How to Create a Custom Travel Map
The first thing I do when I start planning a trip is create a travel map. I do this before I even book hotels. Why? A custom map is extremely helpful! Rather you’re doing a road trip or staying in the same place the whole time, the map helps you figure out a game plan, narrow down what you want to do, and the best way to do it.
I always create mine in Google Maps. You can’t create a custom map on your phone in the Google Maps app, you have to go to a desktop. But, once it is created you can open it on your phone in the app. So, you will have it with you and it’s easily accessible during your trip. Without further ado here is how to create a travel map:
A Custom Map I Created for Savannah, GA
How to Create a Travel Map: Where to Begin?
Research, research, research. Look up the top things to do at your destination, what the locals like, hidden gems, restaurants, etc. Make a list of all the places that catch your eye that you would like to do. It doesn’t matter where you make this list. It can be in a word document, handwritten on a notepad, it doesn’t matter.
If you’re going on a roadtrip make sure to do this for every destination on your trip. It’s a good idea to make separate lists for each stop just to keep things organized.
This part will take the most amount of time. Dedicate hours to this research to be sure you don’t miss out on anything. Once you’re finished and the list(s) are made, it’s time to start creating the map.
Start Creating Your Custom Travel Map
As I said earlier, we’re going to create the map in Google Maps. So, go to Google and sign into your Google Account. This is very important because it’s how you will access the map in your Google Maps app on your phone. Once you’re signed into your account:
1. Go to Google Maps
2. Click the three lines in the top left hand corner as shown below.
3. Click on saved as shown below.
4. Click on maps as shown below.
5. Click on create map at the bottom as shown below.
6. A pop-up will come up saying creating a map will upload stuff to drive. Click create as shown below.
7. In the top left corner it says “untitled map” as shown below. Click on where it says that and give your map a title. Click save.
I typically name mine with the place I’m going and the year.
Plot Your Points
Now that you have created the travel map it’s time to start plotting your points. Get out that list you made and let’s start:
1. Type the first place on your list in the search bar at the top of your map. Typically, once you start typing the name of the place it will come up with the address. Click on it.
2. It will drop a bright green pin on the map. Click on add to map as shown below.
3. After that the pin will turn to a light blue color. You can click on style as shown below to change the color of your pin.
4. Your pin will then show up in your map legend on the left side as shown below.
Repeat the above steps for every place that is on your list. It’s a good idea to color code them as you add them to the map.
I like to group things together to color code them. Restaurants, museums, dessert shops, outdoor activities, anything I feel like is a separate category I color code in its own way. It makes the map easier to look at as a whole when you’re finished.
Your Map has been Created!
Once you get all your plots on the map you’re basically done. Below is an example of how yours should look. This is the map I created for my road trip through Washington State:
As you can see everything is color coded. So, it’s easy to look at the map as a whole and get an idea of where everything you want to do is.
Tips
If you’re going on a road trip this makes it easy to choose your route based on where all your pins are. If you’re not doing a road trip, this makes it easy to see which neighborhood you should stay in based on where most of your pins are. Then, you can decide what other areas you need to drive to based on your clusters of pins.
At this point I see if I have any pins that are outliers. If I do, I delete them. For me, this is the biggest way I narrow things down. It’s also at this point that I book hotel(s). After I book them I go back into the map and add them in too.
Opening Your Map in the Google Maps App
Open the Google Maps app on your phone. Make sure you are signed in to the same Google account you were signed into on your desktop when you created the map.
1. Tap on saved at the bottom as shown below.
2. Tap on maps as shown below.
It will pop up as the name / title you gave it. Tap it and your custom map will open. While on your trip you can tap any of your pins and hit directions and it will GPS you to it.
I really like making these custom maps for all my trips. Even if I’m only going to be gone for a weekend, I still create a travel map. I like being able to see visually where all the places I’m going are. Remember, all of my pre-made itineraries and custom itineraries include a custom color coded map.
One Comment