How to Create a Custom Map in Google Maps
Google Maps gives great, turn-by-turn, and accurate directions for getting anywhere. You can get directions if you’re walking, driving, or riding a bike. They update as you go and if you happen to change your route, the directions will automatically update from your current location.
Custom Google Maps
Google Maps will give you several routes when you look up directions. They take you from your current location to a particular destination. The different routes will have different arrival times, and they will be listed. You can take your pick.
If you’d like to create a custom map in Google Maps i.e., a map that basically guides you or someone else through check-points or places to arrive at a destination, you can make one using pins.
Create custom Google Maps
To create a custom map in Google Maps you must use the web version of Google Maps. The iOS and Android apps do not have this feature.
- Open Google Maps in your desktop browser (any browser will do).
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Click Create a new map.
- Give the map a custom name so you know what it’s for.
- Change the name of the layer.
- Navigate to where you’d like to create the map.
- Click the point icon and click on the map where you’d like to place it.
- Add a description of the point and change the name of the point.
- Continue adding points until the map is complete.
- Click the Preview button to see how it looks.
- When you’re ready, click the Share button and share the map.
Editing the map
You can change the points of the map whenever you want. When you share it, you have the option to allow anyone with a link to the map to edit it as well. If you’re making plans with friends, it’s a great tool to allow everyone to add something to the map. The only downside is that they will only be able to edit the map on a desktop.
Conclusion
Custom maps are private by default and there is nothing compelling you to share them. If you’d like to mark places that you’ve been, or like to revisit, it’s a useful tool to use. If you find the route that Google Maps is giving you for a particular place, you can create a map that suits you better and recall it whenever you need. These maps cannot be created on the mobile apps but they can easily be viewed in them so you will have access to them on the go.
