Overview

google-maps-mcp-server is an actively maintained, MIT-licensed MCP server for the Google Maps Platform. It is the most feature-complete self-hosted option — 14 tools spanning places, routing, geocoding, elevation, timezone, and geolocation — and installs with a single npx command. No cloning, no local build.

Unlike Google's hosted Maps server, this one runs locally via stdio and covers the full Google Maps API surface, including the newer Places API (New) and Routes API.

Developed by:

Maintained by David Pivonka — released on npm and actively updated (v1.4.5, 2026).

Key Features

🔍

Advanced Places Search

Text search, nearby search, autocomplete, detailed place info, and photo URLs

🛣️

Smart Routing

Routes with real-time traffic, tolls, and alternatives, plus distance-matrix computation

📍

Precise Geocoding

Forward and reverse geocoding with international support

🔒

Security First

Input validation, rate limiting, and secure API key handling built in

Available Tools

Tool	Purpose	Category
`geocode_search`	Convert an address to coordinates	Geocoding
`geocode_reverse`	Convert coordinates to an address	Geocoding
`places_search_text`	Search places with natural language	Places
`places_nearby`	Find places within a radius	Places
`places_autocomplete`	Get place suggestions	Places
`places_details`	Get detailed place information	Places
`places_photos`	Get place photo URLs	Places
`routes_compute`	Calculate optimal routes	Routing
`routes_matrix`	Compute distance matrices	Routing
`elevation_get`	Get elevation data	Utilities
`timezone_get`	Get timezone information	Utilities
`geolocation_estimate`	Estimate location from WiFi/cell data	Utilities
`roads_nearest`	Find nearest roads	Utilities
`ip_geolocate`	Geolocate using an IP address	Special
`nearby_find`	Find nearby cities, towns, or POIs	Special

Installation

Requirements:

Create a Google Maps Platform API key in the Google Cloud Console and enable the APIs for the tools you use (Places API (New), Routes API, Geocoding API, Elevation API, Time Zone API, Roads API).

Add the server to your MCP client configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-maps": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "google-maps-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "your_api_key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Rate Limiting

Rate limiting is enabled by default (100 requests/minute per endpoint). Configure it with environment variables:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-maps": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "google-maps-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "your_api_key",
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_RATE_LIMIT_ENABLED": "true",
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_RATE_LIMIT_WINDOW_MS": "120000",
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_RATE_LIMIT_MAX_REQUESTS": "200"
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage Examples

Find Nearby Restaurants

{
  "tool": "places_nearby",
  "arguments": {
    "location": { "lat": 37.7749, "lng": -122.4194 },
    "radius_meters": 1000,
    "included_types": ["restaurant"],
    "max_results": 10
  }
}

Get Driving Directions

{
  "tool": "routes_compute",
  "arguments": {
    "origin": { "address": "San Francisco, CA" },
    "destination": { "address": "Los Angeles, CA" },
    "travel_mode": "DRIVE",
    "routing_preference": "TRAFFIC_AWARE"
  }
}

Use Cases

Logistics & Navigation

Traffic-aware routes, tolls, and distance matrices for delivery or fleet AI agents.

Local Business Discovery

Nearby search with type filters, plus detailed hours, ratings, reviews, and photos.

Geospatial Analysis

Elevation data, timezone lookups, and road snapping for geographic workflows.

Location-Intelligent Assistants

IP geolocation and WiFi/cell-based estimation for context-aware responses.

How This Compares:

For Google's hosted, zero-ops option with a smaller tool surface (5 tools), see the official Google Maps MCP page.

Google Maps MCP Server (npx): 14-Tool Places & Routes Integration