Google Maps: How to create custom maps with My Maps

If you often use Google Maps to get around town or plan trips, you'll be happy to know there's a somewhat hidden feature that lets you Create custom maps entirely to your liking.That tool is called Google My Maps and it's much more powerful than it seems at first glance.

With My Maps you can go far beyond just saving a couple of places: Mark all the points of interest on your trip, create daily routes, differentiate places by colors and icons, add notes, photos, and even share the map. With whomever you want. It's like having your own interactive map, always available on your computer and mobile device.

What is Google My Maps and what makes it different

Google My Maps is a tool linked to your Google account that allows create fully customized maps based on Google MapsBut without the limitations of the classic app. The interface is very similar to the one you already know, only here you can work on the map, save it to Drive, and edit it whenever you want.

Unlike the "normal" Google Maps, where you can only save individual sites or create simple listsIn My Maps you have advanced features such as layers, custom colors, editable routes and data import options from spreadsheets or KML/KMZ files, among other formats.

This tool is ideal if you want Plan a trip in detail, prepare a driving route, group services you need on the road (gas stations, service areas, parking lots) or even design themed maps for a blog, a professional project or a presentation.

To use Google My Maps you only need an active Google account and a device with an internet connectionYou can access it from your computer's browser or your mobile device, and there's also a specific app for it. AndroidEven so, it's much easier to create the first map on your computer; then you can consult it later at your leisure. smartphone.

Once you enter the My Maps page, you will see that you can Create new maps, open existing ones, and access maps shared with you.Everything you do is saved to your Google Drive, so you'll be able to find it in your drive or in the folder where you save it.

First steps: creating, opening, and organizing your maps

When you access Google My Maps for the first time, the main screen appears almost empty, and you'll only see something once you start to use it. create your first custom mapsFrom there, in the "Your Own Maps" section, your projects will be displayed, as well as those that other people have shared with you.

To create a new map, the usual thing to do is to click on the button of “Create a new map”Immediately, a map opens that looks similar to the usual Google Maps, but now with a left-hand panel full of options to manage layers, change the base map, and add elements.

That newly created map appears with the generic name of “Map without a name”It's a good idea to rename it from the start to avoid confusion. Just click on the title and type a clear name, for example, "Road Trip Through Northern Spain" or "4-Day Trip to Rome," plus an optional description with details that will help you identify it later.

All maps that you create or that someone shares with you can be Reopen from the My Maps homepage or directly from Google DriveIn Drive, they will be saved by default in "My Drive", although you can move them to any folder and organize them as you wish.

If at any time you want See other interesting maps created by the communityYou can use the option to explore popular maps and featured selections. These can not only serve as inspiration, but you can also copy them to your account to adapt them to your needs.

The base map and layers: the heart of My Maps

Before you start adding points and routes, it's important to understand two key concepts: the base map y the layersThey largely determine how comfortable it is to work with your map and how clear the information is when you're using it while traveling.

The base map is simply the visual style on which you will build your custom mapMy Maps offers you several different appearances: standard map, satellite view, relief, clearer political styles, monochromatic versions, or map types designed to look like a simple atlas or a physical map.

To change it, simply go to the bottom of the left panel and click on the “Base map” option. There you can Preview the different styles and choose the one that best suits your intended useMany people stick with the standard map because it's the cleanest, but for hiking trails, for example, a map with relief or physical features might be better.

Layers are arguably the most powerful feature of My Maps, because they allow you to Organize and group all the elements of your map into separate blocksThink of each layer as a category: within it are stored specific points of interest, lines, areas or routes.

By default, when you create a new map, a single layer appears, but you can Add more layers using the “Add Layer” button in the left panelThere is a limit of 10 layers per map, so it's a good idea to plan how you want to group the information: by days of travel, by type of place, by areas, etc.

A very practical example would be separating things into layers like “Day 1 – Historic Center”, “Day 2 – Modern District”, “Restaurants”, “Hotels”, “Gas Stations” or “Bonus points if there is extra time”This way you can turn each layer on or off with a single click on the box to its left, seeing only what interests you at any given time.

How to add points of interest to your map

Once the base map and layer structure are defined, it's time to start with what's really useful: Add the places you want to include on your mapYou can do it manually, one by one, or by importing data from external files if you already have them prepared.

The easiest way is to use the search bar at the top of the My Maps screen. Just type in the name of the place (a square, a monument, a restaurant, a hotel, etc.) and check that The location shown corresponds to the place you actually want to mark.because sometimes there are places with very similar names in different parts of the map.

When the result is correct, tap on it and a small card with basic information will open. From there you can click on the option “+ Add to map”That point will be created in the layer you have selected at that moment, so it's a good idea to pay attention to which layer is active to avoid mixing categories.

If the site you want to add doesn't appear in the search results, don't worry, because you can Place a bookmark manually using the pin icon located below the search barYou just have to click on the map where it belongs and then fill in the name and any other information you want.

In addition to creating individual points, My Maps also lets you Import lists of places from spreadsheets or .csv, .xlsx files .kml and .gpxIt's very useful if you already have a table with addresses, coordinates, or place names and want to generate a map with all of them in a few seconds.

Customize icons, colors, and content for each point

One of the great strengths of My Maps is that it doesn't force you to settle for the classic red pin: every place can be Personalize with colors, icons, descriptions, and even your own photos.which greatly helps to make the map clear and visual.

When you tap on a point of interest you've already added, its information card opens. From there you can edit the name (for example, including the local language or a comment like "best at sunset") and Add a short description with useful information. such as schedules, admission prices, or personal reminders.

At the bottom of that card you'll find the options to change the scoreboard style. It's possible Choose from different colors and a wide collection of icons or even design custom icons: monuments, churches, cameras, knives and forks for restaurants, beds for accommodations, transport stations, etc.

You can also attach images, both those provided by Google and Photos of yourself at the location if you've been there before or want to use a visual referenceThis way, when you open the point you'll have a mini card, almost like a guide, perfect for orienting yourself during the trip.

All of this translates into very clear maps, where, for example, you have Each day's route is represented by a different color, restaurants by another, and optional places by a different color or icon.At a glance, you'll know what everything is without having to constantly read labels.

Create routes by car, on foot, or by bicycle

In addition to individual points of interest, My Maps includes a very useful feature for trips and getaways: the creation of routes between various placeswhich can be configured to be done by car, on foot or by bicycle, depending on your needs.

To do this, you must use the "Create Itinerary" button located in the toolbar at the top. Clicking it will create a new, specific route layer, allowing you to choose the type of transport (driving, walking or cycling) before adding the start and end points.

In these route layers, My Maps allows a maximum of 10 points per routeThis is usually enough to plan a day of sightseeing or a specific leg of a road trip. If you need more space, you can always create another route layer for the next section.

Once you've added the points in any order you like, you can reposition them within the list to change the direction of the routeAdditionally, from the layer's three-dot menu, you can view step-by-step directions, the total distance, and There estimated time that Google calculates to complete the route.

If the automatic route suggested by the system doesn't suit you, you have the option to drag the route lines directly onto the map and force yourself to take secondary roads or scenic areas that you want to enjoy, something very useful on scenic routes where you prefer a beautiful path rather than the fastest one.

Hand-drawn lines, areas, and routes

Beyond automatic routes, My Maps offers tools for draw freehand lines, mark areas, and trace routes entirely by handYou might not use them every day, but on certain maps they're a real plus.

With the line drawing tool you can mark, for example, an approximate border, a specific seafront promenade, or a hiking trail that it doesn't appear exactly as shown in the automatic routing system. You simply click on various points on the map and create the route.

The areas work similarly, except they close the outline, leaving a shaded surface. This is very useful for Highlight an entire neighborhood, a wine region, a natural park, or an area where you want to look for accommodation..

You can also opt for a freehand itinerary mode in which You don't depend on Google Maps' automatic calculationsYou decide which streets or paths to follow, ideal when you know the terrain or want to review a specific path without the system trying to optimize it.

All these elements (lines, areas, drawn paths) are also saved in layers and can be Color, rename, and activate or deactivate just like points of interestso they don't complicate the visualization if you don't need them at a given moment.

View and manage maps that you cannot edit.

Often you'll come across My Maps maps created by other people, either because you found them online or because someone sent them to you. In these cases, it's common that have access in viewer modeThat is, you can view them but not modify them.

From the map viewer you can do several things: search for content within the map, show or hide layers, change the display to satellite imagesand even share, export or print the map, provided the sharing options allow it.

If it's a map you created yourself but you want to check how other people will see it, you can use the option to "Preview"This way you can check that everything looks correct before sharing it, without the risk of accidentally editing something.

In the case of a map belonging to someone else that you want to modify, the only option is request editing permissions from the ownerIf it grants you editor access, you can make changes to that same map; if not, you can always save your own copy (if allowed) and work on it.

This distinction between owner, editors, and simple readers is important when You're organizing a group trip and several people are going to collaborate.since each one can contribute points, comments or routes if given editing permission.

How to view your maps on your computer and mobile device

Once you've invested time in preparing a well-crafted map, the logical next step is to make the most of it both at home and in the field. The good news is that Checking your My Maps is very easy from any device..

On your computer, you can access it directly from the My Maps website or through your Google Drive account. There, in the "My Drive" section (or in the folder where you saved it), You will see the map file and you can open it with one clickIf you have many documents, you can always use the Drive search engine by entering the map name.

From your mobile device, although this tool is different from the traditional app, you can easily view your maps. The most convenient way is use the standard Google Maps applicationwhich is available for both Android and iOS.

Within the mobile app, go to the "Saved" tab, scroll down to the "Maps" section and you will see the latest maps you've created or that are linked to your accountSimply select them to have them ready while you're strolling around town or driving.

If you don't want to use the app, you can also open your maps from your mobile browser. To do this, simply... Go to your Google Drive profile, locate the map, copy its link and paste it into your browser to view it. It's not as convenient as the app, but it can be useful in some cases.

Using My Maps offline and combining it with other services

A very common question is whether My Maps custom maps can be viewed offlineThe answer is nuanced: you need an internet connection when loading the map, but afterwards you can rely on Google Maps' offline maps.

What you can do is download the base map of the area you are going to visit into Google Maps (that is, the road and street map, not My Maps itself) before traveling. This way, even if your connection is bad, you'll at least have a map of the area available.

In practice, if you want to avoid problems, it is advisable Ensure you have a stable connection while viewing your custom maps.Especially if you have many layers, photos, and elements. These days, it's easy to have internet access almost anywhere with international data SIM cards or eSIMs.

Another advantage of My Maps is that it allows Export your maps in KML/KMZ formatso you can use them in other map applications that work very well offline. Many people import them into third-party apps to have a fully functional local copy.

The key is to combine: you can use My Maps to the planning and overall structure of the tripDownload the area in Google Maps to have the basic map offline, and if you want, import specific layers to specialized offline applications for routes or trails.

Share, embed, and export your custom maps

The final step to getting the most out of Google My Maps is learning how to easily share your maps with other people or even integrate them into travel or business websites and blogs.

In the upper left corner of the interface, you'll find the "Share" button. Clicking it opens a dialog box from which you can invite specific people via email or generate a shareable linkAs with other Google services, you can adjust permissions so they can only see the map or also edit it.

If you want to send your map without any headaches, the most practical thing to do is usually Activate the option to share via link and configure it so that “anyone with the link” can see it. That way you'll only have to copy that link and paste it into WhatsApp, email, social media or wherever you want.

For those who manage a website or blog, My Maps offers a very interesting extra feature: Insert the map directly into a pageIn the three-dot menu next to the map name, you will find the "Insert into my site" option, which generates an embed code ready to paste.

Since My Maps are stored on Google Drive, you can also Take advantage of all the sharing and organization options that Drive offers: move them to a different folder, change the owner, limit downloadsetc. In addition, from the same three-dot menu you can export your map to KML/KMZ to take it to other map platforms or more advanced GIS programs.

The combination of easy editing, extensive customization capabilities, Google Drive integration, and sharing options makes it Google My Maps is becoming an almost indispensable tool for planning trips and projects on the ground.With a little practice, you'll be able to create those comprehensive maps you see on many blogs in just a few minutes, making life so much easier when you're on the go.