5 Clever Uses for Google Maps’ My Maps You Should Try

One of Google’s best-kept secrets is a tool that can plan your trips like nothing else: My Maps, which can be used to create custom maps in just a few taps and add anything from text, video, audio, and links to other apps. It’s not flashy, and Google doesn’t promote it, exactly, but the custom-layer approach — pins, routes, notes, and data imports — makes Google Maps more of a flexible planning system than simply directions.

Creation is on the web, viewing will be on mobile. That division is awkward, but it delivers a big payoff: You can create detailed maps on your laptop and then put them in your pocket. With over a billion people using Google Maps, according to the company’s own numbers, even tiny productivity increases can quickly multiply.

What is My Maps, and how do I access it?

Google Maps also supports something called My Maps, a feature that allows you to layer information on top of Google’s base map: categories of pins, color‑coded routes or areas (polygons), for example, and annotations with rich content. Import spreadsheets, KML, or GPX tracks (useful for runners and cyclists), change base styles to give your map more impact, and share maps with collaborators. Create or edit your map in a desktop browser, and when you open Google Maps on your Android device, go to Saved (or Your places) > Maps to see and toggle your custom overlays. You can maintain the privacy of maps, share them via link, or invite specific people.

Create an emergency‑ready city map for quick response

I keep a “when things go wrong” map with layers for hospitals, urgent care clinics, 24/7 pharmacies, police stations, and fuel. Each reflects a distinct color and icon, with notes noting after‑hours entrances or phone numbers. The Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests making a plan for evacuation routes and local resources in advance, and this is the translation of that guidance into action.

If you live in a location subject to seasonal hazards, add context layers such as wildfire evacuation zones from local authorities, floodplains from the U.S. Geological Survey, or air‑quality monitoring sites. The World Health Organization’s guidance on emergency preparedness highlights quick access to care; visioning options spatially can cut minutes in an emergency. Send the map to family members so you’re all operating off the same set of plays.

Layer pit stops when mapping road trips efficiently

Google Maps’ lists are good, but My Maps excels when you want to compare points of interest along a route. I create them for fuel, food, coffee, vantage points, and “time‑sinks” (museums, detours) to compare trade‑offs at a glance. I use color‑coded pins to indicate how far a stop is from the route (e.g., green for <5 minutes off, yellow for 5–15). They include opening hours, reservation pointers, and, in some cases, suggested menu items so I don’t flip out inside the car.

EV drivers could supplement fast chargers by focusing on reliable networks. The U.S. Department of Energy maintains a database of charger availability nationally, and I use that as my baseline, but I stick notes in there for places to charge that I’ve found reliable as well. On mobile, being able to toggle individual layers is useful for focusing (coffee only when it’s before 10 a.m., chargers only if my battery goes below 25%, etc.).

Make a scenic‑routes bucket list for future drives

For shits and giggles, I keep a “to drive” book of scenic byways and mountain passes (think Blue Ridge Parkway or off‑the‑beaten‑path backroads) with two layers: “Planned” and “Completed.” Each listing also includes a brief field report: quality of pavement, traffic windows, and best weather to ride in. You may also import GPX tracks from your training apps if you’re into cycling or running to sketch true running distance and elevation. Additionally, official scenic corridors — designated as such by transportation agencies and tourism boards — are frequently published; drop those in to get started and fine‑tune with your own notes.

Create itineraries for city breaks that friends can share

My city‑trip maps are arranged per day: one layer per day, walkable clusters, time‑boxed anchors (tickets, tours, showtimes).

I’ll sketch rough walking or transit routes between clusters, and I’ll add photos of street scenes for a quick visual cue. And because My Maps allows for collaboration, travel companions can layer on their own must‑sees with context, eliminating the last‑minute “where to eat” scramble.

Nearest 1/2 Mi Quickest Drive: This is handy for towns/cities with lots of density and the proximity is important. Suddenly, layer visibility is a planning superpower: hide Day 3 until you’re finished with Day 2, or temporarily toggle on a “weather backup” layer with indoor options. The maps and hours for local transit agencies help you estimate how long these real transfer times will be, and keep expectations honest.

Log your travels as you would with a digital scratch map

Until they don’t hold up, paper scratch maps look pretty good. My Maps has become a living document of places I have loved — cities, restaurants, hikes — annotated with “with friends,” “solo,” or “would return.” I grade my experiences in colors, and a different layer is for “hidden gems.” Exporting to a spreadsheet allows me to add up the categories (how many independent bookstores this year, for example) without losing that spatial context.

It also operates as a privacy‑enhanced version of an automated timeline: you decide what should be remembered. Keep home and sensitive locations to private layers; restrict sharing for anything personal.

My Maps is not perfect — the process of creating a map should be mobile‑friendly so I can do it while out and about — but its layering, annotation, and data importing make it a sleeper powerhouse. Try it out small with one of the use cases here, combine it with offline areas you can download for reliable base map support, and you’ll soon wonder how you ever planned without it.