Connect AI agents to Google Maps API for location data

Google Maps MCP Server

MCP Server for the Google Maps API.

Tools

1. maps_geocode

   • Convert address to coordinates
   • Input: address (string)
   • Returns: location, formatted_address, place_id

2. maps_reverse_geocode

   • Convert coordinates to address
   • Inputs:
     • latitude (number)
     • longitude (number)
   • Returns: formatted_address, place_id, address_components

3. maps_search_places

   • Search for places using text query
   • Inputs:
     • query (string)
     • location (optional): { latitude: number, longitude: number }
     • radius (optional): number (meters, max 50000)
   • Returns: array of places with names, addresses, locations

4. maps_place_details

   • Get detailed information about a place
   • Input: place_id (string)
   • Returns: name, address, contact info, ratings, reviews, opening hours

5. maps_distance_matrix

   • Calculate distances and times between points
   • Inputs:
     • origins (string[])
     • destinations (string[])
     • mode (optional): "driving" | "walking" | "bicycling" | "transit"
   • Returns: distances and durations matrix

6. maps_elevation

   • Get elevation data for locations
   • Input: locations (array of {latitude, longitude})
   • Returns: elevation data for each point

7. maps_directions

   • Get directions between points
   • Inputs:
     • origin (string)
     • destination (string)
     • mode (optional): "driving" | "walking" | "bicycling" | "transit"
   • Returns: route details with steps, distance, duration

Setup

API Key

Get a Google Maps API key by following the instructions here.

Usage with Claude Desktop

Add the following to your claude_desktop_config.json:

Docker

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-maps": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY",
        "mcp/google-maps"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "<YOUR_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}

NPX

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-maps": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-google-maps"],
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "<YOUR_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage with VS Code

For quick installation, use one of the one-click install buttons below...

For manual installation, add the following JSON block to your User Settings (JSON) file in VS Code. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P and typing Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON).

Optionally, you can add it to a file called .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace. This will allow you to share the configuration with others.

Note that the mcp key is not needed in the .vscode/mcp.json file.

{
  "mcp": {
    "inputs": [
      {
        "type": "promptString",
        "id": "maps_api_key",
        "description": "Google Maps API Key",
        "password": true
      }
    ],
    "servers": {
      "google-maps": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-google-maps"],
        "env": {
          "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "${input:maps_api_key}"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

For Docker installation:

{
  "mcp": {
    "inputs": [
      {
        "type": "promptString",
        "id": "maps_api_key",
        "description": "Google Maps API Key",
        "password": true
      }
    ],
    "servers": {
      "google-maps": {
        "command": "docker",
        "args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "mcp/google-maps"],
        "env": {
          "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "${input:maps_api_key}"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Build

Docker build:

docker build -t mcp/google-maps -f src/google-maps/Dockerfile .