Google Maps Trip Planner: How to use it in 2024?

Planning a road trip can be fun, and Google Maps has many useful tools to help you do it quickly. By taking things one step at a time, you can ensure that your road trip is well-planned and fun. 

Now for the exciting part: making travel plans. This is how I go about it:

Step 1: Generate a new custom map

To begin using Google Maps to plan your travel, go to https://www.google.com/mymaps. Then, click the “Create a New Map” button on your My Maps dashboard.

You’ll have a ton of options when maps open up. Give your map a name first. When you select “Untitled Map,” a dialog box containing the map’s name and description will appear.

I’m organizing a three-day trip to Gangotri in India for this example. We’ll refer to this map as “Road Trip to Gangotri.”

You can add your locations to your map once you’ve given it a name.

Step 2: Include and personalize your places

The exciting part is about to begin: adding every location you want to see while traveling. I’m going to assume that you already have a list of locations, but if you don’t, use this opportunity to learn about the city and compile a list of attractions.

Making a list will greatly facilitate and expedite the planning process.

Google Maps uses “pins” to represent your locations. Use the search bar to find the location of interest before you begin adding pins.

Let’s begin with one of Mussories’s most well-known landmarks: Lachhiwala Nature Park.

When you search for a location, maps will enlarge it and give you the option to “Add to Map.” You can add the point of interest to your map layer by clicking or tapping this button.

You can alter each point of interest’s color and icon to help you keep your pins more arranged.

A paint can icon will appear when you hover over the address. To access your customization choices, click it. You can select from a variety of icons on Google Maps, such as those for monuments, museums, gardens, and more.

Thanks to these icons, understanding each destination is a bit simpler. Additionally, that may facilitate the following step.

Step 3: Divide your journey into several layers or categories

While trip planning can be exciting and fun, if you don’t keep things organized, it can quickly turn chaotic and disorganized. You’ll be able to stay on top of everything by organizing your trip into layers or categories.

Here, I’m organizing a road trip to Gangotri. I should plan my trip in days so I can decide which attractions I want to see each day. Every day in this instance, will represent a new layer or category.

In order to arrange things, I can select “Add layer.” Every level will represent a novel “category.”

After selecting “Add layer,” you can give it a name. Take out “untitled layer” and replace it with your name. I’m going to add three layers in this example, naming them “Day 1,” “Day 2,” and “Day 3.”

After setting that up, I can begin arranging my daily points of interest.

You are free to include any categories (or layers) in your trip plan as long as they are relevant.

If you’re organizing a road trip itinerary, for instance, you might decide to divide your journey into cities and include attractions in each one. Perhaps you would like to create categories for foods or particular interests. You can tailor Google Maps to your own travel preferences and style, which is a great feature.

How many levels is a map capable of having?

Although layers can help keep your map organized, don’t use them excessively. The maximum number of layers you can add is ten.

It might be necessary to carefully organize your layers or categories if you’re organizing a large, intricate trip.

For every layer, how many location pins can you add?

You can customize each map you make in My Maps with up to 2,000 different pins.

Step 4: Make travel arrangements

Now that you have established all of your categories, you can begin creating your schedule. Organizing points of interest into distinct layers or categories is simple. To move the pin, simply click and drag it to the desired location.

In our example, I made three layers, one for each day, so I dragged each point of interest into the appropriate layer to plan my itinerary.

What happens, though, if you don’t divide your trip into days? What happens if you group your points of interest by city or category (restaurants, museums, etc.)? 

Not a problem! You are free to arrange your layers however you see fit. The key is that Google My Maps facilitates easy trip visualization. You can quickly determine which points of interest are adjacent to one another. This makes making your itinerary in a digital planner or on paper simple.

Step 5: Make reservations

Now that you have arranged your travel, you can begin:

• Make hotel reservations
• Making reservations for car rentals
• Making reservations for any tickets that may be required.

Plan your reservation as far in advance as you can. There’s a chance that rooms and tickets will sell out if you wait too long.

Step 6: Cite off your map

You can give your itinerary and map to friends and family if you’re traveling with them.

Here’s how to do it:

• Return to the Google My Maps dashboard’s main screen.

Select the share option (the arrow symbol) on the newly generated map.

You can use Twitter, Facebook, or email to share your map. If you have a website, you can also integrate your map into it.

Step 7: Use your phone to access your map

You’ve made your map and distributed it among your pals. However, you must have the Google Maps app installed on your phone in order to use it.

To view your maps on a mobile device, follow these steps:

• Launch the Google Maps application.
• Select Saved.

• Click Maps at the bottom.
• Select the map of your trip from the list.