directions to. Instead of re-doing directions for each stop you can actually plan for multi-stop routes. Just click on the plus sign below the directions to add another stop!

2. Look at upcoming events Google Map tricks - upcoming events

A lot of venues have events that are coming up that are way more interesting than events they have going right now. Concert halls, movie theaters, and pretty much any other place that hosts events can be searched by Google Maps. When you search for a venue, a list of upcoming events will appear. This makes it much easier than searching on Google Search half the time and you may find events you wanted to go to that you didn’t know were happening!

3. Save maps for offline use on mobile Google Map tricks - offline maps

Of all the Google Map tricks on this list, we anticipate this one being the most popular. Thankfully it’s also among the easiest to do. Here’s how it works. You search for the directions you need. When they pop up, go into the search bar and type in “Okay Maps”. This will save the maps in your cache and you can access them without a web connection.

4. Search for flights on long trips

Google map tricks - flights

Are you going on vacation? Google Maps can make it easier. Search for directions from your current location to your destination wherever it may be. In the directions there will be a link that will let you search for flights.

5. Make your mark on Maps

Google Map tricks - mapmaker

You can actually help organize and perfect Google Maps! All you need to do is head on over to Google Map Maker. Here you can make corrections to addresses, add more places on Google Maps, and otherwise help improve Google Maps for everyone. If you plan on goofing around on it then we recommend you don’t. Each thing you submit is approved or denied by a team of moderators and your joke will probably never make its way to Google Maps.

6. Use the smart search

Google Map tricks - smart search

If you’re at a loss for what to then Google Maps can help. Using the search, you can search for general things like family fun, movie theaters, restaurants, and plenty of others. Google Maps will then show you everything in your area that fills that criteria. This is a great way to discover new places close to you or help give you an idea if you don’t know what to do.

7. See everything in an area that Google Maps knows about

Google Map tricks - asterisk

If the intelligent search mentioned a moment ago isn’t good enough, then you can always just pop and asterisk (*) into the search. This will show you literally everything Google Maps knows about on the screen so you can see what is around. This is also a great way to discover new places or find something to do!

8. Alter your course

Google Map tricks - change route

There are a hundred ways to get almost anywhere and Google Maps knows all about it. When you search for directions you can change which course you take. This can be handy for avoiding high traffic areas, construction areas, or routes you would otherwise prefer not to travel. It’s easy to do. Hover your mouse over the blue line in the route you wish to change. Click and drag the white dot to the road you’d rather travel. Google Maps will then create a new route based on that information.

9. Make Google+ useful!

Google Map tricks - Google+

Google+ is getting more and more popular but there are still a lot of people who can’t justify using it. Google Maps may help with that. When performing any search you can select to see what people in your Google+ circles think of places nearby. Of course this requires you have people in your Google+ circles that have reviewed nearby areas but aside from that it’s a useful feature. You can activate it by checking the “your circles” button when you run a search or you can type “by:circles” minus the quotes to get the same effect.

10. Use Waze

Even though it made headlines in the tech community, not a lot of people know that Google actually bought Waze last year. They’ve been slowly integrating the social-based navigation site into Google Maps. Until they’re done, you can always check out Waze for its unique range of social-based features and see what the future of Google Maps may look like! Get the best route, every day,

with real–time help from other drivers. Waze is the world's largest community-based traffic and navigation app. Join other drivers in your area who share real-time traffic and road info, saving everyone time and gas money on their daily commute.

Using Google Maps Bike Directions to Teach Math and Social Studies ^[12]

The Best Ways to Use Google's New(ish) My Maps Tool

Eric Ravenscraft 9/17/14 10:00am

Yesterday, Google updated its long-forgotten My Maps tool. The service has been masquerading as Maps Engine Lite, but with a new release, a shiny new Android app, and integration with Google Maps proper, it's worth knowing just what all you can do with it.

Create Your Own Event Maps

Conventions, festivals, and camping trips can all benefit from a custom map. Not only are official maps from events often sub-par (though perhaps that could change if coordinators also use My Maps), but they're not tailored to you. Using Atlanta's own Dragon Con as an example, the event takes place over five hotels. However, you might only care about events in two of them. Or outside the official arenas.

You can use layers to denote groups of events. In the map above, I used one layer to designate host hotels, while a second layer shows events that occur outside of the main convention area. This is helpful if you're sharing plans with a group for a convention, or just plotting out your itinerary for vacation.You can turn on different layers individually, which makes it great for separating out multiple days worth of events.

Make Your Own Educational Maps

Maps are a powerful tool for conveying information about an area. As such, they're excellent for teaching. Google has actually already created a few that are built in to the mobile app (though they're absent from the web My Maps application, it seems you can find some here). Educators can use the area drawing tools to create maps and embed charts that show data corresponding to a specific region.

You can add text, images, or even YouTube videos to the annotations that accompany drawn shapes. As a demonstration, in this sample, I can create a field surrounding my home state of Georgia. In the info box that's associated with that field, I can embed a YouTube video that I'm sick of hearing about my state.

Share Driving Directions From (or To) Multiple Places

Getting directions to a place isn't as complicated as it used to be. In most cases, you can just give me the address. However, sometimes it can get more complicated. Whether you need to provide walking directions to a place that doesn't have a specific address, or you want to convey the difference when you're moving to a new location.

In the example above, I have directions from the old location of my local geek bar to its new one. While any of the people I know can search for the address itself to get there, this is a handy way to see where it is in relation to where we all live (and if I were sharing it privately, I could add my friends' addresses to demonstrate the travel distance between the old and new locations.

Start a Collaborative, Custom Yelp with Your Friends

We've mentioned this tip before, but the new My Maps release makes it even better. Users can collaborate on a map, which makes it dead simple for you and your social group to add your favorite restaurants, make notes about who likes what, and why a particular location sucks ("Let's try to avoid the IHOP that had roaches, maybe?").

Embed or Share Maps With Others

Obviously many of the examples above hinge on the ability to share the map with other people. Sharing is pretty easy, though embedding a map was a little hidden when I used it. To share a map, you can click the big green "Share" button in the upper right corner. Once it's given a name and a description, you can share the link using the same tool that Docs uses to control viewing permissions.

The embed function is a bit more confusing. When viewing the map you want to embed, click the folder icon in the card on the top left of the screen. One of the options will be to "Embed on my site." Only public maps can be embedded, so if you haven't done so already, make it public using the Share dialog from the previous paragraph.

The new My Maps may not differ too much in functionality from the My Maps of yore, but it is still a powerful tool if you know how to use it. Of course, we know we've only scratched the surface

10 Google Maps tips and tricks you need to know ^[13]

Offline Maps

Whether you're headed to an overseas adventure in Europe or up to the mountains to escape civilization, you don't need to leave behind the convenience of Google Maps. It's now pretty simple to download an offline map for those areas in the middle of nowhere.

Just head to the Settings > Offline areas and hit the plus button and pan your way through the globe to find the area you want to be available when you don't have a data connection.

Google Maps can also do this automatically for your home areas so your searches will be faster for the areas you're routinely looking at. This obviously can eat up a bunch of space from your device storage, so be sure to consider how much you want to download. google maps send to

2. Send directions to your phone

You probably use Google Maps on the desktop as well as your Android phone. If so, there's no need to start over when you switch from the PC to mobile.

Just use the Send to your phone tool, which is located in a venue's card. Your phone or tablet should appear under the list of available devices, assuming you signed into them with your Google account.

You can even send the location to your car if it supports Google Maps integration with the infotainment system (this is a different configuration than Android Auto). The Share button also copies the link or creates an embed code to save the map on your own site. Many wedding guests have been saved from getting lost thanks to wise grooms and brides who embed maps on their wedding site. (See larger image) maps timeline

3. Keep your timeline

Google Maps can keep tabs on everywhere you go. Now that may sound pretty creepy, but it's very useful at trying to figure out which new store you visited last week or to prove to a nosey relative where you were the other day.

If you use Google Photos, Maps will also show which pictures you took at that specific location. I've used this for finding a shot I took of a particular product at an electronics store. But if you want to eliminate your tracks, you can just head to Timeline settings and delete your history or turn the feature off. (See larger image)

local guides

4. Be a Local Guide

Google's Local Guides program is an effort to boost the number of reviews and details about all the places you find in Google Maps. In exchange for posting photos, submitting new restaurants, suggesting edits, and answering questions about where you've been, you'll eventually get freebies like Drive storage space and invites to preview beta features.

If you really decide to go for this, then enable push alerts to get reminded about adding reviews to places you've visited. If this is too oppressive you can opt out, but contributing to the community is one way to make Maps more useful for everybody else out there. (See larger image)

5. Search along your route search along route

You're bound to get the munchies or need to fill up the car during your next road trip. Google Maps has you covered, as when you're using navigation mode you can search along the route via voice or the floating action button. It pulls up specific suggestions so your passenger can perform this search while driving (we have tips to keep your eyes on the road). You'll even get current gas prices so you can save a few dollars on your pit stop. (See larger image)

transit

6. Get transit information

If you live in a major city with some type of transit system, Google Maps is essential for finding out when the next train is going to arrive. You even get the color-coded lines present in BART, Washington's Metro, and other cities that use this scheme. When you go to plan a trip you can also use Google Maps to map out which trains to take, though just as with driving directions sometimes human intuition and local knowledge might be more accurate than what the algorithms suggest. (See larger image) navigation

7. Master navigation

You don't always have to drive everywhere. When you're using the trip planning tool, Google Maps will find routes via transit, biking, or walking. You can also tell Maps to avoid highways, tolls, and ferries if you're trying to save a few bucks.

As always, keep in mind that the specific route is more of a guide, so be prepared to change up your direction if there are unforeseen issues. But Google Maps is pretty good at adjusting on the fly, especially with real-time data coming in through the acquisition of Waze. (See larger image)

8. Take to the street street view

Street View is still an innovation that puts Google Maps far above the rest of the competition. But it's not so obvious to launch on mobile.

To do so, press and hold with your finger to a specific location on the map. Then, you'll see a pin drop. Touch the preview image of Street View that appears at the bottom left of the screen. Then you can pan and zoom on the screen to virtually make your way through the streets and check out the view.

There's a hint in the form of the navigation icon at the top of the screen, which launches a blue line to show you just where your virtual camera view can travel. You can then swipe along that route to see what has been captured by one of Google's cars or bicycles.

(See larger image) explore this area

9. Find local favorites

Google Maps has been morphing into more of a city guide the past couple of years with suggestions for places to visit and eat. Touch the Explore option from the slide-out menu and you'll be presented with lots of different choices for what's nearby.

The Where the local go section is pretty good at sticking to non-chain restaurants if you want to find something that has some local flavor. I've found it's helpful to touch the star icon on a few places that I discover in this menu and then compare which is closest if I don't feel like going that far. Press each item's card for more information like additional reviews, hours, and when that spot tends to be the busiest. (See larger image)

10. Add labels labels

You don't have to let Google do all the organization for you. You can create labels for different venues that you find, which you can then re-visit later from Your places.

You're also able to label your home and work address, which helps Maps and Google Now give you estimated travel times when planning a route. The strength of using labels is that it can better organize some places that you might want to visit later without relying on search to find them every single time. It's also better than just adding a star to everywhere you like, as it's quite easy to clutter up your map with lots of stars (trust me, I've done this). This method takes more work, but it will help build Maps out to be a more useful tool over time. (See larger image)

Nine Ways to Get the Most Out of Google Maps^[14]

Use it to find the cheapest gas along your route. You can now use Google Maps to find the least expensive place to fill up your tank, and you won't have to retype your destination after you're routed to the gas station. To find gas stations and gas prices, tap the magnifying glass on the top of your screen. Choose "gas stations" from the dropdown menu. Google Maps will even tell you how much time will be added to your trip if you detour for gas.You can also search for coffee shops, restaurants, and more, along your route.
Again, just tap the magnifying glass. Google will show you restaurants, grocery stores, and more.
Use Google Maps without being connected to the internet.

You can now search for places and get turn-by-turn driving directions without an internet connection. This can be great if you're in another country and don't want to get hit with expensive data overage fees.
To get offline maps, you must download an area ahead of time — it can be a city or even a country — when you have a wifi connection.
To do this, search for a place, like Barcelona, then tap what Google refers to as the Place Sheet at the bottom of the screen. Then, tap "download" on the right. You'll then see a window that will show the area that it will download. That window is adjustable, but the bigger the area, the larger the file size.
Now, you'll be able to use Google Maps for driving directions, and even search for addresses, when you don't have a connection to the internet.

Save time by setting your home and work addresses. You'll never have to type your home or work addresses in again, because you can tell Google Maps where you live and work. To set this, go to the menu by tapping the three lines on the top left of your screen. Then tap on "Your places." In there, you'll see options to enter your home and work addresses. Once you enter and save these addresses, quickly get to these locations just by typing "home" or "work" into the search bar.
Use Google Maps to help you avoid traffic - Thanks to huge amounts of real-time and historical databases, Google Maps is really good at predicting traffic. Use the app to alert you to slowdowns and show you alternate routes so you can get to your destination as quickly as possible.
Drop a pin to easily share your location with other people. Quickly and easily tell others where you are by dropping a pin and sharing it. To do this, find the location you want to share — it can be your current location or anywhere else — and tap the screen and hold your finger there. This will create a pin. Next, just tap the address at the bottom, which will bring up the "Place Sheet." From there, just tap "share," and you're able to send your location via text, email, Twitter, Facebook, and more.
Use Google Maps to get real-time public transit directions. Google Maps has public transit directions for more than 18,000 cities and towns around the world. The app also has tapped into data from transit authorities in thousands of these places to give you up-to-date information about schedules, delays, and cancellations for bus and subway systems around the world.
You can use it for indoor maps. Airports, malls, convention centers, and sporting arenas are starting to offer indoor mapping in Google Maps. This can be great for not only finding your seat or gate, but also the closest restroom. To access indoor maps for a building, just keep zooming into the location on Google Maps. You'll be able to see diffrent floors by adjusting the slider on the side. Check out this list to see the buildings around the world that have indoor maps.
Use Google Maps to find out the fastest way to get somewhere. Often times, walking, riding a bike, or taking public transportation can be faster (and better for the environment!) than driving a car. Google Maps will compare how long each method of transportation will take to get you where you want to go.

Tips and tricks for easier navigation^[15]

by Collen Kriel | Jan 22, 2016

Google Maps saw a range of new updates last year for both Android and iOS that allows you to easily navigate to your destination, as well as find interesting spots along the way. Here is a look at some of the latest updates to Google Maps and some of the features that have been around for a while, but may have simply passed you by.

Google Maps knows where you are going. Depending on the time of the day, Google Maps will predict where you are heading before you even add a destination. Using existing addresses like work’, ‘home’ and recently added addresses, Driving Mode will be able to predict where you are heading and provide traffic conditions and travel times for these routes. This latest feature is only available for Android users. To use Driving Mode you can either add a shortcut to your home screen or select ‘Start Driving’ from the sidebar menu in Google Maps.
Shop during the quiet times. You can avoid the busiest times of a store but checking out the business’s information page and scrolling down to the business hours’ graph that will show the busiest days and times for that particular store.
Easily recall all the places you have been. If you have Google Maps installed on your smartphone, the Your Timeline feature will be able to show exactly where you have been on a given day, month or year, including the routes you took and the addresses that you visited. Available on desktop and Android.For Google to track you, you must enable Location History. Sign into Google Maps on your computer > My Accounts >Personal info & privacy > scroll to Places you go. The slider is blue if Location History is on. To view your Timeline, click Manage Activity below the slider and input the specific date.
Check what the typical traffic is like on your route. A feature that Google Maps has had for a while is the ability to check out what the typical traffic patterns are like for a certain route, allowing you to plan ahead and adjust your departure time. The feature only works on desktop and not on the mobile apps. Click on the three lines in the search bar > Traffic > Live traffic > Typical traffic > pick the day of the week and time and you will see what the traffic patterns are like.
Making a detour just got simpler. Google Maps for Android allows you to search for nearby gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops etc. without leaving navigation mode. If you search for a gas station, Google Maps for both Android and iOS will show you the gas prices so you can get the cheapest option. When you are in navigation mode, simply tap the search button and choose an item from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, use voice search to find something more specific.
Send directions to your device. Be prepared for your trip and send directions from your computer through to your smartphone or tablet. Find your destination on the desktop version of Google Maps > Send to Phone > select your device > you will receive a link on your device to the mobile version of Google Maps. Ensure you log into the same Google Maps account on both your desktop and device.
Never miss your bus again. Google Maps offers real-time transit information, including live arrivals for buses, metros, subway systems and canceled routes, for major cities around the world. Maps transits includes 18,000 cities, including Budapest, Chicago and Seattle, across 70 countries.
Find the restroom in a busy shopping mall. Finding a restroom in a busy shopping mall, convention center, airport or sports arena is as simple as looking on Google Maps. Zoom into a large indoor space on the desktop or mobile version of Google Maps and see whether an indoor map is available, using your smartphone you can also switch between the different floors.

Voice tips & tricks for Google Maps navigation. ^[16]

If you are like me, Google Maps is your primary navigation source on the road. But even though you use it regularly, there are a ton of powerful voice features that you aren’t utilizing. Maybe you didn’t even know about them. Though these tips and tricks have been around a while, for those who just use the standard Google maps navigation feature, these little known shortcuts can come in handy when you’re on the road. Check out 10 of the most useful Google Maps voice tips and tricks we found for hands free navigation in the car, on your bike or anywhere you use Google Maps.
Google Maps Tips And Tricks: 10 Useful Voice Commands For Hands Free Navigation

Ok Google, next step – this causes Google to tell you what the next turn or direction will be and how far away that change will take place. This can be especially useful when you are trying to keep your eyes on the road, but don’t want to miss your turn.
Ok Google, what’s my next turn – alternative wording for the previous command.
OK Google, mute – turns the spoken directions and other sounds off.
Ok Google, unmute – turns the spoken directions and associated sounds on.
Ok Google, when will I get there – lets you know estimated time of arrival.
Ok Google, find gas stations – will find gas stations near your along your route.
Ok Google, exit navigation – pauses the directions.
Ok Google, resume navigation – resumes the earlier directions started.
Ok Google, show route overview – displays on the screen the overview of your route in a step-by-step list.
Ok Google, Show alternate routes – will show other options for getting to the same place in case you run into traffic or want to choose a specific route.

In addition to these navigational tips and tricks, you can also ask Google maps to show you information related to upcoming trips. You can say commands like “my events,” “my flights” or “my reservations” and see a list of upcoming events, reservations you’ve made etc.

Top 19 Google Maps Tips and Tricks^[17]

Google Maps has been around for quite a while now. Since its inception it has undergone lot of improvements and it is by far the most powerful mapping system today. That doesn’t mean you can’t get more out of it. Here are some tips and tricks to make the most of this powerful system.

Create a personal map using My Maps. Google lets you create personalised maps to share with your friends and families. To create your personal map head over to google.com/mymaps log in with your Google account to continue. You’ll get two options: Create a map and Open a map. Click on the first option to create a new map. Start by naming your personal map by clicking the “Untitled map” heading at the top left > Enter a name and/or description > Save. Begin personalising by clicking on “Add layer”. Use the search bar to quickly navigate to a point of interest for marking. Below the search bar are the tools that you can use to customise your map. To start with, search for a place that you want to mention in your map, select “Add marker” from the tools and click on your place. Click on the marker to change the colour. My Maps tools also allow you to draw lines on the map. There is a handy way to draw your personal driving route to denote a shortcut.
Make use of multiple layers. Each layer acts as a group which holds all the markers and drawings. You can assign each layer for similar type of markers. Example: If you want to denote places having concerts add it under the layer “Concerts”. Personalise your layer by clicking on “Individual styles” below your layer name. The styles are:

Individual Style – where every marker in the layer can be styled separately
Sequence of color and letters – you get the first point A=red, B=yellow, C=green, D=blue, etc. which is same for every layer.
Uniform style – all the markers in one layer are styled similarly

Provide driving direction to your marker. To provide driving directions to the place denoted by your marker,click on your marker > “Directions to here”.
Use My Map to denote an event. An event or a festival detailed by a driving map is a boon for many visitors. Now that you’ve learnt how to make a custom map you can use the same to create a map for any event. Make the use of the various layers you are offered. The layers come handy when you are mapping event location for different days. Assign each layer for a day and you can make the map clutter-free and easy to understand.
Pin your address book on My Maps. If you have an address book with an “Address” field in it you can easily pin people on the map. This gives you a visual representation of their address which otherwise might be difficult to find. For this you need to export your address book as a spreadsheet (XLSX or CSV). Then,create a New Map > Import > Select the file from your computer. Once the uploading is completed you’ll be asked to choose the field (column) which represents the address in the spreadsheet. That being done Google maps will automatically pinpoint the places in the map.
Easily embed your personal map. You can share your personal map easily by embedding it on your site or in your email. To do that open your personal map and in the left panel where you see your layers hit Share > Embed on my site > copy the HTML tag provided and paste it where you want.
Get an offline map. Unlike other map services Google doesn’t offer their entire database offline, however, it has given you the option to download a particular area for offline viewing. This comes handy when you are travelling and you don’t want to be charged roaming data to download maps. To download a map on your phone search for the area you want to download.Hit “Download” located at the right of the page > mark the area you want to include > Download > give an appropriate name > Save. The downloading will start and your map will be included in the offline list. Alternatively,go to side menu > Offline areas > Tap the “+” button > select an area > Download.
Try Time Travel. Putting its old photo database to interesting use Google adds time travel to Google Maps. Time travel is a part of Street View where you’ll be able to see a popular place through the years. Due a to limited database this feature is restricted to popular places only. To try Time Travel search for a popular place (ex. London Eye) >See inside > click on the clock icon followed by a date located at the top left corner.It will present you with the available archives for the particular place. You can select them by sliding the timeline accordingly.
Modify map history. Google keeps the track of your Maps activities. It includes everything from the places you searched to the places you reviewed. It is possible to delete the entire history as well as selected searches. In order to selectively delete your historyclick on the side menu > Settings > Maps history. Click on the X button next to the entry that you want to delete and hit Delete.
Use Google Maps like an FPS gamer. Moving along a road in Street View using a mouse will be painful. Thankfully Google has given us keyboard shortcuts to do the same. In addition to the obvious arrow keys, these shortcuts include the WASD keys which any FPS gamer would feel right at home using. You can move forward and backward using the “W” and “S” key respectively, and “A” and “D” key will let you turn left and right.
See your timeline. Google keeps a track of all the places you have visited if your location services are turned on. All this data is systematically presented in the form of timeline. To see your timelineclick on the side menu > Your timeline.You can also add, remove or edit a place manually to your timeline.
Use God Mode. Google Maps is integrated with Google Earth. With this you can quickly jump between the maps as well as satellite imagery of an area. What’s interesting in this is the so called God Mode. Once you switch to Google Earth satellite imagery, you’ll see an icon called “Tilt the View” on the right-side This will tilt the view and will let you fly anywhere in the world. To make this cooler hold [CRTL] and pivot around any axis using your mouse. You’ll get a virtual god-like journey around the Earth. Furthermore, you can also click on any building to get its information card.
Watch real-time traffic. The traffic information that Google Maps offers is one of its best features – something that we all love. However, this is the typical traffic information that Maps uses which is based on historical data rather than real time data. To deal with this Google has added Live traffic information that will provide you accurate traffic information beforehand. To get live traffic information click on the burger menu > Traffic. An overlay will appear at the bottom centre which will allow you to choose between Typical and Live traffic.
Let Google Maps predict directions for you. Google Maps revealed an interesting feature called Driving Mode in its last update for Android. Driving Mode is compiled with intelligent machine learning algorithms that will predict where you want to go based on the time of the day and your previous searches. However, it is restricted to Google Maps users from U.S., United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore only. India will be on the list soon.To access this feature, add Driving Mode shortcut to your homescreen by long pressing thehomescreen > Android widgets > select Google Maps driving shortcut. To access from the Maps app go to menu > select “Start Driving’.
Don’t miss the last trains and buses. In some places the trains or buses don’t run all night long which could be problematic. Fortunately this hidden Google Maps feature will let you know the time of the last train or bus on the particular route. To check this, set the source and destination of your journey > choose the train icon > click on “Settings icon” > Last > Done.
Use indoor maps. If you are unaware Google added indoor maps to Google Maps some time ago. Currently these indoor maps are available in selected locations only. Here’s a comprehensive list of all the locations ready with indoor maps.
Make use of Lite mode. If your Google Maps experience is sluggish it’s possible that your computer is not able to handle the heavy rendering cost on your system. In such cases Google automatically switches you to the “Lite” version of Google maps. Lite version brings you back to the classic Google maps eliminating 3D buildings, current location, etc. You can force switch to the Lite version by firing this URL.
Try these voice commands

Ok Google, next step
Ok Google, what’s my next turn
Ok Google, unmute
Ok Google, when will I get there
Ok Google, find gas stations
Ok Google, exit navigation
Ok Google, resume navigation
Ok Google, show route overview
Ok Google, Show alternate routes

Search for restaurants, gas stations, etc along your route. Another handy feature that made its way recently to Google Maps is the ability to search for places along your route. If you are dedicated Google Maps user already, you’ll know how painful it is to search for a place along a route. You had to stop the navigation, check for the place and then start the navigation from the scratch. However, with the latest update for Maps on Android you’ve been offered a feature to allow for pit stops and detours in navigation mode. To make use of this, start your navigation and tap the floating search button that appears on the right side. You’ll see a list of places like Gas stations, Restaurants, Grocery stores, Coffee shops, and a search button to find custom places too. Use these buttons to quickly search for places along the route.

How to Get the Most Out of Google Maps

Thorin Klosowski 2017-03-21

Google Maps is hand-down one of the best navigation apps on Android and iPhone, but considering most of us use it while driving, it’s easy to miss some of its features. Whether you’re new to Google Maps or a veteran, let’s take a look at the best ways to get the most out of it.

Save Your Home and Work Addresses

First things first, adding in your home and work address makes using Google Maps a little more pleasant, because it simplifies navigating to either place. Tap the three-line menu bar in the search box, then Your Places, and add your home and work address.

Add Multiple Destinations to a Trip

Need to snag some lunch on a long road trip? Or stop off at the pharmacy on your way home from work? Setting up multiple destinations makes that easy, though it’s easy to miss that it’s even an option. You have two different ways to add multiple stops.

First, map out directions to your final destination like you always do. Then, tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner > Add Stop. Enter a second location and Maps will navigate you between them. You can add up to nine different stops here.

Alternately, you can add a stop along your route midway through a drive. This makes the most sense for something like snagging lunch on a road trip or if you’re walking around a city in need of a quick cup of coffee. Go ahead and start up navigation to your final destination. Once Maps is navigating, tap the big search button, then search for whatever you need. Maps will only show you options along your current route.

Save Your Parking Spot

In the most recent version of Google Maps, you can have Google save your parking spot. When you park, you’ll see a pop-up that asks you to save your location. Do so and you can then add additional info, like what lot you’re in or how much time is on your meter. This feature is brand new, so if you don’t see it right now keep an eye out for it over the coming weeks.

Use Maps to Save Locations You’re Interested In

Depending on how you use Google Maps, you have a couple of handy ways to save locations. Historically, My Maps, was always the go-to, but that requires that you have access to a desktop computer. Head to the My Maps site on your computer, and you can create a private or public map that’s accessible in Google Maps on your phone. This is handy if you’re trying to create an itinerary for a vacation, planning out an event, or you’re working on a collaborative map with friends.

Perhaps more useful when you’re on the go is a new lists feature. Search for a location in Google Maps, then tap the Save button. Here, you’ll find a list of your places, included pre-defined lists called Favorites, Want to Go, and Starred Places. You’ll also see an option to add that location to a custom list or to create a new list entirely.

I’ve found these lists helpful for both planning vacations and keeping track of things I want to do when I’m home. They also come in handy when you have family in town and desperately need to find a good restaurant you’ve been to nearby. You can also share these lists or make them public. This means that even if you don’t do the legwork to plan a vacation, you can reap the rewards of someone more organized than you.

Look at Your History to See Every Trip You’ve Taken

By default, Google Maps keeps a running history of every trip you’ve taken. This is either very cool and useful or very creepy.

Tap the three line menu button, then Settings > Map History. Here, you’ll see all the different places you’ve navigated to. If you don’t like that Google Maps does this, you can disable it by flipping the toggle at the top of the screen to Off. I personally don’t see any use in keeping a history because I’m not an amnesiac in a Christopher Nolan movie, but you might find it useful yourself.

Use the Explore Button to Find Interesting Places Around You

If you’re in a new place and have no idea where to start, the Explore button is incredibly useful. Tap the three-line menu button, then Explore. You’ll see a list of food options, cafes, and bars. I ignored this little feature for a long time, but ever since I accidentally tapped it one time I use it pretty frequently.

Download Maps for Offline Viewing

If you have a bad data plan with your phone or you’re traveling internationally, offline maps are a must. Search for a city or place name, then tap the name or address on the bottom bar. Tap the Download button to save that map. You can see what you’ve saved by tapping the three line menu button in the search bar, then tapping Offline Areas. In most cases, you can still navigate and search for destinations in this mode.

Zoom One-Handed

If you’re walking around with your phone trying to navigate with Google Maps, pinching to zoom is tough. Instead, double-tap on the screen, then drag your finger up and down. This zooms in and out on the map.

Send Directions from Your Computer to Your Phone

If you’re looking at directions to a place on your computer and want to do the actual navigation on your phone, you can send that data to your phone as long as you’re logged into your Google account on both devices.

First, search for a destination and find a route. Once you do, you’ll see an option to send the directions to your phone (or car, if it supports Google Maps).

Dig Deeper Into Transit Directions

If you use public transit, Google Maps is a fantastic way to get around and Google does a pretty good job of providing you with a lot of search parameters to fine tune your search results.

Search for a destination in Google Maps, then tap the public transportation button. Here, you’ll see a list of the various ways to get to your destination. If you need to change the time around, tap the Depart at button and change that to whatever option you need. You can also tap the options button to fine-tune your results, including which forms of public transportation you want to use (or not use), and change how much walking you to do.

The Last Transit Mode You Used Will Always Be the Default

If you use a lot of different modes of transportation and bounce between different styles of directions, then you might have noticed that Google saves the your last used mode as the default. So, if you got walking directions last time, you’ll get walking directions in your next search. You can always change modes by tapping the big transit mode icon on the search results and then picking the mode you want from the options bar.

Avoid Highways, Tolls, and Other Options

Sometimes, you don’t want to deal with highway driving. On those days, it’s nice to force Google Maps to steer clear of highways. Enter in your destination, then tap the three dot icon in the top right. Tap the Route options button. Here, you can choose to avoid highways, tolls, and ferries.

More importantly, you can also toggle whether Google Maps uses your options for every trip or just this one. If you want to always avoid highways, tolls, or ferries, set the Remember Settings toggle to on. If you want to do so for only this trip, set it to off. I prefer to leave it in the off position so I don’t accidentally get routed some weird way because I forgot to turn highways back on.

Adjust Your Guidance Volume and Where It Plays

You wouldn’t think that something like guidance volume would matter, but if you’re driving around in a car with weird speakers, it’s nice that Google gives you a lot of options.

Tap the three line icon in the search bar, then Settings > Navigation Settings. Here, you can set the volume to soft, normal, or loud. You can also choose whether the voice navigation plays over Bluetooth or not. You can even mute navigation completely, or choose the “Alerts Only” function so you’re only alerted to traffic, construction, or accident alerts.

Google Maps 9.22, 9.21, 9.20 & 9.19^[18]

Google has provided its Maps users with a way to make their home a castle, at least in digital form. Google has added the ability to choose an icon for your home and work. Options include a castle, submarine and windmill. Once selected, the location will appear as that icon on the map. Hopefully, Google will expand or refine the icons, as they're somewhat dubious and limited at the minute, but it's a fun feature to have for the time being.
Add stickers to indicate your home and workplace. By pressing on a location, bringing up its info screen and pressing the options button (the three dots) you can select Add label. This allows you to choose any name you like for a place, be it your home, office, favorite bar or sports club.
Another Google Maps trick you can now try out is viewing taxi prices when you're getting directions to a place. Just click on the taxi icon (second from the right), and you can now see how much it will cost to get to your destination via private transport, be it Uber or another taxi service (Google currently partners with different taxi companies in Brazil, India, the UK, Spain, and Germany).
If you add a review of a restaurant, attraction or business through Google Maps, you can now include photos to illustrate the location. Google will even pair photos you took at the location to your review automatically, saving you the trouble.
A Play voice during phone calls option has now been added in Settings > Navigation settings. It is enabled by default, so head to the settings menu to turn it off if you don't want the voices to become overbearing.
Navigation mode now has street names and exits displayed on the map itself, rather than solely in the bar at the top of screen, making it a little more convenient for quick scanning.
A final, minor addition is the ability to add a stop on your Maps Timeline. If Google misses something, you can tap the options button and select Add a place.
Driving Mode has been made accessible through a shortcut and now loads up without you needing to enter a destination. The mode uses your location history and web searches to guess where you might be heading. When you're on the go, it also feeds you traffic updates and ETAs.
The audio toggle for voice navigation has also returned to a more visible location, so you can easily switch it off if it's starting to irritate you.
The Timeline feature also saw a couple of small improvements, including a way to toggle photos on and off, and an option to determine whether your past searches and app activity affect how inaccurately chosen locations are edited.

Build a Distance Finder with Google Maps API ^[19]

Easy Map Maker ^[20]

Google Sheets Mapping Add-ons

Calculating Distance between locations in Google Sheets^[21]

Scripting Tutorial: Getting to Know the Maps Service^[22]

Calculate distance in Google spreadsheet ^[23]

Create Clickable Map to Share Geo. Info. & Metadata^[24]

by fiveache

Do you have loads of data that are associated with a specific geographic place? This Instructables will teach you how to create a map where you can click on points to view data associated to that point. It's easy, and most importantly you don't need to know how to code to do this project! Let's give it a shot! You will need a few tools along the way, but don't worry... I will break down every step along the way! You will need some third party apps (but don't worry, I will show you how to use them):

Google Drive: https://drive.google.com

Google Sheets (Found on Google Drive)

Google Fusion Tables (Found on Google Drive)

Make a Map Book Using Google Maps^[25]

by frazeeg

The other day I was looking at the bookstore for a Street Guide for DuPage County, IL since my girlfriend is living there and needs a detailed street map. Unfortunately, the only one that they had that was close was one for Cook County (like this one), which doesn't include any of DuPage County. Being the computer savvy person I am, I decided I could just as easily make one using Google Maps and a couple other computer programs. Note: this project makes use of Google Maps content and I believe I have given directions that still allow this project to fall under the umbrella of "fair use." I'm no lawyer but assuming you don't go selling these I think this should be legal.

Make A Google Map Using Google Spreadsheet Data^[26]

Google Spreadsheet Mapper- For many years now, Google has been revising its Spreadsheet Mapper tool in order to give you an easy way to create KML files for Google Earth maps and matching URLs for Google Maps. It comes with extremely thorough instructions and it isn’t too unwieldy to use. But somehow, it still seems just a little too clunky. When all you want to do is get two columns of data and make it show up on a map, the Google Spreadsheet mapper route is an overkill. What is great about this method is that you can change the styling easily and produce map location data that looks fabulous. It also lets you export a KML file for importing into Google Earth, which few of the other methods do. But it really is more than most people need, and too much fuss for users with simple needs in mind.
Google Fusion Tables- Google Fusion Tables is magic, really. You need to publish the spreadsheet with the data in it in order to make it work, but then Google Fusion Tables quickly creates a map table with all of the locations on it using Google Map tools to do so. The only problem is that it is a Google Map visualization, so it can’t be used as a stand alone Google Map — you cannot share it with friends as a Google Map, though you can embed the visualization.
Map A List- Map A List is a website designed to take the headache out of this process entirely. You will need to register in order to use it, but that only takes a minute and it is well worth it. Your maps will stay synced with your Google Spreadsheet; you can embed the map; and you can save the map as KML. Again, it uses Google Map tools (the Google Maps API). You are offered some customisation, but things are kept generally simple. I would say Map A List is a good method for getting a KML file for Google Earth and the best way to get a map that stays synced.
Use Google Maps To Import Data From CSV Or Google Spreadsheet- Yup, you can search all day before you realise that this whole process can be done FROM Google Maps. Since Google revised its map software, you can actually create a new map, create a new layer and click “Import” to get your data from your Google Spreadsheet. Read this guide on how to import data from Google Spreadsheets into Google Maps for full instructions. In brief, you can import data from a simple spreadsheet very easily, this spreadsheet can reference other spreadsheets, it can be customised easily, embedded, and exported as KML. However, it won’t stay synced with your spreadsheet. You need to re-import the spreadsheet each time you change it.
Chart Within Your Spreadsheet- For some purposes, it’s enough to be able to create a map chart within your spreadsheet. This works excellently when you want to see the amount of people living in any given location easily. To do it, simply create a chart and choose the map option.

How to Build a Custom Google Map Using Addresses in Google Sheets ^[27]

Here’s a nifty trick that combines both Google Sheets and Maps. When you enter addresses into Sheets, you can then display all of the locations right in Maps, creating your own custom map. This is great for plotting business locations, deliveries, business contacts, or even just a personal travel itinerary.
In a Google Sheet, head up to the Add-ons menu item and select Get Add-ons. Search for Mapping Sheets, install it, and then approve any permissions it requests.
Next, head up to the Add-ons menu again. This time, you’ll notice that the Mapping Sheets item has been added to the menu. Select it, and then click on Start Mapping to start your project.
Enter in your data (addresses, coordinates, etc.) into your spreadsheet.
The add-on’s drop-down menus (on the right side of your screen) are important when you’re creating your projects. They tell the add-on where to look for the various data you need to build your map, so you can specify where the title comes from, what filter to use, and where the location is found in the spreadsheet.
When you click Build, Google Maps will start importing the data from the locations that you have specified. Once the build process is completed, just click on View to view the map.
Click here to watch this video on YouTube.

Mapping in Google Spreadsheets^[28]

Here at Data & GIS Services, we love finding new ways to map things. Earlier this semester I was researching how the Sheets tool in Google Drive could be used as a quick and easy visualization tool when I re-discovered its simple map functionality. While there are plenty of more powerful mapping tools if you want to have a lot of features (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Fusion Tables, Google Earth,GeoCommons, Tableau, CartoDB), you might consider just sticking with a spreadsheet for some of your simpler projects.

Create a map from a published Google Spreadsheet^[29]

Embed a dynamic map of a public Google Spreadsheet on your webpage.
After loading in your spreadsheet data and customizing the map, you can copy the generated code into your webpage. An example spreadsheet's data and map of great Seattle restaurants has been pre-loaded. You can view the original spreadsheet in HTML or XML.
This wizard uses the Google Maps API and Google Spreadsheets API.

How to Create Custom Maps in Google Maps^[30]

You’ve probably used Google Maps to look up directions before, but did you know you can create your own custom map within it? The possibilities for customization are almost endless, and it’s a great way to easily organize and view your favorite locations on one map.

Open Google Maps and click the menu button in the top left corner.

Click Your Places > Maps > Create Map.

Name your map and enter in a description.

Add markers for your desired locations. You can label these markers, add descriptions, change the color or shape, and add an image.

You can add walking, biking, or driving paths between two destinations.

You can also add additional layers by clicking on the Add Layer Button. This is useful if you’re creating a very dense map with lots of features and paths.

Click here to watch this video on YouTube.

Google Maps + Exercise Bike = Virtual Bike Ride ^[31]

by gigafide

Hook up your exercise bike to Google Maps and turn your boring stationary bike into a virtual reality excursion!

Using Google Sky Maps^[32]

Google Sky Maps allows allows you to view celestial objects, including stars, constellations, galaxies, planets and the Earth's moon. To view these objects, go to www.google.com/sky.

You can view content in Google Sky Maps in several ways:

An App for Maps- Companion Safety App

Companion Safety App is built on top of Google Maps technology, allows you to notify people when you are going to be walking somewhere, riding a bus, or driving, so they can track your progress on Google Maps. It also allows for you to easily communicate with them or with the police if there is a problem.	Companion Safety App
Games with Google Maps

Geo💚Guesser	Smarty Pins

Create your own custom Geo💚Guessr	Not Google Maps, but plenty of Map Games

Virtual Field Trips	The True Size

Virtual Field Trips	The True Size Compares Country Sizes
Maps, Atlas, Map Making Tools, etc. + History

Four Tricks to Help You Navigate Without Google Maps^[33]

After a few years with a smartphone, the notion of getting around without digital directions has become kind of terrifying. But with a little prior research, finding your way can be as easy as looking up.

Here are four simple ways to navigate using just the sun, moon, and stars that we learned from Spencer Merlis, a New York City-based sailor who teaches classes on natural navigation. All will help you find cardinal directions in order to orient yourself, but you’ll still need a working knowledge of the city you’re in and the address of where you’re going to find your way—we’re not miracle workers! Note that these instructions are specific to the Northern Hemisphere, but if you live south of the equator, just reverse them (south for north, etc.) and the same instructions apply.

1. LOOK AT THE SUN.

The sun hovers due south (meaning, directly south) at noon, so on a sunny day, as long as you know the time, you can figure out where north is. Just face the sun head-on, and turn around. Even if you can’t necessarily see the sun—say, if you’re surrounded by tall buildings—you can use shadows to figure out about where it is. Shadows fall away from the sun, so if a street sign is casting a shadow on the sidewalk, for instance, you know that the sun is behind the sign at the same angle as the shadow. At times other than noon, you can also approximate—during the mid-morning, the sun will be in the southeast, and in the late afternoon, it will be in the southwest.

2. PAY ATTENTION TO THE COLOR OF THE SKY.

You can still use the sun to find your way around when the sun is below the horizon. At dusk or dawn, you can tell east and west by the color of the sky. If one part of the sky is pinkish around dawn, that’s east. At dusk, the sky is lit up in the west (where the sun is setting). So if you’re walking away from the glow of the sun in the evening, and your shadow is in front of you, that means you’re walking east. If your shadow is to your right, that means you’re headed north.

3. FIND THE NORTH STAR. As the name indicates, the North Star (Polaris) is in the north, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s relatively simple to find if you can find the Big Dipper, a pretty easy-to-recognize cluster of stars that’s bright enough to see even in cities. The two stars that comprise the outer, non-handle side of the Big Dipper’s bowl point right at the North Star. The constellation Cassiopeia, shaped like a W or an M, also points toward the North Star. If you imagine it as a W, just draw a line in your mind's eye to connect the W's two outer points. Then draw a line perpendicular to this at the left-side point where you’d start making your W, as in the diagram above.

4. CHECK THE MOON'S PHASE.

A full moon is due south at midnight, just like the sun is south at noon. During a half moon, you can imagine the divider between the illuminated half of the moon and the dark half as an arrow pointing straight down toward due south. If it’s a crescent moon, just imagine where the line between two halves of a full moon would be, and the same principle applies.

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[10] "Top 15 Google Maps Tips and Tricks | Digital Trends." 2015. 18 Apr. 2016 <http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-maps-tips-tricks/>

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Meet the Many Maps of Google

Get on your way

Fifteen Tips That Will Make Your Life Way Easier, Useful Tips & Tricks You Need To Know About[10]

10 Google Maps tips and tricks you need to know [13]

Thorin Klosowski 2017-03-21

Google Sheets Mapping Add-ons

An App for Maps- Companion Safety App

Games with Google Maps

Virtual Field Trips

The True Size

Fifteen Tips That Will Make Your Life Way Easier, Useful Tips & Tricks You Need To Know About^[10]

10 Google Maps tips and tricks you need to know ^[13]