The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Google Maps Plan Trip

Mapping a travel itinerary is always filled with excitement, but it can also come with stress. Getting everything to line up is one of those essential travel tips that can make or break a trip, and using Google Maps for trip planning is the simple answer. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use Google Maps as a vacation itinerary planner and start planning with confidence! Planning and using Google Maps is easy, if you know how. Credit: @benchlopez Why Google Maps Is The Best Holiday Itinerary Planner Let’s see why many seasoned travellers prefer to use Google Maps trip planner for their trips! 1. Never Get Lost Again (Even Without Internet) One rule we swear by is to download Google Maps ahead of time. The detailed directions are available offline. It really has saved us in a pinch when we arrive at the airport and haven’t found a SIM card yet (or the wifi connection is just that bad). Thanks to the GPS, you can even pinpoint your location without a network connection. 2. Preview Your Destination with Street View Photo captured on Google Maps. The Street View feature lets you move through streets on your screen and see the surroundings. If you travel solo, especially as a woman, we recommend always taking a look to have a “feel” of the place. For instance, you can see if the neighbourhood is clean before booking a hotel there. A quick look around helps you know what to expect and walk with purpose to avoid looking like a tourist. 3. Share Your Plans With The Squad Sharing your itinerary is one of the most useful parts of Google Maps plan trip. Instead of juggling separate messages or documents, you can create a custom map in Google My Maps and invite others to view or even edit it (we’ll talk about this later). Each person in your family or travel group can add restaurants, attractions, or stops they want to visit, and the shared map updates in real time. So everyone knows what to expect before the trip even begins. 4. It’s Free! In a world where subscription is the norm, it’s mind-boggling to think that such a powerful tool comes at no cost. All of its core features, including offline maps, real-time navigation, and saved locations, are available without paying a quid. 5. A Trip Down Memory Lane One thing not talked about enough is the timeline feature. Can’t recall the place with great pho on your trip to Vietnam? Want to revisit a hidden cafe you stumbled on that Bali trip? It’s all right here and just a tap away. Follow this guide to turn on your timeline. Note that you need to allow Google to access your precise locations whenever you go. How To Plan Your Trip with Google Maps First, do your homework to get travel ideas and inspirations. There are many resources to get you started: A quick Google search TikTok Youtube Travel blogs (like us!) forums like Reddit or Rick Steves Tour companies itineraries AI can be helpful, but be sure to fact-check. You can use a prompt like “Make this itinerary more off-the-beaten-path, with hidden gems and mid-range restaurants (no gluten - this is important). Two weeks in Spain as a couple (ages 25 and 27)” Be sure to check the transit with rome2rio etc. Jot down all the things you want to do in one place. Like a Google doc file, perhaps? This is just a brainstorming phrase, so just put anything that interests you, and we’ll sort out the details later. Next, put those activities/attractions into Google Maps. We recommend making use of the lists and My Maps features (find the step-by-step guide to use them further below). For quick brainstorming and simple day trips, try to make a list on Google Maps. If the itineraries are multi-day and more detailed, use Google My Maps. The beauty of Google Maps trip planner is that you can make itineraries as detailed or spontaneous as you’d like. Maybe plan 2-3 things you want to do for the day and leave some breathing room for checking out a spot that catches your interest. Be sure to share your map with other people in the group. Or better yet, ask seasoned travellers for ideas on improvement. Drop your itinerary on a forum and ask how you can make it better. AI could do this, but input from real people with real experience is far superior. Engage, ask, people will love helping you with your plan. Then start booking everything you plan on: your lodging, transportation, tickets for museums or events, etc. Congratulations! You’ve done it, your first well-planned trip (and hopefully well-executed, too). CabinZero tip: You might want to create a spreadsheet to keep track of all things, from budgeting to logistics. Or just find a template already made online. How To Activate Offline Mode In Google Maps Photo captured on Google Maps. On Android: Open the Google Maps app while connected to Wi-Fi. Tap your profile picture in the top right, then select Offline maps. Choose Select Your Own Map or pick a suggested area. Adjust the rectangle on screen to cover the area you want to save, then tap Download. Once downloaded, that area will be available even without the internet. You can find it again under Offline maps. On iPhone/iPad: Open the Google Maps app and sign in. Tap your profile picture, then select Offline maps. Tap Select Your Own Map and zoom/pan until the area you need is highlighted. Hit Download to save it to your device. To manage updates, go back into Offline maps → Settings, where you can enable automatic updates when on Wi-Fi. Note: Offline maps only support driving directions; you won’t get walking, cycling, or public transit routes, nor real-time traffic updates. The Basics - How to Create a Multi-Stop Route How to plan a route on Google Maps? This section will show you some simple steps to add multiple stops right away. Step 1: Entering the First Destination First, open Google Maps on your phone or desktop and type the first destination. It could be a café or a famous landmark. Then, tap “Directions” to set it as the foundation of your route. CabinZero’s tip: If you’re planning while still at home, it’s best to use the desktop version first. The larger screen makes it easier to visualise your route before syncing it to your phone. Step 2: Add Stops for Multiple Destinations Photo captured on Google Maps. Beneath your first destination, you’ll see an option to “Add stop” (or a small “+” icon on desktop). Tap it, and a new field appears where you can enter your next location. Moreover, you’re not limited to just one or two points; Google Maps allows up to ten stops, which is more than enough for a full day’s itinerary. Step 3: Reordering Your Stops Travel plans rarely stay fixed. With Google Maps, you don’t have to delete anything - simply drag and drop the stops into the order you prefer. On mobile, you can press and hold a location and slide it up or down. On desktop, hover over the six-dot icon and drag it into place. Step 4: Choosing the Best Mode of Travel How you move from one place to another changes the entire mood during the trip. Google Maps lets you choose between walking, driving, biking, or public transit. After switching modes, the app recalculates travel times and routes automatically. Step 5: Sending Directions to Your Phone Photo captured on Google Maps. After you finish building your route on desktop, you don’t want to redo the whole thing on mobile. Thankfully, Google Maps lets you send directions straight to your phone. Click the “send to phone” button, and you can choose email, SMS, or direct sync if your Google account is connected. Level Up - Using "Lists" to organise Your Itinerary Regarding Google Maps plan trip, you may collect dozens of places you want to check out. Without a system, those ideas can get messy, and that’s exactly why you should make use of the Lists feature. 1. Why “Lists” Are Your Best Travel Pinboard You don’t want all your ideas scattered across notes, screenshots, and half-remembered conversations. With Lists in Google Maps plan trip, everything stays in one place. You can group your must-see spots, foodie finds, and bucket-list landmarks into neat collections. It’s sort of the pinboard for your planning phase. 2. Saving Places Photo captured on Google Maps. Any time you stumble across a location that excites you, you can save it straight into a list. Tap on the place in Google Maps and hit “Save.” That’s it. Plus, you can even add little notes, like “great for breakfast” or “sunset view,” so you’ll remember exactly why you pinned it in the first place. 3. Creating Custom Lists You can create lists that work however you want, such as “Must-try Restaurants” or even “Hidden Spots.” It takes just a few taps to name your list, write a short description, and choose whether to keep it private or share the trip itinerary. 4. Viewing and Using Your Lists on the Go Once you’ve built your lists, they’re always easy to pull up. On your phone, they are under the “Saved” tab; on desktop, you’ll find them in the sidebar. Then tap a list, and suddenly all your spots are right there on the map. So simple, isn’t it? The Ultimate Power Tool - Building a Custom Map with "Google My Maps" A Google My Maps tutorial can help every traveller organise travel plans. With just a few clicks, you can create your own interactive map that works like a personal travel assistant. 1. What is Google My Maps? Google My Maps is like a blank canvas where you design your trip from scratch. Unlike the regular one, which mainly gives you directions, it lets you build a completely customised map. 2. How to create Google My Maps? Here is a detailed step-by-step guide for Google Maps plan trip: Step 1: Creating Your First “My Map” Photo captured on Google My Maps Begin by opening Google My Maps and clicking Create a New Map. You’ll be asked to name it, and you can put a simple title like Summer in Italy 2025. Then, you should add a short description to help you remember the purpose of the map. Step 2: Using Layers to Organise Your Trip Layers let you divide your map into sections. A single map can contain up to 10 layers, and each layer can hold up to 2,000 places. Moreover, you can turn each layer on or off for a cleaner visualisation. Here are some ways to get those layers organised: By Day: For a city break, creating separate layers for "Day 1," "Day 2," and "Day 3." By Theme: A culinary tour could have layers for "Coffee Shops," "Michelin Restaurants," and "Street Food Markets." By Logistics: A road trip plan might use layers for "Accommodation," "Gas Stations," "Points of Interest," and "Restaurants.” Step 3: Adding Locations, Custom Icons & Colours Once your layers are ready, it’s time to fill them with places. You can type in a destination and drop a pin My Maps also lets you choose different colours or even playful icons to plot multiple locations on a map. Use icons to mark each type of stop so you can instantly see what’s planned. For example, a coffee cup for cafés, a bed for hotels, or a camera for sightseeing spots. Note that the emojies are much more extentive on the app compare to desktop. Step 4: Adding Notes & Photos to Each Location Pin Pins are useful, but you can make it easier to navigate by leaving a note, such as “great for sunset views” or “try the pistachio gelato.” Uploading a quick photo can also help you recognise the spot when you’re there in person. Step 5: Drawing Routes to Map Out Walking or Driving Paths Finally, you can connect all the destinations with custom routes. Picture tracing a walking path from your hotel to a museum, then onward to that cosy trattoria you’ve been eyeing. My Maps shows you the distance and helps you see whether your plan makes sense geographically. Import Other’s Maps Did you know you can import others’ planned maps? This is a game-changer function, in our opinion. Google My Maps can import data from spreadsheets (CSV, XLSX, or Google Sheets) and other formats (KML or KMZ) and automatically plot hundreds of locations onto the map in just a few clicks. In somebody's map, click on Export to KML/KMZ (mostly located on the three dots beside the map name on the top left). Head to your own Google My Maps In the map legend on your own map, click Add layer. Name the new layer, then click Import. Point to the file, then voila! New hidden gems and points of interest at your own fingertips. You could try a quick Google search “Google Maps [your destination] CSV/KML/KMZ/GPX/XLSX/Google Sheet” to find maps made by others. Note that if you use a spreadsheet, Google My Maps only gathers the data from the first sheet. Putting It All Together: Two Common Use Cases Use Case 1: The Cross-Country Road Trip Planner Now let’s say we have a group of four friends driving from Denver to Las Vegas. It’s a classic American road trip route filled with national parks and long drives between stops. See how everyone can use Google Maps to plan the best trip for the squad. Day 1: Denver -> Moab (Arches National Park) The first leg takes the group from Denver into Utah, with Arches National Park as the main attraction. This stop breaks up a long drive while also offering one of the most iconic landscapes in the Southwest. By saving Arches in a “Day 1” layer, the group ensures they don’t miss key viewpoints. To make navigation even easier, each type of stop is colour-coded: parks in green, restaurants in orange, and hotels in purple. At a glance, anyone can quickly understand what the day looks like without having to ask, “Where are we staying again?” Day 2: Moab -> Monument Valley Monument Valley is selected as the next highlight because it’s one of themost gorgeous places worldwide. However, it sits in a remote area with few services. So, the team chose a gas station in Kayenta and pin it along the route with a note: “Remember to fuel before the valley.” Day 3: Monument Valley -> Grand Canyon (South Rim) The journey continues toward the Grand Canyon South Rim, and this stop is chosen because it offers the most visitor services, hiking trails, and viewpoints compared to other entrances. Each viewpoint and trailhead is added into a separate “Day 3” layer, and one person uploads a photo of the South Kaibab Trailhead directly into the pin. Road signs can be easy to miss when driving through a busy park. Day 4: Grand Canyon -> Page Everybody loves Page, Arizona, for the two major highlights: Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Horseshoe Bend is added with a short note reminding the group to visit either at sunrise or sunset for the best light. Antelope Canyon, on the other hand, requires a guided tour, so the pin includes a direct link to the booking confirmation. Day 5: Page -> Las Vegas The final stretch toward Las Vegas can be long, so the group pins a breakfast stop in Page to start the day. Plus, they also pin the hotel in Las Vegas as the endpoint. Before leaving, the group downloads offline maps because long stretches of highway in the desert often have a weak signal. Use Case 2: The City Break Walking Tour Map Photo taken from Google My Maps. Sometimes the best way to enjoy a city break is on foot, especially in the UK, where many historic cities are compact and full of attractions within walking distance. Imagine a two-day family visit to Edinburgh. The city is compact, but its mix of steep hills, historic streets, and busy tourist spots can be tiring if the route isn’t clear. By plotting the map in advance, everyone knows where the day begins and ends without rushing. 1. Day 1: History at a Comfortable Pace A good starting point is Edinburgh Castle, which sits at the top of the Royal Mile. From there, the walk naturally flows downhill through the Royal Mile, passing family-friendly attractions like the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions. Plus, adding cafés and rest spots as separate pins means you always know where to pause. Ending the day at Holyrood Palace gives a sense of completion, as the walk has a clear beginning and end. 2. Day 2: Open Spaces and Relaxed Exploring The second day can be lighter, focusing on outdoor spots. Arthur’s Seat or the Princes Street Gardens are perfect for children to run around while adults enjoy the view. Nearby, a pin for the National Museum of Scotland makes it easy to step indoors if the weather turns. Grouping these into a single “Day 2” layer avoids the confusion of switching between too many options. FAQs How many stops can I add to Google Maps? You can add up to 10 stops when you plan travel on your phone or desktop using Google Maps. If you need more, Google My Maps lets you create longer itineraries with no strict stop limit. Another common workaround is to break the larger journey into smaller, logical segments. For example, a 15-stop road trip could be planned as two separate routes: one with the first 8 stops and a second with the remaining 7. Can I optimise my route automatically? Google Maps doesn’t fully reorder stops for you, but it does suggest the fastest path between your destinations. For collaborative trip planning, you can still drag and adjust stops manually to match your schedule or group preferences. Can I use Google My Maps on my phone? Yes, but it works a little differently. You can view and navigate custom maps on the Google Maps app, while edits and detailed planning are easier on a desktop before syncing to your phone. Can you plan a trip on Google Maps? Yes! Google Maps plan trip can be either your daily travel itinerary maker or a multi-stop route planner. This article has shown you how to create and save a route on Google Maps in the most detailed way. Finally, if you have any Google Maps tips and tricks, don’t hesitate to share them in the comment section. And if you found this article useful, please share it with your friends too. Thanks a lot for coming! Ha Ngan