Google Maps MCP server

Last verified: 2026-09

Geocode and place search via Google Maps.

Official reference Chat, mail & docs Needs a secret Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, VS Code

What it does

Geocode, place search, directions, elevation, and distance matrix via Google Maps Platform. Official reference server. Maps bills per request.

It sits in Chat, mail & docs: These servers act as the bot or the integration you install.

Good for

Geocode an address the model should not invent coordinates for.
Place search for a location you are writing into an app.
Distance / directions only if that tool is in the current official set.
Keep the key HTTP-referrer or API-restricted — Maps keys leak in client apps.

Tools

maps_geocode / maps_reverse_geocode — Address ↔ coordinates.
maps_search_places / maps_place_details — Places.
maps_distance_matrix / maps_directions / maps_elevation — Routes and terrain.

Config (Claude Desktop / Cursor / Windsurf)

Paste the JSON below. Same mcpServers shape. Replace placeholder paths and secrets. Windows paths look like C:\\Users\\you\\project, not /path/to. Host-side steps →

Claude Desktop

OS	Config file
macOS	`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
Windows	`%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (usually `C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\Claude\`)
Linux	`~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`

Cursor

Scope	macOS / Linux	Windows
This project	`.cursor/mcp.json` in the repo root
This user	`~/.cursor/mcp.json`	`%USERPROFILE%\.cursor\mcp.json`

Windsurf

OS	Config file
macOS / Linux	`~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`
Windows	`%USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json`

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google_maps": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-google-maps"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY": "AIza..."
      }
    }
  }
}

Windsurf remote MCP: use serverUrl instead of url if the block below is HTTP.

One-liner: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-google-maps

Secrets it wants: GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY

Source repo →

How to get started

Enable the Maps APIs you need on a GCP project and create an API key.
Restrict the key to those APIs and, if you can, to your IPs.
Set GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY. Ask for a geocode before you turn on directions (more expensive).

Access risk

Unrestricted keys leak budget. The model can fire many requests in one chat.

When to skip it

Skip it if you only need 'what time is it' (Time) or a web search (Brave).

Instead: Brave Search, Fetch.

OfficialBrave SearchWeb search via the Brave Search API. OfficialFetchFetch a URL and turn the page into readable text.

Vs alternatives

Server	Official?	Needs a secret?	Best for
Google Maps	Yes	Yes	Geocode and place search via Google Maps.
Brave Search	Yes	Yes	Web search via the Brave Search API.
Fetch	Yes	Yes	Fetch a URL and turn the page into readable text.

More in Chat, mail & docs

OfficialSlackRead channels and post messages. Chat, mail & docsAsanaTasks and projects in Asana. Chat, mail & docsConfluenceRead Confluence pages. Chat, mail & docsDiscordRead and send Discord messages.

All 18 in this category →

FAQ

Which key?

A Google Maps Platform key with only the APIs you need. Bills per request.

Does it see my Location History?

No. It is the Maps API, not your Google account's location timeline.

Official?

Anthropic reference server.

Maps or a local gazetteer?

Use this for live geocoding. Do not send customer addresses you cannot put in a Google API.