How to Make an Itinerary on Google Maps: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Learn why Google Maps is an excellent travel planner
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Planning a trip can be stressful, but creating a travel itinerary with Google Maps can make it a whole lot easier! In this article, we’ll walk you through all the steps to create and use a Google Maps travel itinerary . We’ll also explain the benefits of using Google Maps to plan your trip and provide some travel planning advice from travel agency owner Erin Lofton and family travel expert Shelby Reyes.

Creating a Google Maps Itinerary: Quick Steps

  1. Go to https://www.google.com/mymaps and click “Create a New Map.”
  2. Click “Untitled Map” to give your map a name and description.
  3. Search for locations you want to visit, then click “Add to map.”
  4. Color code and add descriptions to your locations to stay organized.
  5. Click “Add layer” to organize your locations into different categories.
Section 1 of 3:

Making a Travel Itinerary with Google Maps

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  1. If you don’t already have one, first create a Google account , then visit https://www.google.com/mymaps on your web browser. On your My Maps dashboard, click the “Create a New Map” button to create a new map. [1]
    • Unfortunately, as of October 2021, Google no longer supports the “My Maps” app on phones. If you’re on mobile, you’ll have to use your phone’s web browser to access the site while on the go. [2]

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Erin Lofton is a travel agent and the owner of The Traveling Counselor based in Atlanta, Georgia. She has over 6 years of experience and has planned over 2,500 trips.

    Shelby Reyes is a family travel expert and full-time travel agent. She focuses on maximizing your paid time off, working around school schedules, and finding great deals while traveling during high-peak seasons.

  2. To keep yourself organized, give your map a name to remind you of what it contains. On the white box on the top left of the screen, click on the line of text saying “Untitled Map.” Another white box will pop up where you can enter a name and description. [3]
    • For example, name your map “California Summer Trip” and enter a description like “Places to see and eat during our two-week California road trip.”
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  3. Enter the name of any location into the Google Maps search bar, including restaurants, sightseeing locations, or whole cities. A white box will appear with some additional information about the location. At the bottom of this box, click “Add to map” to add the location (known as a “pin”) to your map. You can add up to 2,000 pins to a map. [4]
    • Tip: Add a description to each of your saved locations by clicking on them, then tapping the pencil icon. This will help you stay organized and know how long you plan to spend at each location.
    • If you’re traveling with a group, Lofton recommends including travel dates and check-in times on your itinerary. [5] Simply add these to your pins’ descriptions.
    • Not sure where to go yet? Your fellow wikiHow readers have sounded off with their favorite destinations in the "Where are the best places you've traveled so far?" forum . Check it out!
    • Reader Poll: We asked 146 wikiHow readers, and 56% agreed that the best way to research and plan a trip is to browse travel websites and videos for real people's experiences . [Take Poll]
  4. New locations added to your map have a default blue pin color, but you can change this to help you plan. Click on a location and select the paint can icon that appears at the bottom of the white box. Then, choose the color you want. [6]
    • For example, change the colors of your pins to match how important each location is to your trip. Must-see locations could be red, housing spots could be green, and optional places to visit could remain as blue pins.
    • Google Maps also gives you the option to change a pin’s icon , including options for monuments, museums, gardens, and more.
  5. The “layers” function allows you to group your pins into different categories. Click “Add layer” at the top of the white box on the left side of your screen and give it a title. Then, drag and drop your locations into that layer to organize them. [7]
    • You can add up to 10 layers to any given map.
    • For example, you might have layers titled “Places to See,” “Places to Eat,” and “Places to Sleep.” Or, organize your layers into “Day 1,” “Day 2,” etc., so you know when you’re visiting each location.
    • Move your pins around as much as you like as you plan your travel itinerary.
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Section 2 of 3:

Using Your Itinerary

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  1. After creating your map, make sure you have the Google Maps app installed on your phone. Open it up, click “Saved,” then click “Maps.” Choose your trip’s map from the list, then tap “View map legend” to view all of your pinned locations. [8]
    • Remember, though, that if you want to edit your map, you’ll have to do it from a web browser.
    • If you want to add directions , navigate to the main map, tap one of your points of interest, then tap “Directions.” By default, you’ll see the driving directions, but you can change your mode of transport to walking , biking, or public transport .
  2. The My Maps function allows you to easily map out the distance between two locations. Select one of your locations from the white box on the left side of the screen, then click the arrow sign that pops up on the box. This will create a new layer that has the location you’ve selected as an endpoint on a route. Add another location to this layer, and My Maps will automatically create a route for you between the two points. [9]
    • You can add more than one location to a single route. For example, if you wanted to plot a route from Big Sur to the Golden Gate Bridge, and then to Palo Alto, add all three locations to your route layer and create a multi-stop path. [10]
    • Click on the three dots next to the layer with your travel route, then select “Step-by-step directions” to have My Maps create a set of directions for your travels. Handy!
  3. Although My Maps won’t give you a day-by-day itinerary of plans, it can make the process much easier. Use My Maps to give yourself a clear idea of where you’d like to go, and how long it would take you to get there. [11]
    • For example, by using My Maps, you might notice that seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, walking around San Francisco, and eating at a restaurant in Berkeley are close enough to all be doable in one day, while visiting Big Sur might be better saved for another afternoon. My Maps can help you plan out the most efficient trip possible so you can enjoy your travels even more.
    • Your trip “doesn’t have to be planned down to the minute,” says Lofton, “but knowing the ‘must-dos’ and what’s nearby is helpful.” [12]
  4. If you’re traveling with other people, share your map and itinerary with them. Navigate to the main My Maps dashboard, then click the share button (an arrow icon) on the map you created. This will provide you with a link you can copy and paste to share with friends and family. [13]
    • You can also share your map via Facebook, email, or X (Twitter), or embed your map on your website.
    • When sharing your map, you always have the option to allow others to edit it. With this option selected, your friends can pick places that they’re interested in, as well, so you can have them all on the same document. [14]
  5. Traveling sometimes means running into areas with spotty Wi-Fi or phone service. In these situations, it’s great to have a printout of your travel plans. To print your map , click on the three dots next to your map’s name in the white box on the left side of the screen. Then, select “Print map” from the menu. [15]
    • If you can’t or don’t want to print your map, Reyes says you can download Google Maps as offline maps so you can still access them when you don’t have service. [16]
    • To download an offline map , open the Google Maps app, type a location into the search bar, tap the name of that location, then navigate to the option “Download offline map.” [17]
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Section 3 of 3:

Benefits of Using Google Maps for Travel Plans

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  1. Google Maps is user-friendly, so it’s easier to access your itinerary than if you were using a spreadsheet or document. The app allows you to plan easy routes and check traffic and travel times, no matter which form of transportation you’re using. [18]
  2. Your Google account gives you access to many different apps and features to make your travel plans easier. For example, copy your map into your Google Drive, plan out each day’s agenda in Google Calendar, and use Google Sheets to budget for your trip. You can even use location names in Google Photos to easily find and organize any pictures you take. [19]
    • For example, if you’re worried you’ll forget something, just open your map and add a note to the location. Then, create an event in Google Calendar and link the location to the event so you’ll have all your notes.
  3. When planning a trip with Google Maps, you can easily see reviews of each location from other visitors. It also allows you to access information about your locations, including website URLs and opening and closing times. [20] You can also see things to do nearby if you need to kill some time.
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      Tips

      • If you’re planning a road trip, create a layer for each stop you’re making, then add pins to each layer so you don’t miss any points of interest. Include hotels that are on your route, too, so you can make an impromptu stop if needed.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024925?visit_id=637744367666134651-2428484219&p=lite_addplaces&rd=1
      2. ↑ https://9to5google.com/2021/07/20/google-my-maps-android-shutdown/
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024454?hl=en&ref_topic=3024924
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3024925?visit_id=637744500327517491-717751493&p=lite_addplaces&rd=1
      5. ↑ Erin Lofton. Travel Agency Owner. Expert Interview
      6. ↑ https://directionallychallengedtraveler.com/plan-a-trip-with-google-my-maps/
      7. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/google-maps-trip-planner
      8. ↑ https://directionallychallengedtraveler.com/plan-a-trip-with-google-my-maps/
      9. ↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3502610?hl=en&ref_topic=3024924
      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3502610?hl=en&ref_topic=3024924
      2. ↑ https://directionallychallengedtraveler.com/plan-a-trip-with-google-my-maps/
      3. ↑ Erin Lofton. Travel Agency Owner. Expert Interview
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3109452?hl=en
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3109452?hl=en
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/mymaps/answer/3109452?hl=en
      7. ↑ Shelby Reyes. Family Travel Expert. Expert Interview
      8. ↑ https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=iOS
      9. ↑ https://directionallychallengedtraveler.com/plan-a-trip-with-google-my-maps/
      10. ↑ https://directionallychallengedtraveler.com/plan-a-trip-with-google-my-maps/
      11. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/google-maps-trip-planner
      12. ↑ Erin Lofton. Travel Agency Owner. Expert Interview

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