5 Simple Steps to Plan Your Trip with Google My Maps (A Beginner’s Guide)

Planning a trip can be overwhelming; keeping track of transportation routes, must-see spots, and hidden gems is difficult without feeling stressed.

I remember how disorganised our first European trips were before I learnt about trip-planning tools.

We scrambled through notes, randomly searched on Google for what to do and see, switched between apps, and still missed things.

Then I discovered Google My Maps—a free tool that helps you organise your entire itinerary in one place.

Since then, I’ve used it to plan trips across Europe. Planning has become simpler now, and last-minute chaos is a thing of the past.

In this post, I’ll show you how to use Google My Maps to plan a trip easily so you can spend less time stressing and more time exploring with ease.

So, whether you’re new to using travel planning tools or you just want to organise your trips much better, this guide is for you.

Let’s begin!

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What is Google My Maps?

Google My Maps is a free tool that lets you add custom location pins for places you want to visit. Unlike the regular Google Maps app, this tool lets you:

• Add custom location pins for places you want to visit
• Create layers to categorise stops (e.g., restaurants, attractions, transport hubs)
• Draw routes and measure distances between points
• Add notes and links to each location
• Access and edit your map from any device

It’s like having a digital travel planner that you can access and edit from any device, so you’re always organised wherever you go!

Why Use Google My Maps for Travel Planning?

If you’re a regular reader of this blog or follow me on Instagram, you’re probably aware that I’m a budget girl.

So, any free tool that would help me organise and speed up my trip planning process without juggling through scattered notes, screenshots, and bookmarks would be welcomed.

Google My Maps helps you do just that. You can keep everything from hotels, attractions, restaurants, and transport in one place.

It helps you create a better travel plan and avoid going back and forth. It’s also a part of familiar tools (Google tools, to be specific) many of us already use daily, like Google Maps.

Plus, you can use it offline, so you always have your plans with you.

Google My Maps vs. Google Maps: What’s the Difference?

Okay, I know what you’re thinking, but isn’t Google My Maps just another name for Google Maps, Jane?

Not at all! Can I also share a secret with you? I had the same thought.

But don’t worry; I’ve got you covered! I’ve outlined the key difference between the two below.

Keep in mind that although Google My Maps functions more like a sibling of Google Maps, the two applications have different functions.

Here’s the difference:

Google Maps helps with real-time navigation, like finding nearby restaurants and checking live traffic updates. It’s great for exploring on the go and getting directions.

Google My Maps lets you create a custom map with saved locations, like must-visit cafes or sightseeing spots. It’s perfect for planning itineraries before your trip.

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How to Use Google My Maps to Plan a Trip in 5 Steps

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Step 1: Create Your Custom Map

I recommend using a laptop or desktop to create and plan your trip on Google My Maps. It’s much simpler that way for me.

1. To make your own map, go to Google Search and type “Google My Maps.” It’s usually the first result you see.
2. Open Google My Maps and sign in with your Google account. Click ‘Create a New Map’ to start your travel plan. Note that if you’re already signed in, you’ll see a list of all maps you created in the past (if you’ve used the tool before, of course). See the screenshot of my past and future trips above for reference.
3. Give your map a clear name like “Portugal 2025” or “Weekend Trip in Lisbon.” and a description (optional). This helps you stay organised and find it easily later.

Step 2: Add Locations to Your Map

Below the map title and description in your newly created Google My Maps dashboard, you will see three icons: “Add layer,” “Share,” and “Preview.”

You’ll use the “add layer” icon to organise places into categories, like “Day 1, Day 2, Food Stops, Important Sights to See,” etc.

To share this map with anyone you wish to see or have access to, simply click the “share” icon. The “preview” icon lets you see a preview of the map you made.

• To add a location to your maps, type a place into the search bar on the right (e.g., “Eiffel Tower” or “Best coffee spot in Lisbon”). Click the place name when it appears.

• Click ‘Add to Map’ to save it as a pin. Repeat for all your must-visit spots, like restaurants, landmarks, and other points of interest attractions.

Step 3: Customise Your Map with Clarity

Google My Maps supports full customisation. So you can use different icons and colours to organise locations (e.g., red for food, blue for attractions). This makes your map easier to read.

Create layers to group stops by day or category (e.g., “Day 1 in Paris” or “Best Cafés”). This keeps your trip plan organised.

Add notes to each location (e.g., “Opens at 9 AM” or “Try the margarita pizza here”). Notes help you remember important details.

If you would love to see how to customise your map in real time, check out my YouTube video below, which walks you through how to do it.

Step 4: Plan Your Itinerary with Directions (optional)

This isn’t something I do for every trip; I only use it for special trips like hiking trips or road trips like the ones we have coming up later this year (2024).

That’s why this is optional. So, if you want to use this Google My Maps feature, here’s how:

• Use the directions tool to map out routes for walking, driving, or public transport. For example, plan a walking route from, let’s say, your hotel to the Eiffel Tower.

• Check travel times between locations (on Google Maps for live times) to plan efficiently. If a bus from your hotel to a museum takes 40 minutes, you can schedule your visit accordingly.

• Compare different transport options to find the fastest or cheapest route. For example, check if a 10-minute metro ride is better than a 30-minute walk.

• Save your routes so you can access them anytime. This way, even without Wi-Fi, you’ll know how to get around.

Step 5: Share and Access Your Map on the Go

Once your map is set up, you can start shaping your itinerary:

• Plan your daily schedule by grouping nearby locations.

• Share your map with travel buddies so everyone stays on the same page. For example, send the link to friends so they can view or edit it.

• Access your map on mobile by opening Google Maps and going to “Your Places.” This lets you check locations without carrying paper notes. (Check the demo video below on how to access or find Google My Maps you’ve created on Google Maps via your phone.)

• Download your map offline if you don’t have internet access. This is useful for exploring remote areas or avoiding expensive data charges.
  

A Google My Maps Itinerary Example

Let’s say you’re spending 3 days in Lisbon. Your map could look like this below. This way, you can easily see all your locations at a glance and navigate without stress.

Final Thoughts on using Google My Maps to Plan Trips

If you frequently travel, Google My Maps is an easy-to-use, handy tool for travel planning, especially if you enjoy having everything organised in one place.

It’s my go-to tool now for planning trips, and I recommend it.

With a few simple steps, you can create a stress-free, well-structured itinerary that keeps you from running around aimlessly.

So, before your next trip, give it a go—you’ll wonder how you ever travelled without it!

Have you used Google My Maps for trip planning? Let me know in the comments!

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