If you spend your days browsing travel blogs and wondering how on earth they create those amazing Google Maps with points, colors, and routes , you're about to discover the trick. It's not magic; it's a free Google tool called Google My Maps that lets you take your travel planning (or any project) to the next level.
With My Maps, you can create your own custom maps , add places, colored icons, photos, descriptions, driving or walking routes, and easily access everything from your mobile device while you're out and about. And the best part: you do it once, it's saved to your Google account, and you can share, print, export, or embed it on your website in seconds.
What is Google My Maps and how is it different from Google Maps?
Google My Maps is a sister tool to Google Maps specifically designed for creating, editing, and managing custom maps . While regular Google Maps lets you save individual places and lists, customization is quite limited; My Maps, on the other hand, allows you to organize information in layers, change the map style, draw areas, create routes, and add multimedia content.
The interesting thing is that these custom maps you design in My Maps can be easily accessed from the standard Google Maps app on your mobile device. In other words, you create them with My Maps (especially from a computer, which is more convenient) and then navigate them using Google Maps just like any other map, with all your points and annotations.
This combination makes My Maps one of the best tools for organizing trips , designing car routes, hiking trail maps, themed maps (e.g., wineries, viewpoints, vegan restaurants, photo spots) or even for professional projects where you need to represent areas, clients or locations of interest.
What do you need to use Google My Maps?
To start using this tool, you only need two simple things: a Google account and a device with internet access . This could be a computer, tablet, or smartphone. While you can technically create maps from your phone, it's much faster, more convenient, and more accurate to use a computer , especially when you have many points to add.
There isn't a standalone My Maps mobile app, so you'll always access it through a web browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.). However, once you have your maps ready, you can view them from the Google Maps app on your phone, which is what you'll really need when you're traveling.
How do I access Google My Maps?
A very common question is how to access My Maps, because the option is somewhat hidden and many people think it's accessed directly from Google Maps . To create and edit your custom maps, you must always access the dedicated My Maps website, not the regular maps app.
You can access it in several ways, but the most direct is to type “Google My Maps” into your browser and go to the official website . Once there, sign in with your Google account if you haven't already. From there, you'll see a panel with your recent maps and the option to “Create a new map . ”
Keep in mind one key detail: we're talking about accessing the tool to create and edit maps. To simply view and use them during your trip, you can do so from the regular Google Maps app or your browser, without needing to return to My Maps unless you want to make changes.
First steps: creating and naming your first map
When you first enter Google My Maps you'll see a very clean interface: a button to create a new map and, below it, the list of maps you've already opened or saved in your account, including those that someone else has shared with you.
To begin, click on “Create a new map .” In a few seconds, a map will open almost full screen. In the upper left corner, you’ll see a panel with several options, and at the very top, the title “Untitled map” will appear . I recommend that you immediately change this to a descriptive name (for example, “3-day trip to Porto” or “Costa Brava route”) and add a short description of what the map includes or what you plan to use it for.
This feature is incredibly helpful when you have a lot of maps: you can quickly find the one you need and easily share information with other travelers or colleagues. Everything you do is automatically saved to your Google Drive account , usually in the "My Drive" folder, although you can later move the file to any other folder.
Change the map's appearance: base map and styles
Before you start filling the map with points, it's worth choosing the visual style you want to use as a base . This is done from the "Base map" option, which appears at the bottom of the left panel when your map is open.
Clicking on “Base Map” will show you a selection of nine different styles : classic street map, satellite view, relief, light political style, monochromatic with highlighted cities, an atlas-style map, light and dark physical options, and a quick, more schematic style. Each may be useful depending on the type of project.
- To urban travel and general tourism mapsThe classic map is usually the most convenient and legible.
- If you want to see mountains, slopes or natural routesThe relief map or physical styles will give you more information.
- For more "designed" presentations or maps that you are going to insert into a websiteMonochromatic or atlas styles can look more elegant.
The good thing is that you can change your base map at any time without losing your points or layers , so you can try different ones until you find the one that best suits your needs.
Layers: the heart of the organization in My Maps
Layers are probably the most powerful and useful tool in Google My Maps . Think of each layer as a "folder" within the map, similar to concept maps where ideas are grouped. This allows you to group information by topic, by day, or by any criteria that suits you.
By default, when you create a new map, a single empty layer appears . You can rename it and start adding points there, or create more layers using the "Add Layer" button located in the upper left of the panel. The limit is 10 layers per map , so it's a good idea to think about the structure before you start adding things haphazardly.
Examples of where to use Google My Maps
On a trip, for example, it's very practical to use layers like these to keep everything organized and visible at a glance:
- Points of interest per day (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, etc.) for busy urban routes.
- Daily routes or car stages if you're planning a road trip.
- Recommended restaurants, cafes and bars.
- Accommodation (hotels, apartments, campsites).
- Places "just in case there's extra time" or extras that are not a priority.
- Special thematic layers: wineries, viewpoints, spots to watch the sunset, photographic locations, beaches, etc.
One of the great advantages of layers is that you can show or hide them with a simple click on the small square to the left of the name. This way, when you're at your destination, you can see only what interests you at any given time : for example, removing the "Just in case there's extra time" layer so you don't get distracted, or leaving only the "Restaurants" layer visible when it's time to eat.
If your destination is huge and you find that 10 layers aren't enough, you always have the option of dividing the trip into several different maps (one just for what to see, another for food, another for driving routes, etc.). In giant cities like New York, this is quite practical to prevent the map from becoming a chaotic jumble of icons.
Add points of interest to your map
Once you have a clear understanding of the base map and layer structure, the most fun part begins: filling the map with your points of interest . There are two main ways to do this: direct search or data import.
The easiest and most common method is to use the search bar at the top of the screen . Type the name of the place you're interested in (for example, "Porto Cathedral"), check that the location shown is correct (sometimes places have the same name in different cities), and click "+ Add to map ." That point will then be automatically added to your currently selected layer.
If the place you're looking for doesn't appear in the results because it's a very specific location or a place that isn't registered with Google, you can use the pin icon located just below the search bar (to the right of the hand icon). With this tool, you can click directly on the map and create a manual marker wherever you want.
For users with more advanced listings, My Maps also allows you to import points from .csv, .xlsx, .kml, or .gpx files . This option is very useful if you have, for example, a spreadsheet with hundreds of addresses or coordinates and want the map generated almost instantly, but for normal trip planning, most people are perfectly fine using the search function.
How to edit and customize your points?
Each time you add a new point, a card opens where you can modify the name, write a description, change the color and icon of the marker , and even attach images or videos.
For example, you can use a different color for each day of your trip and another specific color for restaurants or accommodations. You can also choose highly visual icons: a cross for churches, a knife and fork for restaurants, a bed for hotels, a camera for photo viewpoints, and so on. This customization allows you to understand what each point represents at a glance without having to open them one by one.
In addition to colors and icons, it's incredibly useful to use the description field to add practical information : opening hours, prices, links to the official website, notes about reservations, special instructions, warnings (for example, if a viewpoint closes at sunset)... You can also upload a photo of the place to easily recognize it when you're arriving or to remind yourself why you were interested in that spot.
If you accidentally add a point to the wrong layer, no problem: you can easily move it to another layer by simply dragging it in the list or using the marker's own options menu. In practice, there's no noticeable limit on the number of points per layer, so you can have dozens or even hundreds of locations on the same map without running out of space.
Create automatic routes for car, bike or on foot
Beyond individual points of interest, one of My Maps' standout features is the ability to automatically draw routes between multiple locations . This is incredibly useful for planning full days of sightseeing in a city or sections of a road trip.
To create a route, select the corresponding icon in the map toolbar (the one labeled "add driving, cycling, or walking route" ). My Maps will then create a new route layer where you can add the start and end points, as well as any intermediate stops.
In this type of layer, each route allows up to 10 points , so if you want to create very long itineraries, you may need to divide them into several segments. You can choose whether the route is intended for driving, cycling, or walking , and based on that, the system will calculate the most logical route.
From the route layer menu (the three vertical dots next to its name), you can reorder the stops, see the total distance, estimated time, and step-by-step directions . And if the "ideal" route suggested by Google doesn't suit you, you can always manually drag the route line to force it to take a secondary road or a specific path that you prefer.
This option to manually modify the route is especially useful on road trips along scenic routes , where the fastest route isn't always the most beautiful. For example, if you want to follow a historic or scenic road and Google insists on taking you on the highway, you can adjust the route on the map until it's the way you want it.
Drawing lines, areas, and routes “by hand”
In addition to automatic routes, My Maps lets you create custom lines, polygons, and areas . This option is designed for when you want to design the route yourself without Google calculating anything by default.
With the drawing tool you can, for example, mark an approximate perimeter of a neighborhood you don't want to miss, draw the outline of a natural park, indicate the area where a special regulation applies (such as a restricted traffic area) or trace a walking route through pedestrian streets where the automatic calculation is not so precise.
You can also use these shapes for more technical projects: defining service areas, commercial zones, customer territories , or any other spatial division you need. Just like points and routes, these lines and polygons can be customized with colors, names, and descriptions.
View maps you can't edit: the map viewer
Sometimes you'll open maps that aren't yours or that someone else hasn't given you permission to edit. In those cases, you'll enter what Google calls the map viewer . It's a view where you can explore the content but can't make changes to it.
Within the map viewer, you can search for locations on the map, enable or disable layers, switch to satellite view, share, export, and print . If you want to see how one of your own maps would look in read-only mode, you can use the "Preview" option from your editable map.
If you need to edit a map that isn't yours, you'll have to request editing permission from the owner . Until they grant it, you can only view it and use it for reference.
How do I view my maps from my computer?
Once you've created and saved your maps, accessing them from your computer is very easy. Each map is saved as a file in your Google Drive , usually in the "My Drive" folder unless you've moved it elsewhere.
To find them, you can go directly to Google Drive and use the internal search bar by typing the name of the map you set up initially. You can also access them by going back to the Google My Maps website, where all the maps you've created, viewed, or that have been shared with you are displayed.
Clicking on any of them will open it in edit mode (if it's yours or you have permissions) or in viewer mode (if you only have read access). From there you can continue adding layers, points, routes, or adjusting the description whenever you need to.
How to view your maps on your mobile phone with the Google Maps app?
The easiest way to take advantage of your planning is to consult the map directly in the Google Maps app on your mobile device once you've arrived at your destination. You don't need to install anything extra: the integration is built-in.
To open your custom maps on your mobile device, open Google Maps and go to the "Saved" tab (at the bottom). There you'll see different sections; one of them is "Maps." This is where you'll find the latest My Maps you've created or viewed , whether from your computer or your phone.
Selecting one will load it in full screen with all your layers, points, colors, and icons . From this view, you can also access the map legend menu, where you'll have options to share it via WhatsApp, email, social media, or any other app installed on your phone.
View your maps from your mobile browser
If for whatever reason you don't use the Google Maps app or prefer a browser, you can also open your custom maps from your mobile browser . The process is a bit more manual, but it works well.
Simply access Google Drive with your account from your phone's browser , go to the folder where you saved the map, tap the three dots on the file, and copy its link. Then, paste that link into your browser's address bar, and the map will open in web mode , ready to view.
This option is useful if, for example, you are using another device where you don't have the app installed , or if you want to share the link as is in a chat or document and ensure that anyone can open it without depending on the application.
Use your maps with limited or no data connection
It's possible to view My Maps even with an unstable connection or no data at all , but there are some important caveats. My Maps isn't a completely offline tool, so you'll need to plan ahead; if you need offline topographic maps, apps like OruxMaps can be very helpful.
For it to work reasonably well, you need to have the map of the area where you're going to use your My Map downloaded in Google Maps (that is, the geographic area, not the custom map itself), and you also need to open the custom map while you still have an internet connection . If you do this, the content is often cached and you can access it in that session even if you lose coverage.
Even so, to avoid any risks, the best thing to do if the trip is important is to have a stable data connection (for example, with an eSIM or a physical card from a local operator), because this ensures that the maps always load correctly and update without problems as you move around.
Share your custom maps with other people
Once you have your map polished, you'll probably want to share it with your travel companions, family, or online community . My Maps offers several flexible ways to do this.
The most common option is to share the map via a link . You'll see the "Share" button in the top left corner of the map. There you can:
- Invite by email to specific people, giving them read-only or editing permission.
- Generate a link so that anyone who has it can see it., perfect for sending via WhatsApp, Telegram, social media, etc.
If you manage a travel website or blog, you can also embed the map directly on your site . To do this, in the three-dot menu next to the map's name, select "Embed on my site." This will give you an HTML code that you can paste into your page so the map appears integrated and fully interactive.
Another option is to export the map in KML or KMZ format , which are standard geospatial data formats. This export allows you, for example, to open the map in other applications like Maps.me or other navigation tools that work best offline.
By combining Google My Maps for design and Google Maps for viewing on your mobile device, you can create incredibly comprehensive and visual maps for any trip or project : with thematic layers, detailed routes, hand-drawn areas, and all the practical information you need. Once you get the hang of the tool, creating these maps goes from being complex to a fun part of planning, and you end up traveling with the peace of mind of having everything well-organized right in your pocket. Share this information so other users can learn how to use Google My Maps.