Google Maps Platform MCP. Calculate routes, find addresses, and map any location.
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Google Maps Platform. Get directions, find local businesses, and calculate distances using the world's most accurate location data. Use the MCP Server to geocode addresses, find place details, or calculate routes for driving, walking, or public transit.
It handles complex tasks like comparing travel times between multiple stops or finding elevation and time zone data for any coordinate.
What your AI agents can do
Find place from text
Finds a place based on a general text query to get a Place ID or location before retrieving specific details.
Geocode address
Converts a physical street address into precise GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude) and returns the formatted address.
Get directions
Gets full travel directions between two points, supporting modes like driving, walking, cycling, or transit.
You give it a physical address, and it returns the exact GPS latitude and longitude.
You provide a text query, and it finds the necessary Place ID or location data before retrieving details.
You specify two points and a travel mode (driving, walking, etc.), and it returns the full directions and estimated time.
You list several start and end points, and it calculates the distance and travel time between every single pair.
You give it coordinates, and it converts them back into a readable, formatted street address.
You use a specific Place ID to pull comprehensive data, like opening hours, reviews, and contact info.
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Google Maps Platform MCP Server: 9 Tools for Location Intelligence
These tools allow your agent to perform every kind of location task, from converting addresses to coordinates to calculating complex multi-stop routes.
019d75a8find place from text
Finds a place based on a general text query to get a Place ID or location before retrieving specific details.
019d75a8geocode address
Converts a physical street address into precise GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude) and returns the formatted address.
019d75a8get directions
Gets full travel directions between two points, supporting modes like driving, walking, cycling, or transit.
019d75a8get distance matrix
Calculates travel distance and time for multiple origins and destinations listed in the query.
019d75a8get elevation
Retrieves altitude data for locations, accepting single or multiple latitude/longitude inputs.
019d75a8get place details
Pulls detailed information about a specific location using its unique Place ID.
019d75a8get timezone
Gets the specific time zone information for a location, essential for cross-time zone scheduling.
019d75a8reverse geocode
Converts raw GPS coordinates back into a user-friendly, physical street address.
019d75a8search nearby places
Finds points of interest (like restaurants or gas stations) within a specific radius of a given coordinate.
Choose How to Get Started
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Build Your Own
Turn any API into an MCP. Import a spec, define Agent Skills, or deploy with MCPFusion.
- Import from OpenAPI, Swagger, or YAML specs
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Make Your AI Do More
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What you can do with this MCP connector
You're connecting the Google Maps Platform to your agent. It gives you all the location intel you need—everything from turn-by-turn directions and distance matrices to deep place details and time zone data. You don't have to jump between a bunch of different APIs; your agent handles the whole flow.
geocode_address converts a physical street address into precise GPS coordinates (latitude/longitude) and returns the formatted address.
reverse_geocode converts raw GPS coordinates back into a user-friendly, physical street address.
find_place_from_text finds a place based on a general text query, getting you a Place ID or location before you retrieve specific details.
get_place_details pulls detailed info about a specific location using its unique Place ID, giving you things like opening hours, reviews, and contact info.
search_nearby_places finds points of interest, like restaurants or gas stations, within a specific radius of a given coordinate.
get_directions gets full travel directions between two points, supporting driving, walking, cycling, or public transit modes.
get_distance_matrix calculates travel distance and time for multiple origins and destinations, figuring out the metrics for every single pair listed in the query.
get_elevation retrieves altitude data for locations, accepting single or multiple latitude/longitude inputs.
get_timezone gets the specific time zone information for a location, which is key for coordinating across time zones.
How Google Maps Platform MCP Works
- 1 Subscribe to the server and enter your Google Maps API Key.
- 2 Your AI client sends a high-level request (e.g., 'Get driving directions from A to B').
- 3 The agent calls the necessary tool (
get_directions) and returns the calculated route, distance, and time.
The bottom line is that your agent executes the complex location logic using the API key you provide.
Who Is Google Maps Platform MCP For?
The logistics manager who needs to calculate multi-stop routes across different cities. The developer building a field service app who needs accurate geocoding. The travel planner who has to schedule meetings across multiple time zones.
Calculates the most efficient sequence of stops and compares travel times between 10+ warehouse locations.
Determines the precise coordinates and local amenities (like nearest schools or gas stations) for a planned development site.
Integrates accurate location lookups (geocoding) and distance calculations into a mobile application's backend logic.
What Changes When You Connect
- Calculate efficient, multi-stop routes: Use
get_distance_matrixto compare travel times between dozens of points instantly. This saves hours of manual spreadsheet calculation for logistics teams. - Pinpoint exact locations: Need coordinates for '1600 Amphitheatre Parkway'?
geocode_addressgives you the precise latitude/longitude, making it usable in any backend system. - Build detailed business profiles: Don't just know a place exists. Use
get_place_detailsto automatically pull opening hours, phone numbers, and star ratings for any listed business. - Handle global scheduling: Need to know if a meeting scheduled for '10 AM' is actually 9 AM in another state?
get_timezoneprovides the necessary time zone data instantly. - Support multi-faceted searches: Use
search_nearby_placesto find amenities—like a gas station or coffee shop—within a defined radius of a known coordinate. - Reverse location lookups: If you only have raw GPS data from a sensor,
reverse_geocodeconverts those coordinates back into a clean, readable street address.
Real-World Use Cases
Optimizing a delivery route for 20 stops
A logistics manager needs the fastest route for 20 warehouses. They ask their agent to run get_distance_matrix on all 20 origins and 20 destinations. The agent returns a matrix of travel times, allowing the manager to select the most efficient path immediately.
Developing a travel app with local search
A developer needs to list nearby amenities. They use geocode_address first to get the user's current coordinates. Then, they run search_nearby_places specifying 'restaurant' as the type to populate a list for the user.
Scheduling a meeting across time zones
A sales rep has to schedule a call between New York, London, and Sydney. They use get_timezone on all three cities to confirm the local time difference, avoiding time zone errors before sending the invite.
Identifying a target location from raw GPS data
A data collector gets raw GPS coordinates from a field sensor. They pass the coordinates to reverse_geocode, and the agent immediately converts the numbers into a readable street address for client reporting.
The Tradeoffs
Using simple string matching for locations
Just trying to guess coordinates or relying on a simple database lookup when the address changes or the data is incomplete. This fails when dealing with state lines or ambiguous names.
→
Always use geocode_address to convert a physical address into precise coordinates. If you only have raw coordinates, use reverse_geocode to confirm the physical address first.
Ignoring travel constraints
Calculating a route using only the default 'driving' mode when the user is actually walking or cycling. This results in inaccurate directions and misleading time estimates.
→
Use get_directions and specify the exact mode: 'walking', 'bicycling', or 'transit'. Never assume the default mode is correct.
Over-relying on single search results
Finding a place using find_place_from_text and assuming the resulting ID is the most accurate or complete data point. This often misses critical details like specific hours or service types.
→
After finding a Place ID, always run get_place_details to pull the complete profile, ensuring you capture all necessary information like operating hours.
When It Fits, When It Doesn't
Use this MCP Server if your task involves calculating movement, finding precise geographic coordinates, or retrieving structured data about real-world places. It’s mandatory if your app needs to know the difference between a latitude coordinate and a readable street address.
Don't use this if you only need a general database lookup (e.g., retrieving a product ID from a simple name) or if the location data is already perfect and fully structured. If your problem is purely about data transformation without geographic context, look for a dedicated data processing tool instead. Always verify the source data—if you have coordinates, use reverse_geocode; if you have an address, use geocode_address.
Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Google Maps Platform. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.
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Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and more
The Model Context Protocol standardizes how applications expose capabilities to LLMs. Instead of operating in isolation, your AI gains direct access to external platforms, live data, and real-world actions through secure, standardized connections.
This server provides 9 capabilities that interface natively with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and any MCP client. No middleware. No custom integration required.
Available Capabilities
Manual location lookups are slow and inaccurate.
Right now, if you need to confirm a client's location for a proposal, you copy the address into Google, manually find the coordinates, then paste those coordinates into a separate spreadsheet to calculate travel distance. This process takes five clicks, three different services, and a high chance of copy-paste errors.
With the Google Maps Platform MCP Server, your agent handles the whole thing. You give it the address, and it returns the coordinates and distance matrix in one go. It’s clean, accurate, and ready for your code.
Get location intelligence with Google Maps Platform MCP Server
The biggest manual drain is manually running searches for nearby points of interest or checking time zones for international meetings. You have to jump between mapping services and time zone converters, then piece together the data.
The MCP Server centralizes all of this. You ask for nearby coffee shops near a coordinate, and it finds them. You ask for the time zone difference, and it gives it. It's the single source of truth for global location data.
Common Questions About Google Maps Platform MCP
How do I find the GPS coordinates for a physical address using geocode_address? +
You pass the full street address string to geocode_address. It returns the precise latitude and longitude, along with the formatted address for confirmation.
Can I compare travel times between multiple locations using get_distance_matrix? +
Yes, get_distance_matrix handles it. You list multiple origins and destinations (separated by pipe) and it calculates the travel time and distance for every pair.
What is the best way to get rich information about a business using get_place_details? +
You must first use find_place_from_text or another search tool to obtain a valid Place ID. Then, you pass that specific ID to get_place_details to pull the full profile.
Does get_directions support different travel methods? +
Yes, get_directions supports 'driving' (default), 'walking', 'bicycling', and 'transit'. Just specify the mode you need in the request.
How do I find nearby points of interest using search_nearby_places? +
You provide a coordinate and a radius (in meters). You can optionally filter the search by a specific 'type' (e.g., 'restaurant') or a keyword.
How do I use the `get_timezone` tool to handle scheduling across different time zones? +
The get_timezone tool fetches the correct time zone data for any given coordinates. This is critical when your AI agent needs to schedule events or communicate across different parts of the globe.
What is the role of `reverse_geocode` when I only have GPS coordinates? +
reverse_geocode converts raw GPS coordinates back into a readable, physical street address. This lets your AI agent identify a location or pinpoint an address when it only has the coordinates.
Is `get_distance_matrix` limited to only two origins and destinations? +
No, get_distance_matrix handles multiple origins and destinations. You can list them separated by pipe characters (|) to calculate travel times and distances for large sets of locations.
How do I get a Google Maps API Key? +
Go to the Google Cloud Console, create a project, enable the Maps APIs (Geocoding, Places, Directions, etc.), and generate an API Key in the Credentials section.
What is a Place ID? +
A Place ID is a unique text identifier for a place (e.g., 'ChIJN1t_tDeuEmsRUsoyG83frY4'). You can get it using the 'search_nearby_places' or 'find_place_from_text' tools, and use it to get detailed info via 'get_place_details'.
Can I get travel times for public transit? +
Yes! Use 'get_directions' or 'get_distance_matrix' with mode set to 'transit'. Note that transit data availability depends on the city and Google's coverage.
Use it with your favorite AI tools
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