If you spend your day looking at travel blogs and you wonder How on earth do they create those cool 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 and that allows you to take your travel planning (or any project) to another level.
With My Maps you can create your own custom mapsAdd places, colored icons, photos, descriptions, driving or walking routes, and easily access everything from your mobile device while you're out and about. Best of all: 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 that is specifically used for create, edit and manage custom mapsIn regular Google Maps you can save individual places and lists, but customization is quite limited; however, with My Maps you can organize information by layers, change map style, draw zones, create routes, and add multimedia content.
What's interesting is that these custom maps you design in My Maps They can be easily accessed from the standard Google Maps app on your mobile. That is, you create them with My Maps (mainly from a computer, which is where it's most convenient) and then navigate them from Google Maps as if it were just another map, with all your points and annotations.
This combination makes My Maps one of the best tools for organizing trips, to design driving routes, hiking trail maps, themed maps (e.g., wineries, viewpoints, vegan restaurants, photo spots) or even to professional projects where you have 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 very simple things: a Google account and a device with internet accessIt can be a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone. Technically, you can create maps from your mobile device, but the reality is that It's much faster, more convenient, and more accurate to use a computer.especially when you have many points to add.
There is no standalone My Maps mobile app, so You will always access it through the browser. (Chrome, Safari, etc.). Even so, once you have your maps ready, you'll be able to View them from the Google Maps app on your phone, which is what you're really interested in 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 It's somewhat hidden, and many people believe it's accessed directly from Google Maps.To create and edit your custom maps, you must always access the specific My Maps website, not the regular maps app.
You can access it in several ways, but the most direct is Type “Google My Maps” into your browser and go to the official websiteOnce inside, 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 are talking about access the tool to create and edit The maps. To simply view and use them during your trip, you can do so from the regular Google Maps app or from the browser itself, 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 will see a very clean interface: a button to create a new map and, below it, the list of maps you have already opened or saved in your account, including those that someone else has shared with you.
To get started, click “Create a new map”In a few seconds, a map will open almost full screen. In the upper left corner, you'll find a panel with several options, and at the very top, the title will appear. “Map without a name”I recommend that you Change it immediately to a descriptive name (for example “Trip to Porto 3 days” or “Route along the Costa Brava”) and add a short description of what the map includes or what you will use it for.
This description is extremely helpful when you accumulate a lot of maps: You find what you need faster and share information better. with other travelers or coworkers. Everything you do goes automatically saving 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 baseThis is done from the “Base map” option, which appears at the bottom of the left panel when you have your map open.
Clicking on “Base map” will show you a selection of nine different stylesThe classic street map, satellite view, relief map, clear political style, monochromatic map with highlighted cities, atlas-style map, light and dark physical options, and a more schematic quick 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 them until you find the one that best suits your needs.
Layers: the heart of the organization in My Maps
The layers are, probably, the most powerful and useful tool in Google My MapsThink of each layer as a "folder" within the map, similar to the conceptual maps where ideas are grouped. This allows you Group the information by topic, by day, or by any criterion that suits you..
By default, when you create a new map, it appears a single empty layerYou 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 mapSo it's a good idea to think a little 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 have everything you need. 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 capes is that you can Show or hide with a simple click in the small square that appears to the left of the name. This way, when you arrive at your destination, you can see only what interests you at any given momentFor example, remove the "Just in case there's extra time" layer so you don't get distracted, or leave only the "Restaurants" layer at lunchtime.
If your destination is huge and you find that 10 layers aren't enough, you always have the option of divide the journey into several different maps (One for what to see, another for food, another for driving routes, etc.). In giant cities like New York, this is quite practical so that the map doesn't become 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: Start filling the map with your points of interestHere are two main ways to do it: direct search or data import.
The most common and simplest method is to use the search engine that appears at the top of the screenType 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 on “+ Add to map”That point will be automatically added to the layer you have selected at that moment.
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 listed on Google, you can resort to... pin icon located just below the search bar (to the right of the hand icon). With this tool you click directly on the map and create a manual marker wherever you want.
For users who already have more advanced listings, My Maps also allows Import points from .csv, .xlsx, .kml or .gpx filesThis option is very useful if you have, for example, a spreadsheet with hundreds of addresses or coordinates and you want the map to be generated almost instantly, but for normal travel planning use, most people manage perfectly well with 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 bookmark and even attach images or videos.
You can, for example, use a different color for each day for travel 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, etc. This customization makes At a glance, you'll understand what each point is without having to open them one by one..
In addition to colors and icons, it's incredibly useful to leverage the description field to add practical informationVisiting hours, prices, links to the official website, notes on bookings, special instructions, warnings (for example, if a viewpoint closes at sunset)... You can also upload a picture of the place so you can easily recognize it when you're arriving or to remind you why that spot interested you.
If you add a dot to the wrong layer, no problem: you can move it to another layer without problems simply by dragging it into the list or using the marker's own options menu. In practice, there's no reasonable limit on the number of points per layer, so You can have dozens or even hundreds of places on the same map without falling short.
Create automatic routes for car, bike or on foot
Beyond the individual points, one of My Maps' star features is the ability to draw automatic routes between multiple locationsThis is perfect 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 for “Add driving, cycling or walking route”). By doing so, My Maps will create a new route-specific layer where you can add the starting and ending points, and intermediate stops.
In this type of layer, each route supports up to 10 pointsTherefore, if you want to take very long routes, you may need to divide them into several sections. You can choose whether the route is designed for drive, cycle or walk 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 Rearrange the stops, view the total distance, estimated time, and step-by-step directions of the route. And if the "ideal" route that Google suggests doesn't convince you, you can always manually drag the path line to force it to go along a secondary road or a specific path that you prefer.
This option to manually modify the route is especially useful in scenic road tripswhere sometimes the fastest route isn't 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 areasThis option is intended for when you want to design the route yourself without Google calculating anything by default.
With the drawing tool you can, for example, to mark an approximate perimeter of a neighborhood that you don't want to miss, draw the outline of a natural park, mark the area where a special regulation applies (such as a restricted traffic area) or trace a walking route through pedestrian streets where automatic calculation is not so precise.
You can also use these forms for more technical projects: Define service zones, commercial areas, and customer territories or any other spatial division you're interested in. Just like with 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 modify. In those cases, you'll enter what Google calls map viewerIt's a view where you can explore the content, but You can't make changes to it..
Within the map viewer you can search for places within that map, activate or deactivate layers, switch to satellite view, share, export and printIf you want to see how one of your own maps would look in read-only mode, you can use the option "Preview" from your editable map.
If you need to edit a map that is not yours, you will have to request editing permission from the ownerUntil it is granted to you, you can only consult it and use it as a 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, normally in the "My Drive" folder unless you have moved it to another one.
To find them, you can go directly to Google Drive and Use the internal search engine by typing the map name. that you configured at the beginning. You can also access it by going back to the Google My Maps website, where they are displayed all the maps you have created, viewed, or that have been shared with you.
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 it.
How to view your maps on your mobile phone with the Google Maps app?
The most convenient way to take advantage of planning work is View the map directly in the Google Maps app on your mobile device when you're already at your destination. You don't need to install anything unusual: the integration comes standard.
To open your custom maps on your mobile device, go to Google Maps and then to the tab "Saved" (in the bottom bar). Inside you'll see different sections; one of them is "Maps". That's where they'll appear. the latest My Maps maps you have created or viewed, both from the computer and from the phone itself.
Selecting one will load it in full screen with all your layers, points, colors, and iconsFrom this view you can also access the map legend menu, where you will have options to Share it via WhatsApp, email, social media, or any other app. installed on your mobile.
View your maps from your mobile browser
If for whatever reason you don't use the Google Maps app or prefer the browser, you can also Open your custom maps from your mobile browser.The process is a bit more manual, but it works well.
You just have to access Google Drive with your account from your phone's browserGo 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. The map will open in web mode., ready to consult.
This option is useful if, for example, You are using a different 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 make sure that anyone can open it without depending on the application.
Use your maps with limited or no data connection
It is possible to view the maps on My Maps in situations of unstable connection or even no dataBut with important nuances. My Maps itself isn't a completely offline tool, so you need to plan ahead a bit; if you need offline topographic maps, apps like OruxMaps they can be of great help.
For it to work even minimally well, you need have the map of the area downloaded in Google Maps where you're going to use your My Map (i.e., the geographic area, not the custom map itself) and also Open the custom map while you still have a 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 taking any risks, the best advice if the trip is important is have a stable data connection (for example, with an eSIM or a physical local operator card), because this ensures that the maps always load correctly and update smoothly as you move around.
Share your custom maps with other people
Once you have your map well polished, you'll normally want to Share it with your travel companions, your family, or your online community.My Maps offers several very flexible ways to do this.
The most common option is Share the map via a linkFrom the top left of the map you will see the "Share" button. 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 into your siteTo do this, in the three-dot menu next to the map's name, choose the "Embed on my site" option. This will give you an HTML code that you can paste into your page so that the map appears.integrated, fully interactive.
Another possibility is Export the map in KML or KMZ formatThese are standard geospatial data formats. This export allows you, for example, to open the map in other applications such as Maps.me or other navigation tools that work better offline.
By combining Google My Maps for design and Google Maps for mobile viewing, you can prepare Super complete and visual maps for any trip or projectWith 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 in your pocket. Share this information so other users know how to use Google My Maps.