track my travel google maps

Google Maps has a cool new tool to track your travel

Pull your monthly travel stats from your Google Maps timeline

Google Maps is getting a cool new Insights tool that provides deeper stats about users’ travels, with a new feature that lets you keep a track of your movement over a period of time.

As per the name, Google Maps' Insights feature provides valuable information around users' Map-related behavior, giving them the opportunity to then use this data to make more informed choices when planning their journeys, or even fine-tuning their daily commute.

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Insights is a part of Google Maps' timeline menu, offering an overview of your month-to-month movements, and also helping users to keep a record of the places they've visited over time. Though it may sound invasive, the metrics are arguably more universal than, say, Apple Watch 's fitness tracking as most of us have to travel every day. Currently, the Insights tool is only available for a select number of users, with Android Police noting that the tool is expected to "reach everyone sometime soon."

To access the tool, select users can tap the profile icon in the top right-hand corner of their Timeline in Google Maps’ pop-up menu. From there, Google Maps’ Timeline offers six category filters: Trips, Day, Insights, Places, Cities and World. Google Maps’ Insights tool can only be viewed in the UK and Germany, and it currently only runs on Android . There doesn’t appear to be any information as to when iOS users will get the feature, at the moment.

Google has free reign to tap into is its extensive catalog of users' location history that it uses to populate Insights. You can see your travel history every month, along with what types of transport were used throughout that particular time period.

Other data available to users is the kind of leisure places that a person visits most: these are categorized via food, drink, attractions, shopping, hotels, airports and more. The best part is that this data is neatly presented into bar graphs for easy reading, with Google Maps also providing data around time spent at the places within each category.

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Luke is a former news writer at T3 who covered all things tech at T3. Disc golf enthusiast, keen jogger, and fond of all things outdoors (when not indoors messing around with gadgets), Luke wrote about a wide-array of subjects for T3.com, including Android Auto, WhatsApp, Sky, Virgin Media, Amazon Kindle, Windows 11, Chromebooks, iPhones and much more, too.

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How to See Where You've Been With the Google Maps Timeline

With the Location History feature in Google Maps you can see a timeline of where you travelled, and the route you took to get there.

Google Maps boasts loads of features, making it stand out from the competition. Although having a variety of features is a plus, for a regular user, it can be tough to know how to use all of them. The Google Maps Timeline is one of the platform's essential features, allowing you to view places you've been to in the past and the routes you used to get there.

The Timeline feature leverages the fact that Google tracks your whereabouts in the background. We will show you how to see your location history on Google Maps on your phone.

How to See Your Google Maps Location History

It's no longer a secret that Google tracks you in the background. The Timeline feature capitalizes on this, giving you a way to check your location history.

The critical thing to note is you must have your Google account's Location History turned on to use the feature. With Location History enabled, you can view the countries, cities, and other places, like restaurants, malls, etc., that you've been to in the past.

Follow these steps to check whether you have your Location History enabled:

Open Google Maps and tap your profile icon or letter in the top right.
Select Your data in Maps from the pop-up menu.
If you see On under Location History , that means you have it enabled. Otherwise, tap Off , and Google will take you to a page where you can switch it back on by tapping Turn on .

If you have just enabled your Location History at the moment, or you deleted your past data to protect your privacy in Google Maps , there won't be anything in your Timeline.

However, if you have some other settings like Web & App Activity enabled, you may still see some location history data. Our tips on troubleshooting Google Maps issues on Android should come in handy if you're experiencing issues with the app.

How to View Your Google Maps Timeline

Otherwise, with that out of the way, here's how you can see where you've been in the Google Maps app:

Inside Google Maps, tap your profile icon or letter in the top right.
Select Your Timeline from the pop-up menu. Google will take a few seconds to load the Timeline page.
The Timeline page will show today's location history by default at the bottom. It provides additional data like how you went to a specific location, the amount of time used during the commute, and an estimate of your time in an area. Tap Today to select a particular date in the past.
If you want to see your past trips, select the Trips tab at the top. Google will show you the number of trips you've been on, how long they were, and in which month and year.
The Places tab showcases specific places you've gone to presented in different categories like Shopping, Hotels, Attractions, and more. You can also go to the Cities and World tabs to view the cities and countries you have traveled to in the past, respectively.

In the Day tab, nearby places you've visited in the past will be shown as dots of different colors on the map. Each color hints at the kind of activity done at the place.

The amount of data in your Google Maps Location History depends on how long the Location History feature has been enabled on your account. If you have set up your account to auto-delete your history, or if you chose to instantly delete your location data in Google Maps recently, the data will be much less.

Learn more about using the app in Google Maps tips to turn you into a pro user .

Track Your Location History in Google Maps

The Google Maps timeline is an excellent way to see where you've been in the past and on which day. The app presents data in an easy-to-understand manner. Additionally, it adds richer details like the routes you took to a place and an estimate of your time in a location.

While some might ignore the feature or disable it due to privacy issues, there's no way to deny its importance. If you're more privacy-conscious, you can still use the feature and instruct Google to delete your data after three, 18, or 36 months.

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Use Google Maps to see where you've traveled

Google's new Your Timeline feature shows all the places you've visited, using your smartphone's GPS. Learn how to use to your advantage.

Google Maps has been tracking everywhere your phone has gone, and now it's ready to share that data with you, and only you. Using a handy new feature called Your Timeline on the Web and Android, you can see all of the places you've visited to plotted on a map, plus detailed itineraries of your travels.

While the prospect of Google tracking your every move is sure to bother some people, I've found that Your Timeline is a really neat tool for keeping track of my trips and vacations, or simply remembering a random day in my life.

If this weirds you out and you don't want Google following you, check out CNET's guide to stopping Google Maps from tracking your location . However, if you're intrigued by this automatically recorded log of the places you go, read on to learn how to make the best use of Your Timeline.

Get started

To protect your privacy, you first need to consent to have Google follow your travels. If at any point you turned on Location History in your Google account, such as setting up Google Now to remember where you parked or commute alerts, then the company is already tracking you.

Check if Location History is enabled for you with these steps:

Sign into your Google account on a computer.
Head to the My Account page.
Click Personal info & privacy and scroll to Places you go.
If the slider is blue, Location History is on and you're good to go.
Click Manage Activity below the slider to view Your Timeline .

Look at your maps

True to its name, Your Timeline shows a daily record of every place you've been, the time you arrived and departed, as well as the approximate route you took between locations. If you use Google Photos , pictures you took at the particular place, date and time will show up in your timeline too.

All of that information appears on the Your Timeline page on desktop and in the latest version of the Google Maps Android app. However, you'll get the most features from browsing on a computer. There you'll see a world map with dots on the places you've gone. You can zoom into particular cities to get a more detailed view and click on dots to see the address or point of interest.

On the left side of the page, you can browse various dates to see your available timelines. In my experience, Google doesn't seem to record data from every single day, instead it focusing on trips where you leave your normal area. One my account, I can see the occasional commute or trip to the store, but there's more emphasis on trips that span several days and took me at least 50 miles from home. I also don't have a timeline for every single day, despite having Location History turned on for the last several years. However, your data may vary.

Editing a timeline

While Google does its best to pinpoint the exact addresses, businesses and points of interest you've hit, it doesn't always get it right. In that case, you can edit the incorrect places in your timeline and add places it missed altogether.

Hover over the name of a place and click the arrow to pick a different option from the menu or search for a specific location.
To add a new place to your timeline, hover your mouse over the line on the far left until the plus sign appears and click it.
Search for a location and tell Google approximately when you arrived and departed, then click Save to add it to the timeline.

Though Google has faced a lot of scrutiny over tracking your location and showing it in Your Timeline, I think the feature is a neat way to automatically create a record of your travels. That said, I absolutely understand the privacy concerns that Your Timeline brings up, even though the data is only available for you to view.

If it makes you uncomfortable, simply shut off Location History to stop Google from tracking your locations. But if you're willing to let Google stay on your tail, Your Timeline can be a neat feature to chronicle your daily commutes and bigger trips.

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How to enable Location History in Google Maps

How to see your Google Maps timeline in the mobile app

How to see your google maps timeline on the website, how to check your google maps timeline and see every place you've traveled.

Your Google Maps timeline shows all the countries, cities, and attractions you've visited.
You can see your timeline in the Google Maps mobile app and on the website.
You'll need to make sure you have Location History enabled on your Google account for the timeline to work.

Nearly every major app tracks your location in some way. And while most try to keep this a secret (and won't even tell you why they need it), Google Maps is pretty public when it comes to using your location.

But Google Maps doesn't just use it to give you directions and show your current location . If you have it enabled, you can also create a Google Maps timeline , which lets you see where you traveled on a specific day, any attractions or restaurants you've visited, towns you've been to, and countries that you've traveled in.

Here's how to check your Google Maps timeline — and how to enable Location History so you can make a timeline in the first place.

1. Open Google Maps on your iPhone or Android, and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.

2. Tap Your timeline .

The screen will change, and a large menu will appear with a variety of options at the top. They'll be a bit different depending on whether you're using an iPhone or Android.

On both devices, you'll see:

Day: Here, you can see all the places you've visited in a single day. It'll also show you how you got there (via subway, car, etc.) and how long you spent at each location.
Places: This shows the different restaurants, attractions, shops, hotels, and more you've visited. They'll be sorted into different categories, which you can tap to see a full list.
Cities: You'll get a list of all the towns and cities you've visited, and when you visited them. Tap a city name to see where you went in that city and how often.
World: A list of all the countries you've traveled to. Tap a country in the list to see which cities you've gone to.

If you're using an Android, you'll also see Trips and Insights . Trips shows (as the name suggests) the vacations and getaways you've taken. Insights tracks how much time you've spent walking, driving, and taking public transit every month, along with how far you've traveled and what you spent your time doing.

You can find the timeline on the Google Maps website too, but it looks a bit different.

1. Open Google Maps on your computer and click the three stacked lines in the top-left corner.

2. Select Your timeline .

You'll be brought to the Timeline page. Here, you can:

Click one of the blue bars at the top-left of the screen or enter a specific day to see all the places you traveled on that day.
Click the red Places option in the bottom-left to see every business, attraction, and place of interest you've visited.
Click the More Trips box to check out the vacations and get-aways you've been on.

You can also double-click a red dot on the map to check out the exact day you traveled to that spot.

If you clicked something and want to reset the map, click Timeline in the top-left to return to your main Timeline page.

On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.

Main content

How to Use Google My Maps to Plan a Trip (Ultimate Guide)

Note: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you. More details are here .

I love a good map. I’ve got maps hanging on my walls. I go to the bookstore to read maps. Whenever I navigate my way home using only a map, I feel like I must have some innate bushcraft skills. And if you’ve read my posts about traveling in Maine , you’re probably sick of me talking about the DeLorme Atlas by now.

But while reading paper maps will always inspire a sense of get-up-and-go adventure for me, I’m not totally opposed to using tech for planning my trips and navigating on the ground.

And one of my favorite techy solutions? A secret little trip planner called Google My Maps, buried inside of everyone’s favorite map tool.

Google My Maps lets you create shareable custom maps with multiple layers, plus location pins with icons and notes. It’s a great way to brainstorm travel plans or create a trip itinerary from a desktop. And since the map can be viewed in the Google Maps app, you can use it to navigate on the go.

To give you an example of what this post will show you how to do, here’s one of the custom Google Maps I’ve created for a trip.

Keep reading for an overview of how to use Google My Maps to plan a trip, plus a video tutorial of how to set it up—all updated in 2023. I’ll also share answers to commonly asked questions and some lesser known tips to help you get the most out of this tool.

A quick note: Creating a custom map in Google My Maps is distinct from Google Lists of saved places. Check out our Google My Maps vs Lists comparison to see all the differences and our full guide to using Google Maps Lists .

8 Top Google My Maps Features

(AKA Why It’s Awesome)

Google My Maps allows you to see your trip itinerary.

This is so helpful, especially if you’re a visual person or enjoy using maps. But even if you’re not, it’s still really useful to see where everything is in relation to each other as you plan your trip, vacation, or holiday because it helps you be realistic about your plans.

It connects with other Google apps.

Setting aside my (ahem, very rational) fear that they may take over the world soon, I love all things Google. My Maps stores a copy of the map in whatever Google Drive account you’re using. (Am I the only one who has six of these?) So if you like to create Google Docs or folders to store trip planning information, documents, photos, or itineraries, it’s nice to have your map easily accessible in the same folder.

You get additional location information since it’s part of Google Maps.

If a location is on Google, you can see their website, phone number, address, reviews, and website when you add it to your custom map. (Note that you can’t see this information when clicking on your saved pin from the Google Maps app, but you can from desktop.)

You can add your own extra notes and photos.

Customize your map even more by adding notes, photos, or videos. Use the notes during planning to add website, hours, or tips. If I hear about the location from a particular website, I usually add that link and what was noted in the article about the location (e.g., it’s a great sunset spot, which dish on the menu is recommended) so I can reference it later.

You can view your route by creating a layer with directions.

When I traveled to Burlington, Vermont, I wanted to see the length of the bike trail on the map, so I used the directions feature to show the whole route. (Check out the Burlington travel guide for an example of the travel map I created that includes the bike path route.) And while I haven’t done this yet, you could also use Google My Maps to plan a road trip itinerary for a longer adventure.

Caveat: As I’ll discuss later, you can’t use directions layers to get turn-by-turn directions (but I mention an alternative below). For this reason, I only use these layers to visualize my route.

It’s highly customizable.

Don’t mind me while I swoon over the color coding and organization options over here. Use custom icons, layers, and colors so it’s easy to see what things are at a glance. For example, you can give different locations individual styles: a coffee cup icon for cafes, a bed icon for hotels, and a swimming icon for beaches. You can also use layers in many different ways, such as one layer for each day of your trip or one layer for each category (like dining, lodging, and things to do).

In-depth planning on your computer. Easy, on-the-go access from your phone.

While you can’t edit the maps from the Google Maps app on iPhone or Android, you (and anyone you’ve shared them with) can view them. You can click on icons and see your notes, as well as navigate to those locations.

Note that there used to be a dedicated My Maps app on Android, but this has been deprecated.

It’s easy to share it with a friend or with the world.

If you’re planning a trip with other people, it’s easy to share the map with others . And if it’s something you want to make available to everyone (like I do on my travel guide posts), just change the privacy setting and share the link or embed it on a website.

3 Ways to Use Google My Maps

Brainstorm and store ideas for future “maybe” trips.

I often come across a really interesting hotel, restaurant, or fun thing to do in destinations I want to travel to in the future, and I want to make sure I don’t forget about them. I have so many bookmarks in so many places (Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram), but Google My Maps is the place I’ve started storing ideas for future trips.

Plan your trip itinerary.

Want to use Google Maps for route planning? When you’re ready to plan an upcoming trip, plot it out visually by using Google My Maps to create your itinerary. If you like structured itineraries, you can easily create a detailed day-to-day plan.

Or, you can use a looser itinerary structure like we usually do by adding all the places you might like to go.

For example, on a day trip to NYC, we added tons of places to eat on the map (thank you, Tiktok). As we were walking around doing other activities and started to get hungry, we were able to easily see which saved restaurants were closest to us.

Navigate on the go.

Whether you’re using your map loosely for ideas or for a structured itinerary, you can pull it up on your phone anytime and get directions to your next location.

Not sure what you want to do today, or want to see what the closest restaurant from your list is for dinner? Pop into your custom map to jog your memory from the notes you made or to get directions to your next location.

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How to Use Google My Maps to Plan a Trip

How to create a new custom map.

Go to Google My Maps from your desktop browser . Check the Google icon in the top right corner to make sure you’re using the Google account you want to. Click “Create A New Map” and a window will open with a blank map. To give your map a name and description , click the map name (“Untitled Map”).

You can also change the color and style of the base map if desired. At the bottom of the layer panel on the left, click the arrow next to “Base Map.” You’ll get a window with nine options, including terrain, light political (a very light version of the standard Google Maps), satellite, and some different colored versions. Note that changing the base map style on desktop won’t change anything when viewing on mobile in Google Maps.

How to Add and Edit Layers

When you create a new map, the first layer will already be created, so you’ll probably want to rename it. To give your first layer a title , click directly on the title name like you did with the map name, or click the 3 dots next to “Untitled Layer” and then click “Rename Layer.” Clicking these 3 dots next to a layer title is also how you can delete a layer if you add one accidentally or change your mind. In this example, I’m changing my first layer to “dining” and will add all restaurants to this layer.

You can use layers any way you want to, or simply stick to one layer if you don’t need multiple. To add new layers , simply click “Add Layer” in the gray section below the map title and description.

To move a pin between layers , click the pin on the layer and hold down the mouse, and then drag it to the desired layer.

How to Add Location Pins

There are various ways to add location pins to a layer. First, make sure the correct layer is chosen by clicking anywhere in the white area on the layer. You’ll see which layer is selected by looking for the blue bar on the left of the layer.

In the map search bar, type either a place name or an address. Click “Add to Map” to add a pin for this location . This is how I add most pins.
If you don’t need an exact location or don’t have an address , you can click the pin marker button below the map search bar (“Add Marker”). It will turn your mouse into a T and you can click anywhere on the map to add a blank pin. You’ll immediately be prompted to add the pin title and description.
If you’re dealing with very remote locations (or you just like geeky map stuff), you can also use latitude and longitude coordinates in the search bar.

To delete a pin , simply click on it and click the trash icon.

A few tips and best practices for adding pins:

If the place you’re searching for does not have a listing on Google, you’ll have to use an address. One thing to note is that sometimes Google Maps listings aren’t correct or don’t take you to the right place, so you may want to double check the location if you’re not using a street address to add the pin (especially if it’s a small business without a website).
I have also found that hiking trail heads are frequently on Google Maps, but they’re not always correct in terms of navigating there by car. I usually add them to my map to get a basic idea of where they are while planning, but I use a paper map or atlas to find them while traveling.

How to Customize Location Pins

To change the title and add notes to your listing, click on the pin on the map, and then click the pencil icon (“Edit”).

To change the color and icon of the pin , click the paint bucket icon (from the pin itself or directly in the layer). Click “More Icons” to view all the icon options. You can color code by type of activity, by layer, or any way that makes sense to you.

To add photos or videos to a pin , click on the pin on the map, and then click the camera icon (“Add Image or Video”). This is another way to make your map interactive, especially after you’ve visited a location and want to share it with others.

How to Add A Directions Layer

I find that directions layers are helpful for showing the route of a walking tour, bike path, or road trip you want to take, but I don’t find them useful for directions while traveling since I can simply use the maps app to navigate.

I use directions layers whenever I want to show an entire route on a map , rather than a specific location. Think of this as the 2024 version of mapping out a trip with AAA paper maps and a highlighter (if you’re old enough to remember).

Click the arrow icon underneath the search bar, which will create a new directions layer. On the legend, click “Driving” if you want to change this to walking or biking directions. Add a location name or address to Points A and B in the legend. If you find that the pins are not exactly where they should be, you can drag the points on the map.

Continue adding points by clicking “Add Destination” on the map. You can either type the information into the legend or hover your mouse to a spot on the map and double click it. (This is especially useful if you’re tracing a route on something like a bike path or hiking trail that won’t have an address.)

Rearrange the order by dragging the items around in the legend. Just like altering directions on Google Maps navigation, you can click on part of the route and drag it to a different road if you want to change part of the route after it is complete.

If you need to access the directions so you can see the distance of your route or the time it will take, click the three dots on the layer and click “Step-by-Step Directions.” Note that you can’t actually use this to get turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.

How to Share A Google My Map

There are several options for sharing your Google Maps trip plan.

Open up your map, then click the share button in the gray bar above your layers. To allow others to view your map (which includes embedding on your website), click “change” under the section “Who has access.” For embedding, you will need to make this setting public.

Otherwise, if you want to allow others to edit your map, add their email address in the “invite people” section.

Google My Maps Trip Planner - Sharing a Map

How to View Your Custom Map in Google Maps (iPhone or Android)

Open Google Maps and go to the Saved icon at the bottom. Scroll to the bottom of this screen and click “Maps.” Choose the My Map you want to view. The layers with your custom icons will now be visible on your Google Map. You can click on any pin to view your details (such as description or photos), as well as to navigate there.

To close a map, click on a pin and then click “View Map Legend.” There, you can click the Close icon.

From the Map Legend, you can also toggle layers on and off, and then backing out to the main map (don’t click Close—just the back arrow or back button).

How to Navigate with a Custom My Map (iPhone or Android)

To navigate to one of your pins, open your map, find the pin for where you want to go, click it, and then click “directions.” When you do this, you won’t see your custom map anymore but will be looking at the regular navigation of Google Maps.

You can’t use a My Maps “directions layer” for navigation. If you’re looking for that functionality, I recommend just creating a route in Google Maps and sending it to your phone (or sharing with others). See here for more details.

How to Import Locations from Google Sheets, CSV, or Excel

Importing locations to a My Maps layer can be helpful in a few scenarios:

You have a significant amount of locations to add to your layer
Your data is already in the form of a spreadsheet
You want additional fields included besides the default Name and Description
You want to create groupings of pins (for example, a list of 50 restaurants could have a column for “Cuisine,” which will give you the option to group and style the pins by cuisine)

The process is simple, and you can import a variety of file types, including CSV, Excel (XLSX), or directly from Google Sheets. There are also special file formats that import map data from other programs, but this section is focused on spreadsheet-type files that you create and format.

Create a spreadsheet with the desired column headers. At a minimum, you need place names and either addresses or latitude-longitude information .

If you want to group your pins by some type of categorization, you should include that as a column. Other columns you could include: website, phone number, description, or notes. While Google Sheets allows you to include photos in a cell, Google My Maps will not import photos in this way (it will include the column as a field, but will be blank).

Once your spreadsheet file is ready, click “Import” on a blank layer (if your map already has layers, you will need to add a new layer to see this option). If uploading a CSV or XLSX, do this from the Upload tab. If using a Google Sheet, click the Google Drive tab and choose your file.

Choose which column has location data (address or latitude-longitude) and click “Continue.” Choose the location name column next and click “Finish.”

To change the icons individually, click “Uniform Style” next to the paintbrush on your layer. Under “Group Places By,” choose “Individual Styles.”

To change styles by a category column (such as Cuisine), click the link next to the paintbrush and choose to group places by the desired column. You can then give each category its own color or icon.

You can manually add new pins to this layer, and they will include all the fields you imported from the spreadsheet columns.

You can also add more items to your spreadsheet, and import this new data. Click the three dots on your layer. Under “Reimport and Merge,” click “Add More Items” and choose your file. It will add the new rows to your layer.

How to Import a Route from Google Maps Timeline History (KML) or GPS Data From a Fitness App (GPX)

Google My Maps can import routes and locations you’ve already traveled to via special file types that are very easy to download from certain apps. This could be useful if you want to share a walking, biking, or driving route that you’ve taken without having to recreate it on a directions layer.

Note that this only works as well as the GPS satellites were able to track your location while you were traveling.

If there are a lot of clouds, dense forest, buildings, or anything else blocking the GPS signal, your tracked route will be much less precise. I’ve noticed that Google Maps sometimes has my route showing somewhere I couldn’t have walked or driven.

If you have your location history turned on in Google Maps, you can download a KML file from a trip, which will include the route traveled and location pins for any stops. Sometimes it misses a location name or adds a pin in the wrong place, but overall it’s pretty good.

Go to your Google Maps Timeline and locate the day you want to export. Click on it, and you should now see your route highlighted along with any stops you made. Now click the gear icon on the bottom of your map, and click “Export this day to KML.” Go to your My Map and on a new layer, click “Import.” Choose the KML file you just downloaded. You can now edit each portion as needed—changing the color and thickness of the route line, changing the location icons, as well as adjusting the route where desired.

If you have other apps that track your location, such as fitness apps, you may be able to download a GPX file that shows the route you took. The instructions for doing this will vary from app to app, but I was able to easily find it in Samsung Health by looking at the detail of a particular workout/walk and clicking the three dots to download a GPX. The import process to Google My Maps is the same as above.

With both methods, you can make adjustments to points/stops along the way or even add more pins. With the Google Maps KML file, you can also adjust your route by moving the small white dots.

Google My Maps Tutorial

Here’s a walk through video to show you how to use Google Maps to plan a trip, along with several of my own Google My Maps itinerary examples. Coming soon: a 2024 update!

Google My Maps Examples

Here are a few more examples of My Maps I’ve created for sharing recommendations, trip ideas, and actual vacation planning.

Screen shot of desktop view of a custom My Map for Hawai'i

Google My Maps FAQs and Tips

As great as Google My Maps is for planning a trip, there are some limitations to using it. Lots of questions have also come up about more specific uses and ways to use its features. Thanks to all the readers who have asked or shared tips in the comments as I’m always looking to make this a more robust guide. I’ve organized the questions and tips here since it makes it easier than scrolling through the comments.

How many layers can you add to a map?

Google My Maps limits you to 10 layers. If you are planning a longer road trip and want to create a layer for each day, this limitation may prove frustrating.

Here are a couple of workaround ideas: You can create 2 maps, and have the entire master route as 1 layer on each (showing the very basic route for all 12 days—say from city to city) as a reference. Then build individual layers for each day. As a second option, you could add multiple days to 1 layer and change the titles to start with the day they correspond to (so it would be “1 – Name of Place” instead of just “Name of Place.”) However, this option may not be ideal since you can’t see the titles until you click when you’re on the phone.

How many location pins can you add to each layer?

You can add up to 2,000 pins per layer, and the entire map cannot exceed 10,000 lines, shapes, or places total. I haven’t tested the limits, and it’s possible adding this amount of items could slow things down. My guess is that most travelers wouldn’t need anything so large, but it is possible according to Google .

Are custom Google My Maps available offline?

No, but keep reading for a workaround and alternative.

One of the biggest complaints about Google My Maps is that you can’t download your custom map and pins to use offline, unlike the rest of Google Maps.

However, I have been able to use it in areas with spotty reception. I pulled the map up when I did have reception, and I left it running in the background. It would stay loaded in the app and I was able to pull it up to look at it later when I was out of reception. I’m not sure I would rely on this as a surefire workaround, but it can work in a pinch.

Another alternative, especially if you’ll be traveling in another country where you’ll be completely offline, is to use Google Maps Lists, which can be edited from desktop or your phone but don’t offer the option for separate layers, unique icons, or adding photos.

Is there an app for Google My Maps?

There is no separate Google My Maps app, but you can view your maps within Google Maps. Just make sure you’re signed into the same account, and all your maps will sync.

(There used to be a dedicated My Maps app on Android, but this was deprecated in 2021.)

Can you create or edit maps from your phone?

No, the maps cannot be edited from the Google Maps app. Google My Maps can only be created or edited from the desktop version of the site. This is another huge advantage Google Lists has over Google My Maps because Lists allow you to add new places or entire lists from any device—iPhone, Android, tablet, laptop, or desktop.

Is there a bridge height filter?

No. For RVers and others who need to plan ahead for height limitations, there is no bridge height filter available in Google Maps. Since I haven’t had to use this feature myself, I am not confident in an alternative to recommend. However, from a bit of digging around, there are some apps and GPS units for truckers that may be a good place to start looking if you have an oversize vehicle.

What is the difference between Google Maps Lists and Google My Maps?

They both allow you to create custom maps with pins, but there are some key differences, such as offline access, layer capabilities, customizable pins, and creating/editing within the app. Check out the details on how Google My Maps compares to Lists (including a features comparison table).

How many stops can you add on a directions layer?

You can only add 10 stops per directions layer. This is also the maximum number of stops you can add for navigation in Google Maps. As some readers have pointed out, this can be limiting when you want to use this feature for a long road trip.

Can you use the directions layers on your phone for navigation purposes?

No, you cannot create a directions layer and then access those turn-by-turn directions for navigation in the Google Maps app.

So…are directions layers totally useless? What’s the point of having a Driving Directions layer in My Maps?

Personally, I still like to use these layers, but only to show a route for my very visual brain, rather than to actually create custom directions.

Can you send a custom created route (layer) to someone else so that the other person will take that specific driving route on google maps?

No, you can’t do this from My Maps, but there’s a workaround I can suggest.

Forget My Maps, and use Google Maps from desktop or mobile to plot a route. You can add up to 10 stops, and then you will be able to share your custom directions.

From desktop, there’s an extra step in first sending the directions to your phone. If you’ve created the directions in the mobile app or once you have them pulled up there, you can share them with anyone by clicking the 3 dots next to your list of locations (sharing must be done before clicking “Start”—if you’re already in the navigation, you need to back out of it to share). When you share, it will list all the steps as well as send a link for the other person to open the directions in Google Maps directly.

An important caveat to sharing custom routes: Google Maps will reroute the directions as it normally does according to current traffic at the time of driving, so this method cannot be relied upon if you’ve mapped a specific route for bridge clearances. As a workaround, you can add “stops” on the desired interstate (zoom in and add this literally on the road itself so navigation doesn’t try to take you off an exit), which will force Google Maps to take the driver that way. This is what I do when driving south from Connecticut to PA because Google Maps always wants me to take its beloved George Washington Bridge and I always don’t want to. I add a stop to force my route across the Tappan Zee Bridge. However, I’m not sure I would rely on this workaround as a sole method for RVs or truckers.

Can you see how much time the directions will take?

Yes, on desktop you can view the details if you want to know the distance or how long a route will take. To view distance and time for a directions layer, click the 3 dots on the laye, then click Step-by-Step Directions.

Of course, this doesn’t really help when you want to get this information on your phone or use the directions for navigation. As mentioned elsewhere, the “directions” layer functions best as a way to visualize a route. If you need turn-by-turn directions, see the steps mentioned above to save and send directions in Google Maps.

This post was originally published on July 27, 2017 and has been updated in May 2023.

Travel Photographer | FAA Certified Drone Pilot

Naomi is the coffee-loving, crazy-about-Latin-America writer and photographer behind everything here. She's guided by curiosity and a belief that every place has a story to tell–whether it’s through the intricate details of nature, history that has shaped a culture, or the people who call a place home. Learn More

How to view Location History in Google Maps

Here's how to view Location History in Google Maps to see exactly where you've been

Want to know how to view Location History in Google Maps? After all, Google knows everywhere you go, so why shouldn't you be able to access that information too?

Location History is a feature in your Google account that saves details of all the places you visit and the routes you take there. It works on any mobile device on which you're signed into your Google account and have Location History turned on.

The data collected by Location History is available to view in Google Maps, in both the Maps website in your desktop browser and in the Maps app for Android or iOS.

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When you view your Location History, you're likely to be alarmed by the amount of information Google has stored about the places you've been. Even if you've turned off the feature it still hangs onto the data from your past travels, until you tell Google to delete it.

Here we'll explain the best ways to explore your Location History, delete activity data that you don't want Google to store and prevent it from tracking you in future.

How to view Location History in Google Maps: In your desktop browser

1. Go to the Google Maps website in your browser and click the three-line Menu button in the top-left corner. If you don’t see this button, click the arrow to expand the side panel.

When the menu opens, choose “Your timeline.”

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2. Google Maps will now display a map showing all the places you’ve been , while Location History was enabled on your phone. There are two ways to browse this information.

how to view location history in Google Maps - map

3. First, you can explore your Location History using the Timeline feature in the top-left corner.

Click the drop-down menus to choose a year and month, or a specific day , to see the places you visited during that time period on the main map.

Alternatively, hover your mouse over the Timeline and click the left and right arrows to move back and forth through time, and select a time period that way. The map will adjust accordingly.

how to view location history in Google Maps - timeline

4. The second method is to view your Location History by place. Click the rectangular red box in the bottom-left corner that shows how many places you’ve visited.

This will open a horizontal panel listing all those locations, which you can filter to show only your “Most visited.” Use the slider along the bottom to explore the places you’ve been.

5. When you hover your mouse over a place, a pin will appear on the map to mark its location. Click the place and choose "Last visit in timeline" to see the date you were last there, and even how you got there from your saved Home address.

Choose "Place details" to view more information about that location, such as its address, contact details and website, and directions for how to get there.

6. To stop — or "pause" — Google Maps storing details of everywhere you can go, click the Manage Location History button . When the Activity Controls page opens, move the Location History slider to Off .

7. You can make Google delete your Location History automatically after a set period of time. Click “Auto-delete” on the Activity Controls page and choose to automatically delete location data after three,18 or 36 months .

how to view location history in Google Maps - autodelete

8. Alternatively, you can delete your entire Location History now. Click the trash can icon in the bottom-right corner of the main map .

When the “Permanently delete all location history” message appears, check the box “I understand and want to delete all Location History,” then click Delete Location History.

How to view Location History in Google Maps: In the mobile app

1. Open the Google Maps app on your Android or iOS device. Tap your profile picture or letter in the top-right corner and choose Your Timeline . This will show you a list of all your visited places.

how to view location history in Google Maps - mobile

2. The Google Maps app provides a lot more options for viewing your Location History than the website.

As well as exploring places by day, you can tap Trips to see details of your travels , including the venues you visited and how far you travelled there.

how to view location history in Google Maps - trips

3. You can also tap Places to view places grouped into categories, such as Shopping, Hotels, Food and drink, Attractions and Airports.

Select Cities to see when you last visited a particular town or city, and how many places you visited while there. Or tap World to see how many towns and cities you’ve been to in a particular country.

4. Tap your profile picture again and choose “Your data in Maps.” Here you can turn Location History off and on , and view and delete details of your activities by choosing “See and delete activity.”

how to view location history in Google Maps - your data

5. Google Maps lets you save your Location History before deleting it. Tap “Download your Maps data” to open Google Takeout.

Select the data you want to download , then tap Next and choose how you want it to be delivered: via email or added to Google Drive or another storage service.

Tap “Create export” and you’ll receive a zip file containing your Location History, to keep forever and explore at your leisure.

how to view location history - google takeout

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Robert Irvine was previously the How-To Editor at Tom's Guide. He has been writing tutorials about software, hardware, websites and other tech topics since the days of dial-up modems, and was previously the editor of Web User magazine. Robert enjoys cooking, and makes a mean sausage casserole, but is definitely not the celebrity chef of the same name.

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How to check your Google Maps timeline and see every place you've traveled

Your Google Maps timeline shows all the countries, cities, and attractions you've visited.
You can see your timeline in the Google Maps mobile app and on the website.
You'll need to make sure you have Location History enabled on your Google account for the timeline to work.

Here's how to check your Google Maps timeline — and how to enable Location History so you can make a timeline in the first place.

How to enable Location History in Google Maps

Google Maps creates your timeline by tracking where you've been over a long period of time. To do this, it needs your location history.

Location History is enabled on all basic Google accounts by default (although it might be disabled if you have an education or enterprise account). To make sure it's on:

Head to your Google account page and log in if you haven't already.
Tap Data & privacy at the top of the screen (on mobile), or click it in the left sidebar (on a computer).
Scroll down to Things you've done and places you've been and make sure that Location History is turned on. If it's not, tap it and toggle it on.

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Share your trips and real-time location from Google Maps

Mar 22, 2017

[[read-time]] min read

“Where are you now?” and “What's your ETA?” Whether you’re heading to a party or meeting up for dinner, you probably hear questions like this pretty often from family and friends. Soon Google Maps users worldwide will be able to answer those questions in just a few taps, without ever leaving the app. On both Android and iOS, you’ll be able to share your real-time location with anyone. And the people you share with will be able to see your location on Android, iPhone, mobile web, and even desktop. Here's how it works in a real-world scenario:

Whenever you want to let someone know where you are, just open the side menu or tap the blue dot that represents where you are. Tap “Share location” and then select who to share with and how long to share—and you're done! You can share your real-time location with your Google contacts, or even share with friends and family by sending a link on your favorite messenger apps. When you’re sharing your location, the people you’ve chosen to share with will see you on their map. And you’ll see an icon above the compass on your own map reminding you that you’re actively sharing your location. You can change your mind and stop sharing at any time—it’s entirely up to you.

Next time you’re on your way or running late, you can share your real-time location and trip progress from navigation as well. During your next trip, tap the “More” button on the bottom on the navigation screen, and then tap “Share trip.” When you share your trip with people, they’ll see your expected arrival time and can follow your journey as you head toward your destination. Sharing automatically ends when you arrive.

Location sharing on Google Maps is rolling out soon worldwide, and you’ll be able to quickly let your friends and family know where you are and when you’ll get where you’re going. The answer to “where are you?” is only a tap away.

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Google Maps

Google Travel

How to get ready for a road trip using Google’s travel site and Maps

Due to the pandemic, travel has been slow this past year, and you might be a little rusty when it comes to picking up and traveling somewhere to visit friends and family or just planning a getaway. Whatever the case, Google has a few helpful tools in Google Maps and Google’s travel site to help you get started on making those plans and staying safe along the way.

Getting started with google’s travel website, using google map’s road trip feature, planning a trip around covid-19 restrictions.

Google’s travel website is meant to be a companion site that can help you plan all of the details of your trip. You can use it to book flights, make an itinerary, and even explore interesting places to visit at your destination. If you have a Gmail account , there’s a good chance that any flight reservation you make will automatically appear the next time you use Google’s travel site, making it that much easier to plan the trip’s details. If not, Google Travel may suggest locations based on your search history and interests. While that may be a little creepy, it can also be pretty helpful.

If no destination has been chosen yet, Google will suggest locations in the “Explore” tab. You can filter these locations based on flight and hotel cost, giving you a pretty good idea of where a nice place to go would be. After choosing a destination, Google gives you a few options as far as what you’d want to know. There’s a “Discover” section that will break down various points of interest. In bigger cities, you may find the number of things to do or see endless. Fortunately, you can filter out locations and activities based on your personal interest.

If there are a few places that pique your curiosity, or you already know you want to go there, Google allows you to save them to the trip and pin them to the trip’s detail page. This serves as a sort of to-do list when you get where you’re going.

If you don’t plan on flying and want to avoid certain COVID-19 hotspots, Google Maps is probably the way to go. Just this year, Google added a feature to the Maps website that allows you to add stops along the route when planning the trip. Previously this was possible on mobile, but it didn’t lend itself well to planning out a road trip to be shared with friends and family. Adding stops along the way with Google Maps on mobile was best for impromptu stops.

Once you’ve defined a starting point and destination, you can add stops along the way. You can add anything from a city to rest stops and gas stations. You can do this by either manually entering a stop you already know you would like to pause at, or by choosing one of the criteria towards the top of the screen. Google Maps lets you narrow down your search by these criteria:

When selecting from one of these criteria, Google will also suggest a few filters. For instance, choosing hotels will bring up a “Guest rating” filter, as well as an “Amenities” filter, so you make sure that you’re getting free wifi. Of course, if none of these fit the bill, you can always just search for what you want. The nice thing is that these suggestions can add a little flare to the trip by suggesting something you would have never thought about, making the road trip that much more exciting.

Once you find a point of interest, hit add stop , and Google Maps will automatically insert it in the right spot on the planned route. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to define how much time you plan on spending at that stop, so the trip time might have to be calculated manually. Besides that, Google Maps has become a handy road trip planner with enough tools to get you where you’re going and let you have some fun along the way.

The major caveat to traveling right now is the looming risk of COVID-19. Fortunately, the travel website by Google and Maps both supply some great tools for managing risk and assessing where you plan to go.

On the travel website, you can find up-to-date COVID-19 information for your destination pretty easily. You can access this information by searching for and clicking on the destination . Under the main card that lists the date of your trip, area name, and weather, there will be a COVID information section. This section has useful information like the CDC’s travel advisory website, COVID-19 stats for that specific area, and the number of local cases.

Clicking on the “Travel advisory” button brings you to the CDC’s COVID-19 map. This map is a risk assessment of most destinations in the world, color-coded depending on how risky it is to travel there. The second button will search Google for COVID-19 information on the location you’re traveling to, detailing data like news, statistics, and testing locations. The “Local cases” button will show even more detailed information about active cases, vaccines administered, and deaths in the area. All of this is fantastic information to have when traveling and comes in handy when planning your trip.

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How to get the most out of Google Maps when you’re traveling

Even offline, Google Maps can show you the way.

Of all the travel apps that exist to improve any trip, Google Maps isn’t normally one you hear people raving about.

After all, Google itself is so embedded to our quotidian tech lives, we scarcely think of it as having a specialist application to something as exciting as travel. But when you go overseas—and your mobile data situation suddenly becomes scarce, more expensive, or nonexistent—there are a slew of Google Maps features that help you navigate a new place using minimal to no data at all. In a sense, when you go abroad, Google Maps actually begins to shine in a way it doesn’t at home.

It’s true that Google has a separate app entirely built for travel, called Google Trips . If you’re looking for an all-inclusive travel app with recommendations, ways to keep track of your confirmations and itineraries, reservation functions, and a bevy of offline features, then this is worth a download. But if, like me, you are an app minimalist who isn’t a huge fan of pre-made or suggested itineraries, then Google Maps actually has many Google Trips’ best features built in.

Indeed, I’m not the only frequent traveler who swears by good old Google Maps. As Lucas Peterson, New York Times Frugal Travel blogger put it in a recent round-up of his favorite travel tech tools : “I wish I could tell you there was some secret maps app nobody knows about that’s way better than Google Maps. There isn’t.” And, of course, if you’re logged into your Google account when using it, Google Maps integrates your entire Google identity (which is scary but, alas, useful), so your flight information, any Google Docs containing trip information, and past searches are all easily at hand.

Which is why I love Google Maps—and am offering some handy tips to make the most of its better (and lesser known) features when you’re far from home.

Take advantage of offline functionality: Your first port of call before you even go to the airport should be to download an offline map of the city or place you’re traveling to. This will allow you to navigate any area using the little blue dot that shows you where you are. Helpfully, this shows up even if you’re offline or in Airplane mode, as GPS still works without a data connection. Even if you have mobile data when you’re abroad, downloading the map of the place you’re going to will use less data and/or load the map quicker when you’re out and about, so it’s a good thing to do either way.

Pre-load directions: If, say, you arrive at your accommodation and find the wifi signal is too weak for a full map to download—or you don’t have enough room on your phone for downloaded maps—have no fear. If you load the walking or public transport directions to your next destination when you’re on wifi, those directions will still display once you’ve left your hotel or Airbnb wifi (as long as you don’t quit the app). Then, you can follow your little blue dot’s progress along your journey until you arrive. When you’re next on wifi, load your next destination. I’ve traveled the world using this hack—from Japan to Madagascar to France—and it works like a charm.

Make use of the custom Google “My Maps” feature: Next time you do one of those Facebook posts asking your friends for recommendations for your upcoming trip to Reykjavik, your next step should be to immediately load all of the responses into a custom Google map using the My Maps feature . You can plot places you might like to visit based on what you see on blogs, recommendations, and Instagram posts in the run up to your trip. Then, when you’re wandering around a neighborhood wondering where is a good place to get a drink within walking distance, you’ve got a phone full of recommendations.

I find this is a great way to let a travel day unfold with a bit of magic and serendipity, rather than plotting every drink, pastry, and meal of your day in fear of having no idea where to go. If you use an iPhone, you have to create your custom map on desktop (log in to Google Maps, click the menu in the top left, click on “Your Places,” then “Maps,” and “Create map”) where you can customize and color code to your heart’s content, and then view the map on your phone. Android phones have a dedicated mobile app to build maps.

Share the wealth: Helpfully, My Maps are shareable if the creator makes them public. So, add your own favorite spots and discoveries throughout your trip so you can share the wealth with your friends once you return. This is helpful if you’re the kind of person who is constantly being asked for travel recommendations from your friends. Instead of racking your brain to write an email of spots, you can simply send them a link. (Here is my map for one of my favorite cities to visit, Paris.) Equally, if you have friends who are particularly in-the-know, ask them to share their maps instead of relying on guide books or TripAdvisor.

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How to track a friend’s journey on Google Maps

The google maps app allows you to track a friend's journey, estimated time of arrival and exact location. we explain how it works..

For many of us, Google Maps is our default in-car navigation system. It is usually accessed via a smartphone, using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to connect with the car.

Google Maps offers accurate journey times, real-time traffic information and alternative routes to avoid congestion, along with other useful data such as EV charging locations .

One feature of the platform that you may be unaware of is the journey sharing service. This allows any contact you choose to view your live location throughout the duration of your journey.

So, there’s no longer any need to stop and send text messages about your estimated time of arrival (ETA). Google Maps can keep the relevant people informed, and you can keep driving.

Tracking your progress

After you start navigation to your destination, pressing the ‘More ^’ symbol will give you the option to ‘Share trip progress’. Contacts of your choosing on a variety of third-party apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and more will then be able to see your ETA.

More than that, they can view your route and track your progress live. Once you have arrived , journey sharing will cancel automatically. You can also hide your location at any time.

If you have shared your location with someone in the past, you can also ask for their location via Google Maps. This could be helpful for finding somebody who is lost. Tap on your profile picture, then select ‘Location sharing’, followed by the name of the contact and then ‘Request’.

What does this all mean? Well, if you share your location , there’s no excuse for leaving late or getting sidetracked. More positively, it also allows us to keep eyes on friends and loved ones as they travel.

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How to Use Google Maps to Track Your Run

Last Updated: January 21, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 494,114 times. Learn more...

Google Maps can allow you to record distances between two or more places, and with it, you can easily create routes for your running exercises. You can keep track of your run by making an interactive map. There are different tools available that can help you track your run using Google Maps. These tools provide runners and walkers with easy ways to measure distances of their runs, walks, jogs, and hikes using Google Maps.

Using Google Maps Website to Track Your Run (PC)

Alternatively, you can select “My Maps” by clicking on the menu icon (three short horizontal lines) at the top left of the page. When you click on it, a number of options comes up. Select “My Maps” from the options.

Step 4 Click the “Create” button to customize your map.

Click “Save” to save the details.

Enter a name for the pin when the marker tool is in the exact place. You can also add notes along the route in selected locations where you drop pins. Click “Save” after entering the details.
Repeat dragging and dropping markers to the second, third, and so on locations until the point where you will be finishing, or had finished, your run.

Step 8 Create a running route using the drawing tool.

Creating the running route helps you to trace your trip. The mapping tool will also help you to know the distance measurements, directions, and layer settings. If you want to change the route, you can click the point you want to change and then drag it to your desired destination. The blue line acts as a navigator to track your progress.

Using TrackMyTour Mobile App (iOS)

TrackMyTour is a tool that uses the Google Maps map interface. It is used by iOS users to track their run or travels. The app allows you to add waypoints even if you don’t have a data connection, and then you can sync the data later when you have access to the Internet.

Step 1 Launch the TrackMyTour app on your mobile phone.

You can change view modes (Satellite, Hybrid, Map) in Active Map by selecting the option at the top right corner of the screen.

Step 5 Add waypoints when highlighting a location.

The app will then provide the direction and distance you have run by picking the start point to the endpoint.

Using the Traveler App

Traveler is available for free on Android. The application can help you keep tabs on your journey with it’s built-in Google Maps. You can use your smartphone to keep track of your location where you have passed until when you stop recording. Traveler also allows you to add photos, notes, and markers to your run.

Step 1 Launch the Traveler app on your phone.

By adding pictures, people whom you share your run with will be able to connect easily with the locations you passed.

Expert Q&A

↑ https://www.google.com/maps/about/mymaps/
↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024454?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3433053
↑ https://trackmytour.com/
↑ https://trackmytour.com/docs/guide/track-a-tour.html

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Google’s New Travel AI Tools Want to Plan Customer Trips

Justin Dawes , Skift

March 27th, 2024 at 12:04 PM EDT

Google is the among the tech giants investing in a reimagined, AI-powered future of travel planning and booking. How can the smaller companies compete?

Justin Dawes

Google said Wednesday that it is adding several new tools meant to help travelers plan trips and explore destinations.

Most notably, they include the ability for Google Search to create itineraries based on prompts from users, as well as enhanced information in Maps about certain cities and places to visit.

AI-Powered Trip Itineraries in Search

Google has added an experimental AI-based itinerary creation capability to its traditional Search tool for users that opt in.

Users can prompt Search for an itinerary for a certain destination, and it responds with flight and hotel options, as well as suggestions for attractions and dining. Any links that Google provides bring the users to travel company websites, where they can complete the bookings.

To create the itineraries, Google said the AI draws on information from across the web, as well as reviews and photos that users post about businesses.

Users can then export the trip ideas to Gmail, Docs, or Maps, the company said.

Google said in May 2023 that it would be experimenting with integrating generative AI into search and invited users to test the new tech. The trip itinerary capability is a new piece of that experiment.

It’s available in English in the U.S. only. Users can try it by enrolling in Search Labs and enabling the Search Generative Experience.

Microsoft relaunched Bing in February 2023 with similar attributes powered by OpenAI and has made updates along the way, such as for personalized event suggestions .

Several startups have emerged with similar products over the months, a handful having received small amounts of venture capital. Since ChatGPT was released in November 2022, experts have questioned whether entrepreneurs stand a chance against giants like Microsoft and Google, which have vast amounts of data and resources.

Recommendations and Customizable Lists in Google Maps

Google is adding a capability to its Maps app meant to provide users with more details about destinations for select cities in the U.S. and Canada.

It includes recommendations from locals and publishers, like The Infatuation, as well as lists of “trending, top, and hidden gem” restaurants created by info from Google Maps.

When looking at a specific restaurant or place on Maps, a new AI-based feature is meant to show users key photos and reviews that summarize people’s favorite aspects. The AI can also help identify what a dish is called, Google said, which could be helpful for travelers in a new country.

Another new Maps feature: Users will be able organize lists they create within the app. The list creation tool has existed for a while, but the new capability allows users to organize based on their top favorites or something else. The lists can also link to content from social media channels, meant to add context for anyone viewing a saved list. The list update is being released globally this month for Android and Apple devices.

As Google continues to enhance its trip planning capabilities, it becomes a bigger threat to companies like Tripadvisor, which offers itinerary-creation tools. Tripadvisor’s hotel metasearch business has already taken a hit since Google Hotels entered the market.

Translation

Google is “soon” adding a new capability, accessible through select Android mobile devices, that’s meant to translate content on the screen without switching apps. It could be especially useful to travelers trying to find their way around a country where they don’t speak the language. Google used the examples of translating a PDF restaurant menu or a social media post.

It’s part of the Circle to Search tool that was released in January, which allows Android users to initiate a Google search by circling text or an image on the screen.

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Tags: artificial intelligence , google , maps , online travel newsletter , search

Photo credit: Google is releasing updates to Search and Maps for travelers. Pixabay

Google vs. Apple Maps: Comparisons and tricks you need to try

A s a kid, on vacations I remember looking into the front seat to see my mom with a large map and print-out directions. I loved being able to pretend to use the map myself, looking at the small freeways or streets and imagining driving there.

Once I got older and learned how to drive, there wasn’t a need for a physical hand-held map. It was hard not to pick a phone app over a physical map for directions when everything was given step by step in the moment of driving.

While there are a multitude of map apps, two of the most popular are Google and Apple. These apps regularly update to help users get to where they need to go. If choosing to follow the updates and features, you might find there are fun tricks to up the usability and decrease travel confusion.

The Points Guy , a website created by travelers for travelers, compiled a list of recent Apple Maps updates.

Major city navigation

Apple’s map enhancements make navigating major cities like Paris, Houston, Dallas and New York City easier. With features such as detailed 3D landmarks, road markings and public transit routes, getting around is easier whether you’re walking or driving.

Currently available in 24 cities, this enhanced experience offers a “windshield view” when driving, making exits and on-ramps easier to navigate.

Additionally, Apple provides over 2,000 curated city guides from publishers like AllTrails and Lonely Planet, allowing you to explore local favorites. You can even create your own guides to share with visiting family and friends, highlighting the best of your hometown.

Offline maps

Apple Maps’ new offline maps feature is a game-changer for travelers, especially those venturing into areas with poor internet connectivity. Whether you’re camping in remote wilderness or avoiding data charges abroad, this feature ensures access to driving, walking, transit and cycling directions even with spotty internet.

To use offline maps, download the map of your destination while connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. Simply search in Apple Maps and select the option to download the offline map. You can customize the map’s size and storage space.

Apple Maps may prompt you to download an offline map based on upcoming trips or service availability predictions.

Offline maps include turn-by-turn navigation, detailed trail maps for parks, Apple Watch sync for walking directions, arrival estimates, public transit schedules and nearby points of interest. While offline, information remains accurate at the time of download. To update, connect to Wi-Fi or cellular data.

Try it out by downloading a map for your local area or next travel destination.

Real-time electric vehicle charging availability

With the increasing availability of electric vehicles in dealerships and rental services, having precise information about EV charging stations is crucial.

Apple Maps now offers real-time updates on EV charging station availability, allowing users to filter by charging network, plug type, operating hours and other criteria. Users can also set their preferred charging network for convenience.

This feature proves invaluable, particularly for electric vehicle drivers navigating unfamiliar areas, providing reassurance and preventing last-minute charging crises.

Trail information

In iOS 17, trail information is now more comprehensive than ever before. Through Apple Maps, users can explore thousands of trails located in local, state and national parks across the United States. When you come across a hiking trail or campground of interest, you’ll find details such as trail length, photos, parking availability and the park’s information center contact number.

For Apple Watch users, watchOS 10 updates introduce user-friendly topographic maps featuring contour lines, hill shading, elevation markers and points of interest. These enhancements facilitate outdoor adventures and seamlessly integrate with offline maps on your iPhone when downloaded in advance and kept accessible during your visit.

Google Maps

On the other hand, The Washington Post shares three tips to get the most from Google Maps.

Download maps for areas with unreliable phone service

Similar to Apple Maps, if you’re traveling outside the United States and concerned about phone data charges, or if you frequently visit areas with unreliable mobile phone service, consider downloading a map.

A downloaded map functions perfectly even without cell reception.

To download a portion of a map in Google Maps:

Choose the area you wish to save.
Click on your profile picture or initials located in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Select “Offline maps” and then “Select your own map.” Adjust the zoom until you’ve highlighted the desired area for saving.
Tap on “Download.” Your selected map section is now accessible even without an internet connection.

Keep track of your favorite spots using ‘lists’

Bookmark spots you like to go to or need for an emergency, like a shop, restaurant, parking or hospitals.

To bookmark a restaurant on Google Maps:

Search for the restaurant by name. Once its details appear, check the options located to the right of “Directions.”
Select the “Save” option and click on “New list” at the top of the subsequent screen. Name it something like “Best Burgers.”
Tap “Create” in the upper-right corner.
You have the option to keep your list private or select “Shared” and invite friends and family to contribute their favorite burger spots.
To access your lists and individual places within a list, navigate to the main screen of Google Maps and tap “Saved” on the bottom row of the app.

After saving places in a list, you can tap on them to “Add a note about this place.”

In addition to lists, Google Maps offers options to save places under similar categories like “Want to go” or “Starred places.” This variety might seem overwhelming, so you can choose to use just one or utilize all three features differently.

Google has stated that it is continuously enhancing the Google Maps experience to facilitate the discovery of helpful information.

Use visual pointers for walking directions

Imagine you’re just a half-mile away from a restaurant listed in your “Best Burgers” compilation, but you’re uncertain about the walking route.

You have the option to click “Directions” in Google Maps for step-by-step instructions — or you can enhance those instructions significantly.

Simply tap “live” at the bottom right of the Google Maps screen and point your phone towards your surroundings. Note: Your phone might prompt you for permission to activate the camera.

Google overlays virtual arrows onto your screen, guiding you to your next left turn. It’s reminiscent of the Pokémon Go game, but tailored for pedestrian directions.

Exercise caution when using this feature. It’s important not to endanger yourself or others by constantly holding your phone in front of your face.

Apple Maps vs. Google Maps, which is better?

While the app you use might depend on your phone brand, the debate about which app is better is ongoing. According to Tom’s Guide , the answer might be Google Maps. However, apps are updating constantly so performance levels may vary.

Winners in selected categories:

Availability on devices: Google Maps, available on almost every device and brand.
Interface: Apple Maps, everything is in one place.
Map design: Apple Maps, less distraction.
Navigation: Google Maps, for accuracy and prioritizing safety and fuel consumption.
Traffic data: Google Maps, adjusting travel time and “Commute” feature.
Public transportation: Google Maps, notes where crowds are.
Discovery: Google Maps as Google itself has more information available.
Hands-free control: Tie, both work great.
Street view: Google Maps, more locations documented for now.
Privacy: Apple Maps, for ensuring anonymity.

Google Maps wins seven to four.

On a personal note, my brother, a firefighter and EMT in both Virginia and Utah, says his teams use Google Maps for speed.

Are there other map apps?

There are many map apps available that can be downloaded on phones, no matter the brand.

According to data research published in Statista, Google Maps is the most downloaded map and navigation app in the U.S. with over 21 million downloads, not including the number of apps pre-installed on Android smartphones.

Waze , a community-based traffic and navigation app, was found to be downloaded 9.89 million times, coming in second, the research found. Waze is owned by Google.

Citymapper , a public transit app, was the third most downloaded app with almost 900,000 downloads, per the data research .

No matter which app you choose to use, remember to stay updated on features to get the most out of your traveling experience.

This March 19, 2018 photo shows the Apple Maps app on an iPad in Baltimore.

Google will now let you use AI to build travel itineraries for your vacations

As we inch toward the summer holidays, Google is announcing a slate of travel updates that place it squarely in the travel planning process and give it a lot more insight into purchasing intent in the travel sector.

First up, Google is rolling out an update to its Search Generative Experience (SGE) that will allow users to build travel itineraries and trip ideas using AI, the company announced on Wednesday.

The new capability — currently only available in English in the U.S. to users enrolled in Search Labs , its program that lets users experiment with early-stage Google Search experiences and share feedback — draws on ideas from sites across the web, along with reviews, photos and other details that people have submitted to Google for places around the world.

When users ask for something like “plan me a three day trip to Philadelphia that’s all about history,” they will get a sample itinerary that includes attractions and restaurants, as well as an overview of options for flights and hotels, divided up by times of day.

For now, the itineraries are just that: There are no options to buy services or experiences on the spot. When you’re happy with your itinerary, you can export it to Gmail, Docs or Maps.

Google has not commented on when or if it might roll this out more widely. But it points to how the company is experimenting with how and where it can apply its AI engine. A lot of players in the travel industry may be eyeing up the role that generative AI will play in travel services in the coming years — some excitedly, some warily. But even now, startups like Mindtrip and Layla , which provide users with access to AI assistants that are designed to help you plan your trips, are already actively pursuing this.

But with this new update, Google is taking on startups like these while also gathering data about travel purchasing intent (useful for its wider ad business) and learning what kind of appetite its users might have for such services.

Image Credits: Google

Google also announced that it’s making it easier to discover lists of recommendations in Google Maps in select cities in the U.S. and Canada. If you search for a city in Maps, you will now see lists of recommendations for places to go from publishers like The Infatuation, as well as from other users. You will also see curated lists of top, trending, and hidden gem restaurants in 40+ U.S. cities.

Finally, the company is adding new tools to help you customize lists you create, so you can better organize your travel plans or share your favorite spots with your friends and family. You can choose the order the places appear in a list so you can organize them by top favorites or chronologically like an itinerary. Plus, you can link to content from your social channels.

Maps of the April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

By Jonathan Corum

On April 8, the moon will slip between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow across a swath of North America: a total solar eclipse.

By cosmic coincidence, the moon and the sun appear roughly the same size in the sky. When the moon blocks the glare of the sun, the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, will be briefly visible.

Below are several maps of the eclipse’s path as well as images of what you might experience during the event.

Where Can I See the Total Eclipse?

The eclipse will begin at sunrise over the Pacific Ocean, then cut through Mexico and cross the United States from Texas to Maine. Most of North America will see a partial eclipse, but viewers within the deepest shadow — a band sliding from Mazatlán, Mexico, to the Newfoundland coast near Gander, Canada — will experience a total solar eclipse.

Percentage of

the sun obscured

during the eclipse

Indianapolis

Little Rock

San Antonio

Viewers inside the path of the total eclipse may notice a drop in temperature , a lull or shift in the wind , the appearance of bright planets in the sky, and the quieting of birds and other wildlife.

Many cities lie inside the path of the total eclipse, as shown below, the width of which varies from 108 miles to 122 miles.

5:13 p.m. NDT

20% partial eclipse

NEWFOUNDLAND

SASKATCHEWAN

Fredericton

4:33 p.m. ADT

3:26 p.m. EDT

3:20 p.m. EDT

Minneapolis

3:18 p.m. EDT

3:13 p.m. EDT

San Francisco

90% partial eclipse

3:05 p.m. EDT

Los Angeles

1:51 p.m. CDT

1:40 p.m. CDT

1:33 p.m. CDT

12:16 p.m. CST

12:12 p.m. CST

11:07 a.m. MST

Mexico City

EL SALVADOR

12:23 p.m. CST

1:36 p.m. CDT

3:09 p.m. EDT

3:27 p.m. EDT

Explore our interactive cloud outlook for eclipse viewing times and average cloud data at your location.

What Will I See?

A composite image of the 2017 total solar eclipse over Madras, Ore.

A composite image of the 2017 solar eclipse over Madras, Ore.

Aubrey Gemignani/NASA

If the sky is clear, viewers in the path of the total eclipse should see a “diamond ring” effect a few seconds before and after the total eclipse, as the edge of the sun slips in and out of view.

The sun’s corona during the 2017 total solar eclipse.

The “diamond ring” effect during the 2017 solar eclipse.

Rami Daud/NASA, Alcyon Technical Services

The sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, is normally hidden by the sun’s glare. These tendrils and sheets of gas, heated to a million degrees Fahrenheit or more, are in constant motion and shaped by the sun’s swirling magnetic field.

The sun’s corona during the 2017 solar eclipse.

The sun is relatively active this year and is nearing the expected peak of its 11-year solar cycle . Researchers at Predictive Science are using data about the sun’s magnetic field to predict and model a dramatic corona for the April eclipse.

A prediction of how the sun’s corona might appear on April 8.

A prediction of how the sun’s corona might appear during the April 8 total eclipse.

Predictive Science

What Colors Should I Wear?

As the sky darkens, light-sensitive cells in human eyes become more sensitive to blue and green hues than to reds and oranges. This shift in color perception is known as the Purkinje effect , after a 19th-century Czech scientist, and is typically seen at twilight.

People watch the 2017 total eclipse at Southern Illinois University.

Watching the 2017 total eclipse at Southern Illinois University.

Andrea Morales for The New York Times

To take advantage of the Purkinje effect, Solar Eyeglasses suggests wearing green clothes or a contrasting combination of greens and reds. Blue-green colors (shorter wavelengths) will appear brighter, while red colors (longer wavelengths) will appear to recede into the darkness.

What If I Miss It?

The next two total solar eclipses in the United States won’t occur until 2044 and 2045 . But eclipse chasers might catch one in 2026 in Greenland, Iceland and Spain; 2027 along the coast of Northern Africa; 2028 in Australia and New Zealand; or 2030 across Southern Africa and Australia.

A Total Solar Eclipse Is Coming. Here’s What You Need to Know.

These are answers to common questions about the April 8 eclipse, and we’re offering you a place to pose more of them.

By Katrina Miller

What’s the Cloud Forecast for Eclipse Day? See if the Weather Is on Your Side.

April 8 could be your best opportunity to see a total solar eclipse for decades. But if clouds fill the sky, you may miss the spectacle.

By Josh Katz, K.K. Rebecca Lai and William B. Davis

Share full article

Our Coverage of the Total Solar Eclipse

Dress for the Occasion: What should you wear for the eclipse? Our fashion critic weighs the options , including an unexpected suggestion from scientists.

Free to View: Six inmates in upstate New York prisons who sued the state won their lawsuit to view the eclipse , arguing it “is a religious event.” But a statewide prison lockdown during the eclipse will remain in place.

Hearing the Eclipse: A device called LightSound is being distributed to help the blind and visually impaired experience what they can’t see .

Sky-High Hotel Prices: One Super 8 hotel in the eclipse’s path is charging $949 a night . Its normal rate is $95.

Animal Reactions : Researchers will watch if animals at zoos, homes and farms act strangely when day quickly turns to night.

A Rare Return: A total solar eclipse happens twice in the same place every 366 years on average. But people in certain areas will encounter April 8’s eclipse about seven years after they were near the middle of the path of the “Great American Eclipse.”

No Power Outages: When the sky darkens during the eclipse, electricity production in some parts of the country will drop so sharply that it could theoretically leave tens of millions of homes in the dark. In practice, hardly anyone will notice a sudden loss of energy.

When will solar eclipse reach your town? These maps show path's timing, how long it lasts.

Hundreds of cities in 13 u.s. states fall directly on the april 8 eclipse's path of totality as the moon blocks the sun's disc and ushers in darkness. these interactive maps offer a closer look..

Come Monday, millions of Americans from Texas to Maine will stop what they're doing to step outside and spend a few minutes gazing skyward .

Few celestial events have the power to capture our collective attention the way this upcoming total solar eclipse has managed to do. And for those making time to witness it, two questions are bound to be on their mind : Will totality reach my area and if so, how long will the resulting darkness last?

Most people across the country are bound to experience the eclipse in some form, but only 13 states fall directly on the path of totality, where the moon will appear large enough to shield all but the sun's outermost layer, the corona.

As you make your eclipse-viewing plans, these interactive maps should help you chart the time and duration for when totality will occur in cities along the path.

Solar eclipse experiment: Here's why NASA is launching 3 sounding rockets into space during the total solar eclipse

Total solar eclipse path of totality map

The 115-mile-wide path of totality will pass from southwest to northeast over portions of Mexico the United States and Canada.

Mexico's Pacific coast will be the first location in continental North America to experience totality, which will occur at about 11:07 a.m. PDT, according to NASA .

As the moon's shadow travels northeast, totality in the U.S. will begin at 1:27 p.m. CDT in Eagle Pass, Texas. From there, the path will cut diagonally across the country before ending around 3:35 p.m. EDT in Lee, Maine.

Remember: If you plan to witness the eclipse, proper eyewear is a must until the eclipse reaches totality, then it can be viewed with the naked eye.

Here's a map of some of the larger cities in each of the 13 states on the path to show how the duration of totality will vary:

Cities, states on the path of totality

All told, nearly 500 cities in 13 U.S. states are located on the eclipse's path of totality. Here are some of the major cities in each of the 13 states:

Dallas and San Antonio, Texas
Idabel, Oklahoma
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Little Rock, Arkansas
Paducah, Kentucky
Indianapolis and Evansville, Indiana
Carbondale, Illinois
Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio
Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York
Burlington, Vermont
Lancaster, New Hampshire
Caribou, Maine
Erie, Pennsylvania

This interactive map provides a closer look at cities along the path, when totality will arrive there and how long totality will last:

Eclipse watch parties, festivals

Such a rare event is sure to attract skygazing tourists unlucky enough to live outside the path of totality. Fortunately, many cities that will experience the total eclipse are planning plenty of festivities for tourists and locals alike.

This map , courtesy of Kristian Campana at festivalguidesandreviews.com , includes locations of watch parties, music festivals and more all tied to the eclipse's arrival:

2024 total solar eclipse interactive map with zip code search

Perhaps the easiest way to see how the eclipse will impact your city or town, is to put your zip code into USA TODAY's interactive eclipse map .

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

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COMMENTS

Google Maps Timeline
Google Maps Timeline is a personal map that helps you remember routes and trips you've taken and places you've been based on your Location History. You can edit your Timeline at any time and delete your Location History in Timeline. If you have settings like Web & App Activity turned on and you turn off Location History or delete location data from Location History, you may still have location ...
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Otherwise, with that out of the way, here's how you can see where you've been in the Google Maps app: Inside Google Maps, tap your profile icon or letter in the top right. Select Your Timeline from the pop-up menu. Google will take a few seconds to load the Timeline page. The Timeline page will show today's location history by default at the ...
Use Google Maps to see where you've traveled
Check if Location History is enabled for you with these steps: Sign into your Google account on a computer. Head to the My Account page. Click Personal info & privacy and scroll to Places you go ...
How to See Your Google Maps Timeline
1. Open Google Maps on your iPhone or Android, and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. 2. Tap Your timeline. You can find your timeline in this menu. Google; William Antonelli ...
An easier way to plan and organize your trips with Google
Keep track of research and keep planning. It often takes days or weeks to plan a trip. When you need to pick up planning again, we'll keep track of your trip research across Google. Recent searches, saved places and flights you're tracking are added automatically to your trips when you're signed into your Google Account.
How to Use Google My Maps to Plan a Trip (Ultimate Guide)
Check the Google icon in the top right corner to make sure you're using the Google account you want to. Click "Create A New Map" and a window will open with a blank map. To give your map a name and description, click the map name ("Untitled Map"). You can also change the color and style of the base map if desired.
How to view Location History in Google Maps
How to view Location History in Google Maps: In your desktop browser. 1. Go to the Google Maps website in your browser and click the three-line Menu button in the top-left corner. If you don't ...
How to check your Google Maps timeline and see every place you've
Head to your Google account page and log in if you haven't already. Tap Data & privacy at the top of the screen (on mobile), or click it in the left sidebar (on a computer). Scroll down to Things ...
How to Use Your Google Maps Timeline as a Travel Diary
Here's how to turn on the feature. Near the center of the Timeline screen, click the gear icon. Select Timeline settings. Check the box for Google Photos and click Save. Moving forward, when you ...
Share your trips and real-time location from Google Maps
Next time you're on your way or running late, you can share your real-time location and trip progress from navigation as well. During your next trip, tap the "More" button on the bottom on the navigation screen, and then tap "Share trip.". When you share your trip with people, they'll see your expected arrival time and can follow ...
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
Track your routes and put them all on a map with Google
My Tracks GPS app from Google for tracking your routes:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.maps.mytracks&hl=enMake several route...
How to use Google's travel tools and Maps to plan a trip
Using Google Map's road trip feature. If you don't plan on flying and want to avoid certain COVID-19 hotspots, Google Maps is probably the way to go. Just this year, Google added a feature to ...
How do I view my travel history ?
Learn how to access your travel history with Google Account and explore more features of Google Travel, Flights and Maps.
My Maps
Make maps. Easily create custom maps with the places that matter to you. Add points or draw shapes anywhere. Find places and save them to your map. Instantly make maps from spreadsheets. Show your ...
How to use Google Maps when you're traveling
It's true that Google has a separate app entirely built for travel, called Google Trips.If you're looking for an all-inclusive travel app with recommendations, ways to keep track of your ...
How to track a friend's journey on Google Maps
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Google Flights
Use Google Flights to explore cheap flights to anywhere. Search destinations and track prices to find and book your next flight. Find the best flights fast, track prices, and book with confidence
Track Your Train with Google Maps
This map is best viewed on desktop. Interact with the map like a standard Google map by dragging the map to move left, right, up and down. Zoom in and out to get see more or less detail. All routes, stations and active trains across the US and into Canada are represented. Blue icons show train location and direction of travel at a glance.
3 Ways to Use Google Maps to Track Your Run
Sign into Google Maps. While on Google Maps home page, click the "Sign in" button found at the top right corner of the page. This will take you to the login page. Enter your Google account email address on the first text box and password on the second text box. Then hit "Sign in" below to continue.
Trip Planner
Trip Planner is a Google My Maps project that helps you plan your trips and share them with others. You can customize your map with markers, routes, photos, and descriptions of your destinations ...
5 Travel Apps Every Traveler Should Download
Top 5 Travel Apps Google Maps. If you're not using Google Maps to do more than navigate your trip, you're not using it right. Google Maps is an essential part of any trip in 2024, for so many ...
Google Launches New AI Travel Tools In Search and Maps
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Google Maps has a cool new tool to track your travel

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Useful links

How to See Where You've Been With the Google Maps Timeline

How to See Your Google Maps Location History

How to View Your Google Maps Timeline

Track Your Location History in Google Maps

Use Google Maps to see where you've traveled

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Look at your maps

Editing a timeline

Services and Software Guides

How to see your Google Maps timeline in the mobile app

How to Use Google My Maps to Plan a Trip (Ultimate Guide)

8 Top Google My Maps Features

3 Ways to Use Google My Maps

How to Use Google My Maps to Plan a Trip

How to Add and Edit Layers

How to Add Location Pins

How to Customize Location Pins

How to Add A Directions Layer

How to Share A Google My Map

How to View Your Custom Map in Google Maps (iPhone or Android)

How to Navigate with a Custom My Map (iPhone or Android)

How to Import Locations from Google Sheets, CSV, or Excel

How to Import a Route from Google Maps Timeline History (KML) or GPS Data From a Fitness App (GPX)

Google My Maps Tutorial

Google My Maps Examples

Google My Maps FAQs and Tips

How many layers can you add to a map?

How many location pins can you add to each layer?

Are custom Google My Maps available offline?

Is there an app for Google My Maps?

Can you create or edit maps from your phone?

Is there a bridge height filter?

What is the difference between Google Maps Lists and Google My Maps?

How many stops can you add on a directions layer?

Can you use the directions layers on your phone for navigation purposes?

Can you send a custom created route (layer) to someone else so that the other person will take that specific driving route on google maps?

Can you see how much time the directions will take?

How to view Location History in Google Maps

How to view Location History in Google Maps: In your desktop browser

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How to view Location History in Google Maps: In the mobile app

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How to check your Google Maps timeline and see every place you've traveled

How to enable Location History in Google Maps

Share your trips and real-time location from Google Maps

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Using the Traveler App

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