How to plan trips by car, bus, train, bike or on foot with Google Maps or Apple Maps, and read the results.
A maps app is the most useful travel tool in the US. Google Maps and Apple Maps are free and both show driving, public transit, walking and biking routes.
Plan a trip
1
Open the app and allow it to use your location. Choose While Using the App.
2
Tap the search bar and type the place name or the full address.
3
Tap Directions.
4
At the top, choose the mode: the car icon (driving), the bus or train icon (Transit), the walking person, or the bicycle.
5
Look at the list of routes. Each one shows the total time and when you will arrive.
6
Tap a route to see every step, then tap Start (or Go).
Reading a transit route
The app shows which line to take (for example "Bus 22" or "Red Line"), the stop name, and the direction. Direction is usually the name of the last stop of the line, like "toward Downtown".
It shows how many stops to ride and where to get off.
Many cities show live times: the minutes until the real bus arrives. Green or blue times are often live; gray ones are from the timetable.
Tap Depart at or Leave now to plan a trip for later.
Useful tricks
Save your home address as Home. Then you can tap Home from anywhere.
Download an offline map (Google Maps: your profile picture, then Offline maps) so the map works without data.
Share your location or your arrival time with a friend from inside the app.
Addresses in the US look like this: number, street, city, state, ZIP code. For example "1200 Main St, Springfield, IL 62701". The ZIP code is a 5-digit postal code.
Common mistakes
Typing only a street name. Many cities have the same street name. Add the city and state.
Trusting a transit time late at night. Many buses run less often or stop at night and on Sundays. Check the last trip before you leave.
Walking with your eyes on the phone. Look up at every street crossing.
Your local transit agency often has its own app too. It may sell tickets and show live times. You can find your city's agency under In your state.