# Google Maps MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect > Google Maps MCP gives your AI agent the ability to turn addresses into coordinates, find specific businesses, pull deep venue details like reviews and hours, and calculate real-time routes. It's the direct link between your AI and the world's most accurate geospatial data, moving location discovery from a manual search to a natural conversation. ## Overview - **Category:** industry-titans - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_xmZ0zHtBjVuEwsW3dLvmj4Q0ObN1EPaxXhr90QNG/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** mapping, location-services, distance-matrix, spatial-analysis, navigation-data ## Description You're tired of copy-pasting addresses into a browser to see how far something is or checking if a shop is actually open today. This Connector changes that by letting your agent do the heavy lifting. You can ask your agent to find every coffee shop in a specific neighborhood, grab their phone numbers, and then tell you the fastest way to drive there from your current spot. It handles the messy parts of location data, like converting a human-readable address into actual latitude and longitude, so you don't have to. When you connect this to your workflow via Vinkius, you're essentially giving your agent eyes on the map. It's about moving from asking where something is to getting a full itinerary or a list of contact details in one conversation. Instead of jumping between tabs and spreadsheets to verify a location or calculate a trip, you get those answers immediately. It removes the friction of manual research and replaces it with direct access to real-world navigation and business metadata. ## Tools ### geocode Converts an address or location name into precise geographic coordinates. This helps your agent understand exactly where a place is on a map. ### place_search Finds businesses, restaurants, or landmarks based on a text query. Use this to discover local spots like pizza places or hospitals. ### place_details Pulls deep details like phone numbers, reviews, and opening hours using a PlaceID. It gives your agent the specific info needed to answer user questions. ### directions Calculates the ETA, distance, and optimal route between two points. It supports driving, walking, bicycling, and transit modes. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Find some highly rated Italian places in SoHo and tell me their phone numbers. ``` **Response:** ``` I found a few top-rated Italian spots in SoHo: | Restaurant | Rating | Phone Number | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **L'Industrie Pizzeria** | 4.8 | (212) 555-0198 | | **Pastaio** | 4.6 | (212) 555-0234 | Would you like the opening hours or a route to one of these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` How long does it take to drive from JFK to Manhattan right now? ``` **Response:** ``` Based on current traffic, the drive from **JFK International Airport** to **Manhattan** is estimated to take approximately **45 to 60 minutes** depending on your specific destination. * **Distance:** ~18 miles * **Best Route:** Via the Grand Central Parkway and the Queensboro Bridge. Would you like me to calculate a specific route to a street address? ``` **Prompt:** ``` What are the coordinates for the Empire State Building? ``` **Response:** ``` The precise coordinates for the **Empire State Building** are: * **Latitude:** 40.7484 * **Longitude:** -73.9857 I can also find nearby landmarks or get directions to this location if you need. ``` ## Capabilities ### Convert addresses to coordinates Turn physical locations or street names into precise latitude and longitude points. ### Find local businesses Search for restaurants, landmarks, or shops based on a text description. ### Pull venue metadata Get phone numbers, websites, and opening hours for specific locations. ### Calculate travel routes Get distances and ETAs for driving, walking, cycling, or transit. ### Verify location proximity Check how close specific landmarks are to a set of coordinates. ## Use Cases ### Finding local services A user asks for the best-rated mechanic in a specific zip code and wants their phone number immediately. The agent uses place_search and place_details to provide the answer. ### Route planning A delivery driver needs to know the fastest way to hit five stops using transit modes. The agent uses directions to map the entire trip and provide a total ETA. ### Real estate research An analyst asks the agent to find all schools within 2 miles of a new property listing. The agent uses geocode and place_search to build the list. ### Customer service A support rep asks the agent to check if the downtown branch is still open for walk-ins. The agent uses place_details to verify the hours in seconds. ## Benefits - Stop manual searching by using place_search to find venues and their details instantly in one step. - Get precise coordinates for any address using geocode to power your internal mapping and data tools. - Save time on logistics by using directions to calculate transit times and distances for any route. - Verify business info like opening hours and websites using place_details without opening a new tab. - Analyze neighborhood data by searching for nearby points of interest to score locations for real estate. - Support customers faster by letting your agent provide live navigation and location metadata on demand. ## How It Works The bottom line is you get real-world navigation and location data inside your AI chat without leaving the app. 1. Subscribe to the Google Maps MCP on the Vinkius Marketplace. 2. Paste your Google Maps API Key into your AI client settings. 3. Ask your agent to find a place, geocode an address, or map a route. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Can I use the Google Maps MCP to find specific businesses?** Yes, you can ask your agent to find anything from local coffee shops to hospitals. It will search the database and return names, ratings, and locations. **How does the Google Maps MCP handle different travel modes?** It supports driving, walking, bicycling, and transit. You can ask for the fastest way to get somewhere and specify how you plan to travel. **Can the Google Maps MCP get me phone numbers for places?** Yes, it pulls deep metadata including phone numbers, websites, and opening hours for specific venues once they are identified. **Does the Google Maps MCP work for geocoding addresses?** It does. You can give your agent a physical address or a location name, and it will return the exact latitude and longitude coordinates. **Can I use the Google Maps MCP for logistics planning?** Absolutely. It's great for calculating distances and ETAs between multiple points, making it a huge time saver for delivery and travel planning. **How do I get the opening hours of a venue with this Connector?** Once the agent identifies a place, it can pull the current operating hours directly from the data so you don't have to check the website yourself. **Can my agent find the latitude and longitude of an address via Google Maps?** Yes. Use the 'geocode' tool. Provide the physical address or location name, and the agent will translate the string into precise geographic coordinates required for spatial analysis flawlessly. **How do I get reviews and opening hours for a restaurant via chat?** First, use 'place_search' to find the restaurant and its PlaceID. Then, use 'place_details' with that ID. Your agent will fetch the full payload including reviews, ratings, and operating hours natively. **Can I calculate the driving time between two cities through the agent?** Absolutely. Use the 'directions' tool. Provide the origin and destination addresses and set the mode to 'driving'. The agent will return the distance and estimated time of arrival (ETA) synchronously.