Bring Geocoding
to VS Code Copilot
Create your Vinkius account to connect Google Maps Platform to VS Code Copilot and start using all 9 AI tools in minutes. Fully managed, enterprise secure, and ready to use without writing a single line of code. No hosting, no server setup — just connect and start using.
GDPR Free for SubscribersCompatible with every major AI agent and IDE
Gemini
What is the Google Maps Platform MCP Server?
Connect Google Maps Platform to any AI agent and access the world's most accurate location intelligence — from turn-by-turn directions and distance matrices to rich place details and timezone data.
What you can do
- Geocoding — Convert any address into precise latitude/longitude coordinates
- Place Details — Get comprehensive info for any business (hours, phone, ratings, reviews)
- Directions & Routing — Calculate routes for driving, walking, cycling, or public transit
- Distance Matrix — Compare travel times and distances between multiple locations
- Nearby Search — Find businesses or points of interest around a specific location
- Elevation & Timezone — Get altitude data and timezone info for any coordinate
How it works
- Subscribe to this server
- Enter your Google Maps API Key
- Start navigating and discovering locations from Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client
Google Maps provides the gold standard in global mapping data, used by millions of developers.
Who is this for?
- Travelers — Get precise directions, travel times, and find nearby amenities like restaurants or gas stations
- Logistics Coordinators — Calculate efficient routes and compare travel times for multiple stops
- Developers — Integrate accurate geocoding and rich place data into their applications
Built-in capabilities (9)
Useful to get the Place ID or location before getting details. Find a place based on a text query
g., "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA") and need the exact GPS coordinates. Returns the formatted address and the place_id. Convert a physical address into geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude)
Supports modes: "driving" (default), "walking", "bicycling", "transit". Get travel directions between two points
Origins and destinations can be single or multiple addresses/coordinates separated by pipe (|). Calculate travel distance and time for multiple origins and destinations
Input can be single "lat,lng" or multiple locations. Get elevation data for locations on the earth
Requires a valid Place ID obtained from other search tools. Get detailed information about a specific place using its Place ID
Essential for scheduling across time zones. Get timezone information for a specific location
Useful for identifying locations from GPS data. Convert GPS coordinates back into a physical address
You can filter by "type" (e.g., "restaurant", "gas_station") or "keyword". Radius is in meters. Search for places of interest near a specific coordinate
Why VS Code Copilot?
GitHub Copilot Agent mode brings Google Maps Platform data directly into your VS Code workflow. With a project-scoped config, the entire team shares access to 9 tools. Copilot queries live data, generates typed code, and writes tests from actual API responses, all without leaving the editor.
- —
VS Code is used by over 70% of developers. adding MCP tools to Copilot means your team can leverage external data without leaving their primary editor
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Project-scoped MCP configs (
.vscode/mcp.json) let you commit server configurations to your repository, ensuring the entire team shares the same tool access - —
Copilot's Agent mode integrates MCP tools seamlessly with file editing, terminal commands, and workspace search in a single agentic loop
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GitHub's enterprise compliance and audit features extend to MCP tool usage, providing visibility into how AI interacts with external services
Google Maps Platform in VS Code Copilot
Why run Google Maps Platform with Vinkius?
The Google Maps Platform connection runs on our fully managed, secure cloud infrastructure. We handle the hosting, maintenance, and security so you don't have to deal with servers or code. All 9 tools are ready to work instantly without any complex setup.
You stay in complete control of your data. Your AI only accesses the information you approve, keeping your sensitive passwords and private details completely safe. Plus, with automatic optimizations, your AI works faster and more efficiently.
* Every connection is hosted and maintained by Vinkius. We handle the security, updates, and infrastructure so you don't have to write code or manage servers. See our infrastructure
Over 4,000 integrations ready for AI agents
Explore a vast library of pre-built integrations, optimized and ready to deploy.
Connect securely in under 30 seconds
Generate tokens to authenticate and link external services in a single step.
Complete visibility into every agent action
Audit live requests, latency, success rates, and active security compliance policies.
Optimize spending and track token ROI
Analyze real-time token consumption and cost metrics detailed by connection.
Explore our live AI Agents Analytics dashboard to see it all working
This dashboard is included when you connect Google Maps Platform using Vinkius. You will never be left in the dark about what your AI agents are doing with your tools.
Google Maps Platform and 4,000+ other AI tools. No hosting, no code, ready to use.
Professionals who connect Google Maps Platform to VS Code Copilot through Vinkius don't need to write code, manage servers, or worry about security. Everything is pre-configured, secure, and runs automatically in the background.
Raw MCP | Vinkius | |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-use MCPs | Find and configure each manually | 4,000+ MCPs ready to use |
| Connection Setup | Manual coding & server setup | 1-click instant connection |
| Server Hosting | You host it yourself (needs 24/7 uptime) | 100% hosted & managed by Vinkius |
| Security & Privacy | Stored in plaintext config files | Bank-grade encrypted vault |
| Activity Visibility | Blind execution (no logs or tracking) | Live dashboard with real-time logs |
| Cost Control | Runaway AI token spend risk | Automatic budget limits |
| Revoking Access | Must delete files or code to stop | 1-click disconnect button |
How Vinkius secures
Google Maps Platform for VS Code Copilot
Every request between VS Code Copilot and Google Maps Platform is protected by our secure gateway. We automatically keep your sensitive data private, prevent unauthorized access, and let you disconnect instantly at any time.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Which VS Code version supports MCP?
MCP support requires VS Code 1.99 or later with the GitHub Copilot extension. Ensure both are updated to the latest version. Older versions of Copilot may not expose the Agent mode toggle.
How do I switch to Agent mode?
Open the Copilot Chat panel and look for two mode options: "Ask" and "Agent". Click "Agent" to enable autonomous tool calling. In Ask mode, Copilot provides conversational answers but cannot invoke MCP tools.
Can I restrict which MCP tools Copilot can access?
Yes. VS Code shows a tool consent dialog before any MCP tool is invoked for the first time. You can also configure tool access policies at the organization level through GitHub Copilot settings.
Does MCP work in VS Code Remote or Codespaces?
Yes. MCP servers configured via .vscode/mcp.json work in Remote SSH, WSL, and GitHub Codespaces environments. The MCP connection is established from the remote host, so ensure the server URL is accessible from that environment.
MCP tools not available
Ensure you are in Agent mode in Copilot Chat. MCP tools only appear in Agent mode.
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