When Google Maps first launched, it changed the game for all smartphone users and made handheld navigation part of our daily lives. Now, the ubiquitous technology is more present than ever, but Google is still working to change the game and find new ways to make Google Maps a top-notch service.
Beyond getting you out the door and where you need to go on time, Google Maps has a lot of helpful features you may not know about waiting to be utilized. Without further ado, read below for ten awesome things you didn’t know Google Maps can do.
Find Out Wait Times At Restaurants
There’s nothing worse than standing in a long line when you’re hungry. Thanks to Google Maps, there’s no need to be hangry while heading to your favorite brunch spot. Thankfully, Google aggregates live data to show you when a place is likely to be busiest. Before you head out and face the waitlist, simply look up the name of the restaurant in Google Maps and scroll down until you see “Popular Times.” Then, view the blue and purple bar chart to easily see when’s the best time to grab a table.
Keep Track Of Your Favorite Places
Now you can save all of your favorite locations under your Google account with one tap of a button. Simply hit “Save” or the bookmark icon and Google will add your new favorite ice cream shop to a handy list of favorite locations. When you’re ready to go on your next adventure, access the menu by tapping the hamburger icon on the top left corner and scroll down to “Your Places.” Choose “Saved” to access lists of your favorite locations which you can edit and share with others or keep for yourself.
Find Your Parked Car
Apple Maps has had this feature for a while, sneakily notifying iPhone users of where their parked cars are whether they choose to identify it with Apple or not. Now Google Maps and Android users can enjoy the same feature.
Next time you head to the airport, simply open Google Maps and tap on the blue dot that identifies your location. An option will pop up that allows you to “Set as Parking Location.” When you’re ready to go home, Google will help you find your car with ease.
Use Google Maps Offline
Everyone has been on the road with their route plugged into their navigation app of choice when they drive through a dead zone and lose the GPS signal. Google has finally solved the answer to this problem. No, you don’t need to print off directions like the early days of MapQuest. Instead, Google now allows users to look up routes ahead of time and save them to their device so they are available offline in the event of offroad exploring. Simply look up your destination, then navigate to “Settings” and “Save Offline.”
Find New Places To Go With Explore Tab
If you’re using Google Maps on your phone (whether Android or iPhone), Google has overhauled its Explore tab within the Google Maps app to make it easier for you to find new things to do. Users will now find recommendations for new restaurants, bars, and hotels nearby.
Simply open the app and search for “bars nearby” (or whatever it is you’re looking for). If you are a frequent Google Maps user, your recommendations will also be tailored based on your most frequently visited locations, so there’s no reason not to try something new.
Make A Multiple Destination Route
Rarely does any road trip go strictly from Point A to Point B. You’ve got to stop for gas along the way, make time for bathroom breaks, and find the best roadside attractions, too. Now Google has recognized this by allowing for users to plan out every step of their itineraries before they ever leave home. To plan your trip, search for directions in Google Maps like you normally would, then tap the three vertical dots and select “Add Stop” to add your next leg of your journey.
Keep A Log Of Your History Timeline
The Google Maps Timeline feature is really cool for those who like to keep a digital diary. Google Maps will automatically store a history of everywhere you’ve been. To review your Timeline, tap the hamburger (three vertical lines) icon and choose “Your Timeline.”
From there, you can select a date to view where you traveled on that day. If you don’t want Google to store your location history, go to your Google “Settings,” then “Account” and navigate to the “Data and Personalization Tab” where you can turn off “Location History.”
See How Safe Your Air Quality Is
Some of the items on this list are pure fun, but Google is also working to help save the planet. Using Google Earth vehicles, Google is piloting a new feature so users can see in real-time what the air quality is like where they live. So far, the only American cities live with the feature are Houston and Oakland, but Google is partnering with scientists at universities around the world to help users breathe more safely. With the effects of climate change looming ever more present, this is one feature that could save lives.
Time Travel With Street View
It’s hard to believe, but Google Maps cars have been collecting images for Street View for over a decade. Now, users can see how certain locations have changed over time, allowing viewers to see history in real-time—through the eyes of Google’s cameras. To see if a given location has a time-lapse available, drag your Pegman (the yellow person in the bottom right corner) to a street to turn on Street View and tap the clock in the top left-hand corner to watch how time has gone by.
Turn Your Pegman Into Something Else
Google Maps’ Pegman is a nifty way to navigate through the app, allowing users to go from map to Street View. But he also has some fun hidden features. Take Pegman to Area 51 in Nevada, for example, and watch him turn into a UFO and fly over the alleged alien wasteland. Navigate to Loch Ness, Scotland and he turns into a little green monster. Google plans lots of other surprises with Pegman throughout the year, including on Valentine’s Day and Halloween, so keep your eyes peeled.
