How to create a custom Google Map

How to create a custom Google Map

Turning lists of locations into interactive maps is a great way to help people visualize information. Google My Maps makes it easy to create custom, annotated maps that are useful for for everything from event planning to sharing research locations.

Why use Google My Maps?

Interactive maps do more than show points on a screen. They provide context, highlight patterns, and make information easier to understand. With Google My Maps, you can:

• Add points individually by searching for locations.
• Upload latitude and longitude coordinates from a spreadsheet.
• Share and collaborate with others.

For more advanced mapping needs, ELT can assist with tools like ArcGIS, which can handle complex datasets and analysis.

Popular uses for custom maps

Here are a few ways you can use Google My Maps:

• Event coordination: Plan a conference or field day by mapping venues, hotels, parking areas, and fun local spots for participants.
• Virtual field trip: Create a tour with pins that include descriptions and links to more information for each stop.
• Checkout kit locations: Map locations of equipment available for checkout so users can easily find what they need.
• Basic data sharing: Display simple datasets, like club locations, infected lakes, or research field locations. (Keep in mind that My Maps cannot link to dynamic datasets.)

Step-by-Step: How to create a map

Creating a Google My Map is simple and can be done in just a few minutes. Follow the activity we created for our multimedia workshop at the 2025 All Extension Conference:

1. Open Google My Maps: Go to google.com/mymaps and sign in with your UMN account.
2. Create a New Map: In the top-left corner, click the red + CREATE A NEW MAP button.
   
   
   
    
3. A new, untitled map will open. Click on "Untitled map" to give your project a name and a short description. Click Save. (only you can see this map for now)
   
   Add Your Locations 
   
   
4. Let’s add 3 to 5 locations to your map! Use the search bar at the top of the map to type in the name or address of your first location (e.g., "Giant Slide, Falcon Heights, MN").
5. A green marker will appear for your search result. Click the + Add to map button in the info box to place a permanent blue marker on your My Map.
   
   
     
6. Repeat: Search for and add a few more locations to your map. You'll see them appear as a list on the left-hand menu.
   
   Add extra pizzazz
   
   
7. You can change the icon style for each marker. Click on one of the blue markers you added to your map. Then click the paint bucket (Style) icon to change the color and icon shown for the pin.
   
   
     
8. Click the pencil icon (Edit) to change the title or add descriptive text in the box below it. Explain why this spot is important or what someone should know about it. Click Save.
9. Click the camera icon to add a photo. You can upload your own photo, or do a Google Image Search.
   
   Here’s an example with all the pizzazz
   
   
   
   

   
   Draw a Route
   
   If you are making a map that is for a tour or could have the points put on a route, you can draw a line connecting your points.
   
   
10. Select the Draw Tool: Below the search bar, find and click the "Draw a line" icon (it looks like three dots connected by a line). Select "Add walking route."
    
    
    
    
    
11. Your cursor will become a crosshair. Click on your first location (Point A), then click on your second location (Point B). Google Maps will automatically draw the best walking path between them. Continue clicking on your other points in order to complete the tour route. Alternatively, you can just select “Draw Line” if you want to just wing it. Double-click on your last point to finalize the route.
    
    
    
    
    
12. To share your map: Find and click the Share button in the menu on the left. A pop-up box will appear. The map is private by default. Click the toggle to enable link-sharing, “Anyone with this link can view.” Copy the link and send it to anyone you'd like to share your map with!
    
    
    

Accessibility tips

Google My Maps can be challenging for visually impaired users. The best approach is to provide a high-level description of the map and its purpose, so all users can understand the content.

How ELT can help

ELT can guide you in creating My Maps and share ownership of the map so you can collaborate with your team.

Article by Karen Matthes, Extension Learning Technologies, klm@umn.edu