These Google Maps Tips Will Make Going Anywhere So Easy

POPSUGAR Photography | THEM TOO
POPSUGAR Photography | THEM TOO

Whether you're using Google Maps to check out a new bar or because you're in a new city, you can definitely admit it's a lifesaver. Sure, you use it a lot, but you might not know several of the new features in Google Maps that will make your day so much easier. From sharing your location to offline maps, keep reading to see what tips you need to learn ASAP. And if you're planning a trip, don't forget to check out our favorite tech travel hacks.

01
Store offline maps of cities.
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Store offline maps of cities.

Stop worrying about getting lost and using too much data with offline maps. If you live in an area or are planning to visit a place, you can download the area to your phone and still see driving directions. To do this, just type in the area you want to save. Tap on the bottom portion of your map where it lists the city. There, you should see a download button. Just tap that and it'll start downloading the area.

02
Add pit stops to your route.
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Add pit stops to your route.

Already going somewhere but need to run an errand like grabbing coffee or getting gas? Just add it to your route! To do this, tap on the magnifying glass on the right corner of Google Maps. There, you can choose from a set of options or look for more. Once you see what you need, tap "add stop" and you’re good to go. Bonus: Google Maps will keep you in navigation mode as you add a pit stop.

03
Find previous places you've searched for.
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Find previous places you've searched for.

Accidentally quit Google Maps and can’t find the address of where you were going? You can easily find it in your search history. First, tap the search bar at the top. There, you’ll see a "More From Recent History" section. Once you tap that, you’ll see a long list of all your searches.

04
See what the busiest times for restaurants are.
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See what the busiest times for restaurants are.

Don't wait in line for an hour to eat with this nifty tip. To see what the busiest times are for a restaurant or cafe, first search for it. Then, tap on the bottom bar that lists the restaurant's name. If you scroll down, you'll see a graph that shows the most popular times, which you can adjust by what day of the week you're going. Keep scrolling and you can even make a reservation, see reviews, and leave your own rating.

05
Find out what there is to explore based on your location and time of day.
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Find out what there is to explore based on your location and time of day.

If you want to find a new place to eat or are just looking for something fun to do, hit the search bar at the top. There, you'll find a "Explore nearby" button. Once you tap that, you'll be taken to a menu of places to eat and see. You can adjust it by time of day and how far away you'd like it to be.

06
Save your work and home address.
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Save your work and home address.

Let Google Maps do the work for you when it comes to getting to your home or office by saving it in the app. To do this, tap the three lines (the menu button) at the top left of the search bar. Head to "Your Places." There, you can save both your home and work address. Once you input this information, you won't need to type it in ever again.

07
Share your location with friends and family.
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Share your location with friends and family.

Let people know where to meet you easily. First, find your location. Then, hold down on the spot. A pin should appear. After that, just tap on the dropped pin at the bottom of the screen. There, you'll see a set of options. Hit "Share" and you can send your pin to anyone via iMessage, Mail, Facebook Messenger, and other apps.

08
See real-time transit delays.
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See real-time transit delays.

Public transportation can be the best and worst at times, but thankfully Google Maps will tell you of any delays. As soon as you select the public transportation button, you'll see an alert letting you know of any delays. It will even list what the delay is about, in case you need to plan another way of getting around.

09
Check out the map of malls, convention centers, and more.
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Check out the map of malls, convention centers, and more.

Looking for the bathroom in a mall or convention center? Plenty of spaces like those now have indoor maps integrated into Google Maps. Search the area you're looking for. Then, just zoom in and you'll see a pretty precise map of where stores, restaurants, and bathrooms are located in a place like a mall.

10
Look at public transit timetables.
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Look at public transit timetables.

If you use public transportation a lot, you're going to find this feature super useful. As usual, type in where you're trying to go. Then, select the public transportation option. After you select a certain option, you can just tap on the arrow that's next to the station or stop name. There, you'll see a list of different times transit lines will depart at.